The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this week | 13 – 19 December 2021
Think the best pizzeria in the world (yes, we know, but really), giant sharing cocktails in disco balls, magical heated dining domes in Heaton Park and more.
It might nearly be Christmas, but that’s not putting off new restaurants and bars from opening in Manchester.
This week, we’ve got some exciting new additions to shout about – not least, the world’s best pizzeria L’antica Pizzeria Da Michele, which has just opened its doors on King Street.
Elsewhere you’ll find a new wing spot, magical dining domes serving up afternoon tea, and a new hotel bar that’s selling giant sharing cocktails in disco balls.
Keep reading to discover the new Manchester openings you need to check out this week.
Manchester is, without a shadow of a doubt, spoilt for great pizza. We are so spoilt, in fact, that whenever a great new pizzeria opens many locals cry, “not another one”. But l’antica Pizzeria Da Michele is no ordinary ‘great’ pizzeria. It’s widely considered the best in the world.
ADVERTISEMENT
Known as the ‘Sacred Temple of Pizza’ by Naples locals, it also featured in the 2010 film Eat Pray Love. Now it’s opened in Manchester on King street, we implore you to give it a go. L’antica is as strong a contender as it gets for anyone after a new Mediterranean side piece.
The newest hotel to arrive in Manchester, Moxy first caught our attention for its dog-friendly status – something that’s still a bit of a rarity in Manchester’s city centre hotels.
The ‘fun’ Spinningfields hotel is filled with affordable rooms and also boasts a Manchester-inspired bar, kitted out in artwork that nods to the city’s history and stacked with plenty of games ranging from foosball and cards to board games, such as Scrabble.
Menu-wise, think light bites and cocktails – including a special house sharer called Disco Diva, which comes served in a disco ball and combines vodka, limoncello, elderflower and prosecco.
ADVERTISEMENT
Find it at 8 Atkinson St, Manchester M3 3HH.
Heated winter dining domes at Heaton Park
Image: Lightopia festival
Opened especially for the festive season, Heaton Park has got ten heated dining domes available to book throughout the day serving four different afternoon tea menus.
All curated by Heaton Park Cafés: operators of The Stables Café and The Lakeside Café at Heaton Park, there are special vegetarian and vegan options, a ‘classic’ tea and a hearty pork savoury tea.
Priced at £20 each with a pot of tea included, with the option to upgrade to a glass of house Prosecco or local ale for £5, the ‘Afternoon Tea Beneath the Trees’ experience is available to book every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until early January 2022.
Find it at Heaton Park, Sheepfoot Ln, Manchester M25 0DL.
Ok technically this one opened up earlier this month but we missed it off our list, so we’re popping it in here now so you don’t have to miss out too.
American chicken chain Wing Stop has opened on Piccadilly serving wings and tendies in ten different flavours, ranging from lemon pepper to spicy Korean, ‘atomic’, Louisana rub and more. There are burgers and fries on the menu too, plus churros for dessert, but as the name suggests you’re really stopping in for wings here.
Find it at 11-13 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LZ.
News
Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
American girl group Pussycat Dolls have reunited for a UK tour, stopping off at Co-op Live in Manchester with their powerhouse pop anthems.
Releasing their first LP in 2005, this pop girl group have a variety of radio hits to their name like ‘Don’t Cha’, ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Buttons’.
Over the years, the Pussycat Dolls lineup has gone through significant changes with this latest reunion comprised of Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberley Wyatt and Ashley Roberts.
The trio even released some brand-new material to coincide with the announcement of their UK and EU tour titled ‘Club Song’.
Now the girls are about to put their Doll Domination to the test as they bring their PCD Forever Tour in arenas across the nation.
Gig guide – Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live, Manchester
Doors for Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live open from 6pm with a start time listed of 7pm with Lil’ Kim and rising girl group Deja Vu kicking things off.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home and loosen your ‘Buttons’, hopefully before the clock strikes twelve.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
RSPCA appeals after French bulldog found dead in Oldham canal
Daisy Jackson
The RSPCA has launched an appeal for information after finding a French Bulldog dead in a canal in Oldham.
The dog was discovered by a dog walker earlier this week, floating in the middle of a canal in Chadderton.
The French Bulldog was wearing a pink-red lead and matching collar, which were wrapped around his head and front leg.
He did not have a microchip, but the charity is hoping his lead might help him to be identified.
The dog was found at around 12.20pm on Monday 5 October on a section of the canal near Middleton Road.
The harness and lead the French bulldog was found wearing in the canal. Credit: RSPCA
RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Beth Fazackerley said: “This was an incredibly upsetting incident for the member of the public who made this distressing discovery, and it is heartbreaking that this poor dog was found in such circumstances.
“We are keen to establish what happened, and would urge anyone who was in the area around Middleton Road at midday, on October 5, and may have information about what happened, to get in touch.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident number 01919098.
Georgina Pellant -
13th December 2021 
