From vermouth on handpull to award-winning pies, why not try something new this weekend?
Fress
You’ll find this recently opened 40-cover restaurant and bar in what was the old newsagents at 62 Oldham Street, two doors down from beardy boozer’s bolthole, The Castle. It is a ‘Modern Victorian style’ venue, fitted out with marble table tops, extravagant light fittings and black and ivory tiles. The menu will feature fresh and seasonal dishes billed as ‘continental food with global influences’ served all day, alongside a compact menu of coffee, cocktails, beer and wine. The folk behind this new indie venture are Jennifer Hargreaves, formerly of the Marriot and Albert’s in Worsley, and chef Sam Morgan of Manchester’s recently closed veggie restaurant 1847. “Fress will be a stylish eatery offering simple, honest food and great service", said Jennifer.
62 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE @FressRestaurant
Flok
Flok, opening later this week on Stevenson Square, is a self-styled sherry and wine bar with no mention of the tapas word but with Spanish ‘vermut’ on handpull alongside Manc beers, baby octopus and jamon meatballs. Hispanophile Justin Parkinson, of West Didsbury's Folk and Wine & Wallop, is behind the venue, alongside the owner of the displaced NQ gift shop, Incognito, on Stevenson Square. The distinctive ground floor main room is decked out in classy recycled wood, red leather banquettes and exquisite tiling, whilst downstairs a huge bank safe feature 'might be somewhere to stick the DJ'. (update: due to setbacks Flok will not be opening this weekend - so maybe try next weekend)
Flok, 5 Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DN @FlokManchester
Lord of the Pies
Founded by Oliver Doyle and his partner Lindsay Mekie back in 2011, Lord of the Pies has scooped umpteen awards for its homemade gourmet creations and - after winning over Stockport and Macclesfield - will now be peddling its gourmet pastry creations in the former Hickson and Black’s site on Barlow Moor Road. Visitors can tuck into classics like beef and ale with roasted mushrooms, pulled chicken balti and confit pork and Bury black pudding, along with ploughman’s lunch, sharing boards and a handy breakfast menu for commuting Chorltonites. There’s also locally-sourced craft beer, real ale and an outdoor terrace for slurping and chomping alfresco.
559a Barlow Moor Road, Chortlon, M21 8AN - Facebook
Peggy's
Salford's back-alley den of the drunk and damned has had a tidy up courtesy of new owners Adam Day and Shane Kilgariff, who come via stints at The Midland and El Gato Negro. Formerly Corridor, then Under New Management, then Corridor again, the city's hardest-to-find bar has been stripped back, exposed to sunlight and given a splash of green - reflecting the pair's commitment to seasonal cocktails, changed weekly depending on what's good at market that morning... but what is a jostaberry?
Barlow's Croft (behind the Rovers Return), Salford, M3 5DY - peggysbarmcr.co.uk
Porter & Cole
Porter + Cole have opened up on the ground floor of the new One Smithfield Square apartment complex. You’ll find the minimalist façade on High Street, opposite the Holiday Inn and Cat Café. This lifestyle store serves a range of comforting food bowls: za’tar chicken, yellow vegetable Thai curry super salad, twelve-hour French onion soup with Beaujolais and double cheese and Saturday Sexy Pie. It also promises locally-roasted artisan coffee, tipples, brunch and lunch alongside a globally curated selection of stylish homewares and gifts for sale. With stylish contemporary interiors - cue funky light fittings and ‘instagrammable’ greenery - and a tranquil soundtrack, Porter + Cole is the latest caff to capitalise on the trend for venues offering a dose of design inspiration along with your flat white.
124 High Street, Manchester, M4 5JY - portercole.com
