Down on Lapwing Lane, squeezed between a post office and a wine bar, is (probably) the tiniest bar in Manchester – and it’s absolutely adorable.
Serving up cocktails, wine and beer from local independent suppliers like Le Social Wine and First Chop, at just 1-metre wide Kiosk on Lapwing has no room for seating inside – not that that’s stopped the crowds flocking down for a pint.
Opened by Jemma O’Brien, who lives in the flat upstairs, in April earlier this year, the bar is housed inside a former cupboard that was initially designed to provide access to her home.
Owner Jemma O’Brien pours a pint inside her tiny 1-metre wide Didsbury bar / Image: Kiosk on Lapwing
The cupboard before Jemma worked her magic on it and turned it into Manchester’s smallest bar / Image: Kiosk on Lapwing
However, the stairs were never put in and as a result, it’s lain empty for years gathering dust and cobwebs. Until Jemma took the space over in the spring, the most action the cupboard had seen was storing Wine and Wallop’s outdoor furniture.
Since then, it’s had quite the glow-up: painted in bright colours and decked out with neon and terazzo tiles.
ADVERTISEMENT
With over 10 years experience in hospitality, she had long wanted to open a bar in Didsbury – but it wasn’t until she lost most of her work due to covid that she finally got the push she needed to go for it.
With no cellar or back of house at all, everything is squished into what Jemma describes affectionately as ‘the hole’ – including the gas, beer board and glass wash.
ADVERTISEMENT
She’s put not just her beer, but her wine on tap too in a space-saving move, and offers just a small selection of cocktails to go alongside like espresso martinis, negronis and a selection of spritz.
it’s not all booze here, though. As well as some top notch bevvies, Kiosk also serves up locally-roasted coffee from Manchester’s own ethical Blossom roastery alongside a host of bakes from independent Levenshulme bakery Long Bois.
Levenshulme’s Longbois Bakehouse provide some delicious baked goods / Image: Kiosk on Lapwing
Open seven days a week, packed into this tiny cupboard you’ll find some of the best independent produce south Manchester has to offer.
ADVERTISEMENT
Seating outside is partially covered thanks to a glass roof that runs across the walk way, and whilst there’s no bathroom to speak of customers are able to use the facilities at neighbouring bar Wine and Wallop.
To find out more, head over to Kiosk on Lapwing’s Instagram here.
Neighbourhood Weekender reveals second wave of HUGE acts for summer lineup
Thomas Melia
Neighbourhood Weekender has just dropped another list of names for its 2025 lineup.
The Warrington-based festival is always stacked with mega acts, with this summer’s lineup being absolutely no different, and a whole new bunch of famous faces have just been announced this week too.
This new batch of bands and artists sees the addition of some rising stars, as well as some much-loved favourites.
First up on the impressive roster is Dylan John Thomas, who may be known for his rockstar tunes, but he also loves to break it up with a performance of ABBA classic ‘Mamma Mia’ from time to time.
Villanelle are also ready to raise the roof, and if that name sounds familiar to you, then that’s because the band is fronted by none other than Liam Gallagher’s son, Gene, while another big highlight on the lineup just announced is The Slow Readers Club.
Neighbourhood Weekender reveals second wave of HUGE acts for summer lineup / Credit: Supplied
This list doesn’t end there either, as busker-turned-overnight-star Alex Spencer is on the bill and is already proclaimed as one of the UK’s most promising songwriters.
Previously, this popular indie rock festival – which is taking place this May bank holiday weekend on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May – had already announced huge names like James, Stereophonics, The Wombats, and The Reytons as some of the acts performing across this two-day event.
If this second wave of names didn’t convince you enough to get a ticket already though, worry not, as more names are soon to be revealed.
Manchester to get ANOTHER new city centre park as plans get green light
Emily Sergeant
You wait 100 years for a new city centre park, and then two come along one after the other.
That’s right, merely a few years after Mayfield Park finally opened to the Manchester public after more than a century without one, it’s now been revealed that another park is planned for the city centre, as the Government has given the green light to a major new ‘digital campus’ bringing 7,000 civil service jobs to the region.
The new state-of-the-art hub, which will be known as Manchester Digital Campus, will be constructed on the site of the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats, alongside the new park.
As mentioned, the campus will bring together a number of Civil Service departments, all with a focus around digital skills, and the Government claims it will create ‘significant employment opportunities’ and ‘economic benefits’ in the region.
Ultimately, Government ministers say these ambitious plans are set to boost Manchester’s digital and tech sector.
Our proposed plans for the Manchester Digital Campus have received the green light!
The state-of-the-art campus in Ancoats will bring together a number of Civil Service departments with a focus around digital skills.
— Government Property Agency (the GPA) (@UKGovPropAgency) February 20, 2025
Alongside the new campus, however, is the perhaps even-more-exciting addition of a new urban park, which is aiming to improve access to quality green space for city centre residents and visitors, while also creating a connection to the existing Cotton Field Park behind and through to Ancoats and New Islington.
The park space has been designed in collaboration with landscape architects Planit-IE following public consultation.
According to Manchester City Council, a central lawn and plaza will create a ‘green buffer’ to Great Ancoats Street, with various tiered gardens navigating the different level changes across the site, alongside play areas, paths, and tranquil areas to escape the noise of the city.
The park has also been designed to make sure that it’s fully accessible for all.
A new digital campus by @UKGovPropAgency bringing 7,000 quality jobs to Manchester has been approved.
The campus will transform a derelict former retail site alongside a new city centre park in Ancoats.
The site will accommodate new walking and cycling routes, helping to link to other city centre active travel investment in Ancoats, Northern Quarter, and out towards the Etihad Campus.
“The new park is a welcome addition to our city centre green spaces,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.
“It’s a reimagining of the former retail site that has for many years acted only as a barrier to the community behind – and an eyesore in one of the most exciting parts of our city.”
Georgina Pellant -
10th September 2021 
