| | "The Alchemist Strikes Gold" | | Take one look at the cocktail menu in The Alchemist, provided your eyesight is good enough to read the very small print on the classy gold paper, and you'll soon discover the difference between this and other bars. We'll come clean too at this point; we've been in this bar almost every other night for the past two months since it opened (December 2010), and have tried every drink on the extensive menu... and others too. As you would expect from Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts, the Manchester-based creators of The Living Room, JW Johnsons, Grill On The Alley, Gusto, Life and others, the concept is unique and the drinks presented in a way that reflects the chemistry of its name. The signature cocktail, The Smokey Old Fashioned (£7.50) is perhaps the best example of this. Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey, mixed with maple syrup and Jerry Thomas’s Bitters before being oak smoked in front of you at the bar. |  | | | It's presented to you in a chemical flask, still smoking away like something from Hogwarts, with a tumbler and a humongous ball of ice. The key is to leave it as long as you can resist to get the best taste but you certainly won't be disappointed if you choose to pour it straight away, wafting smoke circles in the air as you do so. Of course, it's all down to personal taste but every single cocktail on the menu (most are around the £6.95 mark) will leave you impressed enough to return... if not, like us, every other night for 2 months solid. | | The bar staff are extremely friendly and professional. You'll never be asked "who's next?" as they've got the order of who's waiting sussed to a tee. On the launch night, Jeremy Roberts explained to us how he wanted the staff to reflect those in New York, whereby a business man could call in alone for one drink and find enough interesting conversation not only stay the entire evening but be recognised by the staff on a return visit months later. He thought this was key for a bar in Spinningfields, an area previously pretty much soulless with large empty restaurants crying out for custom from the many office workers they expected to attract. His staff at The Alchemist pull this off superbly, with special mention to Dave Ray (the brains behind the menu), James (previously at Damson) and Felix (from Gusto Didsbury), who are not only friendly and professional but amazing mixologists too. | | OK, we've been on enough occassions to get the rub of the atmosphere at The Alchemist, albeit in traditionally quiet months. Whilst very busy all weekend, Sunday night is the best time to visit as it's 'Industry Night' and open to 4am with staff from other Manchester bars, restaurants and hotels dancing the night away to an eclectic mix of chart hits and classic Madchester tunes. Even when quiet, The Alchemist is a great place to visit for a romantic date or to watch the showmanship of the bar tenders. Its a very popular venue for corporate events, private parties and product launches so you can sometimes be disappointed when it's closed to the general public (it's worth calling ahead first as there's not much else down this neck of the woods as an alternative). | | Other than the incredibly heavy copper door, the centre of attention at The Alchemist is the tall wooden bar. Huge sliding ladders allow the bar staff to get to bottles of wine and Champagne stored high above, probably contravening some stupid Health & Safety law in the process (thank goodness they're not allowed to drink on duty). Iconic 1950's movies play silently on a large screen, usually leading to conversations of who was the most beautiful Hollywood siren, whilst window seating overlooks the outside terrace, which should prove very popular come summer. Two funky leather settees, adorned in Union Jack print, prove popular with loving couples and business folk taking advantage of the free WiFi and catching up with work (or Facebook) on their laptops... obviously not at the same time... that would be a bit weird! | | The toilets, through the restaurant area, passed the kitchen and up some ridiculously slippy stairs (we're sure they polish the floor with butter for a laugh), are tiny but spotlessly clean and stylish, with some attractive taps which continue the Chemistry lab feel. | | It's not hard to see why The Alchemist has quickly become our favourite bar in town. You could have called us "Skeptical Chymist"s when we first learned of its location in the often ghost town like corporate surroundings of Spinningfields, but if anybody could make a success of it, Tim and Jeremy can. With the Opera House next door and a better afterwork offering than its neighbours, there's no reason why this can't be one of the busiest bars in town, breathing new life into the area in the process. Whilst the inspiration for its name comes from the fact it's below a bank, The Alchemist does indeed have the capabilities to transform its non-glossy surroundings into gold. | | | ~ Manchester Bars (January 2011) | | | |
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