Though the evenings are getting shorter, the list of new places to eat, drink, drive go karts, shoot Nerf guns and scarf down espresso soft-serve ice cream is only getting longer. Yep, there’s a pretty wild range of new stuff to get stuck into this September.
Intrigued? Then do read on…
Allpress
Opens September 7
New Zealand-founded coffee mavens Allpress already shift their fine beans in a few select spots around the city, from Trove and Erst to Campino, and even in retail spots like Carhartt and Patagonia. But this will be their flagship northern HQ (only their third bricks-and-mortar cafe in the UK) setting up in the NOMA neighbourhood, just by Victoria station. As well as serving up expertly brewed coffee – and some head-turning espresso soft serve – they will be debuting a regularly changing seasonal menu, sporting locally sourced ingredients, and even a ‘barista training hub’ too for would be brew-slingers. A great addition to the city’s already world-class coffee scene.
Hanover St, Manchester M4 4AH
Bia
Open now
This breakfast, brunch and lunch spot will be taking over the unit previously occupied by the much-loved Aunty Ji’s in Levenshulme. The offering is a bit different, mind you. They’ll be specialising in Scottish and Irish breakfasts during the day – so white pudding, black pudding, haggis, the works – plus tapas style bites in the evening and barista coffee (and Barry’s tea, obviously). They’ll also be providing a work space during the day, just like Aunty Ji’s did, and making fresh soda bread to take away.
987 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 2SY
Chaos Karts
Open September 1
It was the writer Samuel Johnson who most likely said ‘No, Sir, when a man is tired of go-karting, he is tired of life’. No one can possibly say for sure, but we can all agree, it sounds about right. Chaos Karts, arriving on the site of the old Granada Studios, combines augmented reality with actual go-karting – so much like Mario Karts, you choose an avatar, and the immersive tracks projected onto the ground change depending on your theme, which span everything from beach-side cities to futuristic space scenes. You can even fire off weapons and get power ups.
Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4FP
Macari’s Gelato
Open September 2
Wild gelato envy is creeping in over this artisan spot opening up over in Heaton Mersey. They’re doing it the right way, making and serving the real deal. Gelato and ice cream aren’t quite the same thing – there’s less cream in gelato, it’s churned slower and served at a higher temperature, meaning that it’s generally more healthy and tastes better than its ‘poor cousin’, the humble ice cream. They’re using the proper gear to make it too, imported from Bologna, a city which has its own gelato university. Not messing about, basically.
446 Didsbury Road, SK4 3BS
Asuke Sushi
Open now
Newly arrived in Altrincham is Asuke, bringing an impressively comprehensive Japanese menu to a neighbourhood already heaving with excellent places to eat. It has a vast range of sushi, from nigiri to sashimi to maki to uramaki, as well as its own special ‘gunkan’ (boat-shaped) rolls. There are katsu curries, wok-fried udon and yakisoba, bao buns and teriyaki too. Where do we sign up?
118 Manchester Road, Altrincham, WA14 4PY
NERF Action Xperience
Opening September 8
Who in their right mind doesn’t love a good NERF shoot-out? Simple pleasures. Opening at Trafford Palazzo (the bit over the bridge from the Trafford Centre), this will be the UK’s very first NERF-themed attraction, boasting a host of dedicated battle zones in which you’ll be able to pepper your pals with plastic pellets. There’s also a unique three-sided blaster gallery and a training zone so you can hone your skills before heading out into the wild.
Bondi Bowls
TBC
Yet another addition to the Kampus neighbourhood (which now has everything from high-end pastry to top drawer tacos to pedigree pies), this Aussie-inspired healthy fast-food joint previously found at Hatch will be bringing the vibrant flavours of Bondi beach to the Rainy City. There will be açaí and poké bowls, bringing in everything from roasted cauliflower to miso salmon, ready to be lashed with tahini and yoghurt dressings, as well as freshly blended smoothies.
Kampus, Manchester M1 3EF
Finders Keepers
Open now
Found on Keepers Quay, Finders Keepers (geddit?) is a new project from the fine folks behind Didsbury Gin and ARLU rum, and plans to bring high-end cocktails to the very lovely Islington Marina. All the drinks are their own bespoke creations – one mezcal-loaded number is intended to evoke the coastline of Mexico, complete with a sea salt foam – but if you want a Manhattan, they might do you one if you ask nicely (the bar staff have excellent pedigree from the likes of Speak In Code and the Dakota, so they know their gimlets from their gibsons). Very much what the doctor ordered.
8 Keepers Quay, Manchester M4 6JL
Kargo MKT
Opening September 15
This massive new venture at Salford Quays promised to be a global food hall and it really is delivering if the trader reveals so far are anything to go by. Of a proposed 20 vendors, Kargo MKT, from the same team behind Cutlery Works in Sheffield and GPO in Liverpool, has announced: Caribbean comfort food from Chorlton’s Jerk Junction, Chinese Ma La Tang hot soup from Tang, Brazilian-Mexican fusion from Caroline Martin’s Rio-Mex, Vietnamese pho from Nam, Greek gyros from Thatziki, Hong Kong inspired bubble tea from Boba Cha, Korean bibimbap from Bab Korean, Italian Schiacciata sarnies from Ad Maiora, Burmese food like Laphet Thoke from Nila’s Burmese, Worsley fave Leopard Spot pizza and Palestinian dishes from the much-loved Baity that recently announced it would be closing its Didsbury restaurant. We can’t wait to see who else is moving in.
The Quays, Salford M50 2NT
Mean-Eyed Cat
Opening September 28
Incoming from Leeds, Mean-Eyed Cat will be jumping into the space left by experimental Thai BBQ joint District. It’s a bit more of a Dirty South dive bar vibe, though, serving up free pizza with your drinks and with a roll of a dice, you might even get your round for free. With 20 years in the game, the Leeds branch has become a bit of an institution, so expect wild cocktails and even a secret tiki bar in the basement.
60 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE
Makers Quarter KAMPUS
Opening late September, TBC
We all know someone who always has a bit coloured paper or a couple of sequins inadvertently stuck to their clothing (it might even be you). So this is for them. Makers Quarter at Kampus is a permanent hub for designers and makers of all shapes and colours. This artist focused space will have studios that can be rented by creatives on a monthly basis for things like art, photography, pottery, and upholstery as well as digital design-led businesses. There will also be ‘member studios’ with access to shared machinery and tech including 3D printers, laser cutters, kilns, potter’s wheels, and screen printing facilities. There will also be pay-as-you-go workbenches where you can ‘hot desk’ like in a co-working space with the option of add-on access to equipment and facilities, high-end craft workshops and a coffee shop.
Patois
Open mid-September
Rejoice. The folks behind hit Caribbean takeaway kitchen TruBlu are opening up their first proper restaurant. Called Patois, it will be taking up the spot left vacant by cocktail bar Proof (opposite the Beagle in Chorlton), with chef Jae Nevz serving up the finest curry goat, wings, plantain curry and whole barbecued jerk chickens, along with fresh seafood, vegetarian dishes and watermelon lychee cocktails. Best of all, it’ll be open late – until 1am on weekends, so those late night rumblings will be catered for too.
Waku Waku
Open now
We might not see another opening like this for a while. Taking its inspiration from the 2D cafes seen in Taiwan and Japan, Waku Waku has been drawn – literally – by owner Chris Lui, who took four months and used over 150 pens inking the walls in his new Japanese restaurant on Portland Street to make it look like a comic book. The effect is disorientating at first, but excellent food – including the signature omelette rice – soon make you feel at home.
54 Portland St, Manchester M1 4QU
