Rum, Ribs, Bourbon and Beer are set to become Manchester’s new favourites as home grown bar group gets set to launch its exciting new cocktail bar and rib joint, Cane & Grain, this July. Replacing Thomas Restaurant and Bar, the newest venture from the team behind Black Dog Ballroom, Dog Bowl and The Liars Club, will join Manchester’s growing Northern Quarter on the ever popular Thomas St this Summer.
Cane & Grain, which is set over three floors, is a new concept by The Liars Club legend and rum expert, Lyndon Higginson. It will take it’s inspiration from the previous site to Thomas - Cast, a legendary Northern Quarter skate shop and party hangout. The ground floor will be a nod towards the 80’s skate scene and the hedonistic excesses that were prevalent in that decade.
The first floor is going to be a much more subtle affair. Think PDT and Little Branch in NYC, antique glassware, copper bar tops, homemade bitters and syrups, world class bartenders, sit down only - a relaxed hideaway. The second floor, the concept for which is being kept secret for now, will house Manchester's first bar laboratory where bartenders will be creating and constantly developing new and unique drinks and ideas. The food menu, which will be created by Dog Bowl chef Barry Gamble, will offer a selection of varieties of ribs and sides.
Lyndon Higginson comments; “There is a distinct lack of classic cocktail bars in Manchester and our first floor bar is going to fill that gap. We aren’t just aiming for the best bar in Manchester we want to be the best bar in the world.”
Ross Mackenzie, founder of the Black Dog Ballroom Group, comments; “This concept is something totally new for us and we are really looking forward to revealing it in the Northern Quarter where our Black Dog Ballroom success began. We have built a strong team around Lyndon and Barry and hope to offer spectacular food and drinks with something a bit different from that the NQ is used to.”
Jobe Ferguson, co-owner also said; “We have spent a huge amount of time researching and trialling our food offering and we are confident that our chef Barry Gamble will be creating the very best smoked ribs Manchester has ever seen.”
Cane & Grain will be launching with a party on Thursday 10 July and will be open seven days a week from Midday until 2am, food will be served daily from midday.
As part of the new festival of creativity that stretches to cities across the country, Manchester After Dark is one night only of events taking place at some of Manchester's arts venues.
Taking place on Thursday 15th May, first and second year students from Manchester School of Art will be exhibiting the work which they have developed through the specially programmed 'Unit X' module. Bringing together art, design and media students, Unit X allows students of varying disciplines to pool together their ideas on live projects set in conjunction with outside organisations, businesses and venues across the city.
DRY will play host to an evening centred on celebrating Manchester's rich cultural history, specifically that of the 'Hacienda Hey Day Era'. Expect forgotten music, fashion and a measured amount of drink. The event falls nicely in the run up to DRY's 25th anniversary and being matched with the interactive art installations, is a great way to spearhead its heritage in the modern era.
Have you been on an escape which inspired you? Could that escape help you to create a twist on the classic gin and tonic? If so G’Vine wants to hear from you!
The Escape to the Grape competition is running globally until 14/05/14. All you need to do is upload a photo or video of your inspirational escape along with details of a G’Vine and tonic that you have been inspired to create after your trip.
6 winners will be chosen to win the Grand Prize - 5 Days as a Local - An All Access Pass to Cognac. For more information or to enter CLICK HERE.
Have you ever wanted a place in town where you can go and feel at home as you do at home? Somewhere that you can relax in a sofa, watch the world go by, with a cold glass of wine, perhaps a beer, or even a cup of coffee, whilst enjoying a good sandwich, or perhaps a piece of homemade cake that you haven’t had to make? Sounds ideal doesn’t it? Well now you can do just that, in the Northern Quarter, thanks to Wood, the new wine bar & deli on Tib Street.
Being fans of both Simple and Cord we decided it only right that we check out House of Adventures latest offering. Wood Wine Bar and Deli is nestled next-door to its big sister and Northern Quarter favourite Simple. But don’t be fooled by the compact looking venue, this small bar is packed full of big flavours and an even bigger wine list....[click here to read the full review]
Manchester’s new Caribbean restaurant & bar - let the carnival commence! It's all about rum, reggae and jerk this Spring. Caribbean restaurant and bar, Turtle Bay, is set to open its doors in Manchester this May, bringing a brand new, loud, proud Caribbean dining and drinking experience to the city.
The restaurant and bar celebrates the lively, colourful, soulful and, above all, delicious experiences that the Caribbean has to offer - from explosive flavours to laid back ‘liming’. Their mission? To capture the spirit of celebration that the Caribbean is famed for around the globe - making customers happy by delivering a hedonistic combination of joyous food, delightful drinks and a fun, laidback atmosphere.
The £1m, 8000 square foot Manchester development will be located on Oxford Street in the site previously occupied by Alibi Bar. The operation will create 70 jobs. It will feature a 250 cover restaurant space, a large central island bar and indoor ‘veranda’ style drinking spaces – the venue is designed to encourage long, lazy lunches, as well as high octane parties with plenty of space for everything in between!
Inspired by a culture that brought us Bob Marley, the cocktail list at Turtle Bay is as cool and credible as you’d expect. Naturally, rum is at the heart of the cocktail list (with 30 to choose from including Blackwell Rum by Chris Blackwell of Island Records fame).
Ajith Jayawickrema, Turtle Bay Founder, commented:“We can’t wait to throw the doors open to Manchester! Turtle Bay is about great food and good times, simple as that. We think the people of Manchester will love what we have to offer, as it’s a city known for its no nonsense approach to high quality food and drink, and of course one that knows how to have a good time! We think we’ll fit in well in our new home” Turtle Bay Restaurant and Bar is set to open on 30th May 2014.
Granada studios are setting up a football World Cup 'beach' stadium in their formert car park, where fans can enjoy the games live on a big screen, complete with sand beach, grandstands. Tickets are free but in limited numbers. Let's hope that the Manchester weather plays ball too?
~ 21 May 2014
Mexican beer favourite Corona is having to 'proactively manage stock', until further notice, according to UK distributor Molson Coors. A bottle shortage in Mexico has led to a 'bottleneck' in production, meaning that available stocks are in low numbers
~ 21 May 2014
Rockstar Leisure have submitted an application to open a new bar venture, Sakura, at 23 Peter Street in Manchester. The licence if approved would include trading hours from 10:00 to 02:00 Monday to Sunday, with the provision of late night refreshment from 23:00 to 02:00.~ 19 May 2014
Great Northern Warehouse favourites Taps and Epernay are up for sale, with a combined price tag of £500k. The two venues turn over £1.3 million a year, with a profit of around £300k. .~ 19 May 2014
An Oktoberfest operated Bavarian beer festival is set to hit Albert Square from October 22nd to 26th. 50,000 pints of beer, especially created for the event, have been brewed, with around 1600 people set to attend.
~ 14 May 2014
A new chain pub has launched, offering drinks for as little as £1. The chains second branch has opened in Atherton, and operates a simple policy of cheap drinks, with no entertainment or Sky TV etc. ~ 14 May 2014
An application has been lodged with Manchester City Council for a new bar at 127 Princess Street in Manchester. The Garratt will if approved be open, 7 days a week, from 11:00 until 1:30am on Sunday to Thursday, and 11:00 until 2:30am on Friday and Saturday. Consultation expires on June 3rd.~ 12 May 2014
