TOP 5: Alive, Surviving and Thriving in Manchester
And so, the saying goes: as one door closes, another one opens.
Granted, in the case of 2020, that closing door slammed in the face of every “viable” business across the entire globe, but hey, look who’s pulled through it and come out on top.
It’s the top five, Manchester’s alive, surviving and thriving list. Oh, you’re doing great, honey.
First up, @cornerslicemcr
Danny Broadbent (Ex-Fin Fish Bar, Tender Cow) and Frank Brashaw (Ex-Gorilla) are certainly no strangers to the Manchester foodie scene. Their expertise spans across the city and the pair have joined forces to create a Northern first, nestled away on Lord Street in Failsworth, this year. The deep-dish pizza is a controversial sell, but the duo has successfully turned heads and converted the sceptical with their golden crisp-edged Detroit-style pizzas. Their offer is simple; 100 pizzas a day, each generously topped with ballsy flavour combinations and seriously high-quality ingredients, that are worth undoing your top button for. With bonus guest puds from the likes of Disco Biscuit & Scranny Manny and an uncomplicated, understood booze menu, Corner Slice are somewhat an undiscovered national treasure. 100% worth the journey, your time and hard-earned cash.
@highergroundmcr settle into Ducie Street Warehouse for Winter
Following their huge success as sell-out supper club pioneers across the city, the famed Manchester pop-up, takeover kitchen has found a new residency at Ducie Street Warehouse for the coming months. The new, five-course sharing menu is a fanfare of northern provenance, plated with undeniable talent and passion for the humble ingredients they source and prepare for just two nights a week. As ever, you can expect big Manchester brewed beers and an imaginative natural wine selection to pair with the dishes and wash the food down with. Bookings are very limited and must be pre-booked and pre-paid ahead of visiting. This is not to be missed!
@longboisbakes are the tier 2 pick up we all need right now
From the bakery loins of Siop Shop and Pollen, the most wholesome and delicious looking bakery is about to be born into the open arms of Levenshulme. Bakes spanning from enormous bubblegum pink, cherry adorned celebration cakes to vegan pop-tarts and tasty savoury snacks, we’ve been stalking their Instagram for updates on when their doors will be open so that we can essentially move in for winter. Whist the finishing touches are being made to their Levy home, (including lovingly painted walls by the incredibly talented Manchester mural master, Caroline Dowsett), they’re currently delivering the goods to Wilderness Records and Common Bar and taking custom commissions online via their website.
@wearefeelgoodclub, are doing exactly what they say on the tin
Coffees, loaded crumpets and crisp butties. If that doesn’t make you feel good, you’re more of a lost cause than our Bozza is right now. Dream wife combo, Kiera and Amie Lawlor-Skillen, have taken their online wellbeing club to the new and very gorgeously re-vamped, Hilton House in Northern Quarter. From the comfort of their new enormous pink home, their mental health hub is sure to reassure you in these uncertain times, fill you up with those good feelings and remind us that things aren’t so bad when you’re hanging out in good company.
It’s not just us fueling our @just_natas addiction. If you know, you know
When we heard about the new dedicated spot for Portuguese tarts, from the team behind Federal Café - we were there, full and gone before you could even say ‘Pastel De Natas’. If you don’t already know, the food found in the Manchester Arndale Markets is some of the best in the city and you’ve simply just got to try each vendor’s food at the next opportunity you have. At just £3 for a coffee and a bake, you really can’t complain. An indulgent creamy egg custard filling, encrusted in crisp and flaky, buttery pastry and dusted in cinnamon. Salivating? Same. They’re open until their natas are gone, and these beauties are flying off the shelf - so HURRY! If you can’t face the Arndale crowds (who can blame you), lifehack: they’re now on Deliveroo. We (obviously) advise buying more than just the one. You’re welcome.
