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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Police appeal for witnesses after possible attempted kidnap of 11-year-old girl in Irlam
Emily Sergeant
An appeal for information and witnesses has been issued following the possible attempted kidnap of an 11-year-old girl in Irlam.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that at around 8:30am yesterday (14 January 2025), the young girl – who was walking to school at the time – reported being approached by a male and female on Silver Street in Irlam, close to the junction of Cutnook Lane.
It is believed the pair had been driving in the area in a car and a van, according to police.
The two then grabbed hold of the girl, before she was able to run away and later inform an adult of what had happened.
The male the police are hoping to gain information on is described as white, approximately 5ft 9 inches tall, with short dark hair and clean-shaven, and he was wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie at the time, while the female is described as white, and was wearing leggings and a black hoodie.
The car is described as a black four-door vehicle, while the van was small, white, and new-looking and with a sliding door.
#APPEAL | Detectives are appealing for information after a girl was approached and grabbed in Salford.
At around 8.30am today, an 11-year-old girl walking to school reported being approached by a male and female on Silver Street, Irlam.
In the interest of public safety while police are currently investigating the incident, extra officers have been deployed to the local area for reassurance as their enquiries continue, GMP has confirmed.
Appealing to the public, officers are also asking anyone who lives in the area to check for any relevant dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage from around the time of the incident, and anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious is also asked to contact police.
“This is of course a concerning and distressing incident and I would like to reassure the community that we are doing all we can to investigate the circumstances,” explained Detective Inspector Justin Bryant, from GMP’s Salford district.
“We are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed something or has footage from around the time of the incident, and we would urge anyone with any information to please get in touch, as your assistance could be greatly beneficial to our work.
“We are ensuring that the girl and the family are being kept-up-to date and supported at this time.”
Information can be passed on to 101 or via the GMP Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1205 of 14/01/25, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Georgina Pellant -
10th September 2021 
