What's On
NEW OPENING: An Ibiza-style bar and restaurant from the creators of Ramona is coming to Ancoats
The brains behind Ramona are bringing the vibes of Ibiza and California to Ancoats
We’re all aware that throughout the last few months, Ancoats’ resident Detroit-style pizzeria and margarita bar, Ramona, has boomed in popularity – so we can expect some seriously good stuff from their next venture.
The latest offering from the team is ‘The Firehouse’, which will take residency directly next door to Ramona in a renovated former warehouse.
Expected to boast a 250 person capacity, The Firehouse will take inspiration from the teams’ travels to Ibiza and California; epic yet intimate places they didn’t want to leave.
The Firehouse
While its sister venue has become famous for dishing up slabs of pizza and marvellously salty margs, The Firehouse will be taking on a somewhat different vibe with the help of its ‘Slow Fires Open Kitchen’, which will take on cooking techniques used by Chef and Owner Daniel Mullen.
Diners can expect small rustic plates coal-roasted and blistered over an open flame, alongside incredible baked goods and a weekend brunch menu. Diners will also be able to eat next to the woodfire kitchen chefs in the exclusive Open Table, where they can get the full Slow Fires experience.
And as for the tipples?
The Firehouse
Well, The Firehouse’s bar will be specialising in the wild spirits of Latin America – we’re talking tequila, mezcal, pisco, rum and cachaça. Agavé, the primary ingredient in all of these spirits, is the inspiration behind the bar’s selection – to this very day, the plant is still cooked in fire pits and slow fires from three to thirty days.
It’s these slow, real processes that inspire the Firehouse bar team and define the offering overall.
Wild spirits provide the base for the fresh fruit cocktail menu, where bar duo Jonny Brown and Mike Cartledge will be shaking up fresh infusions, syrups and shrubs to compliment the cocktails.
Everything, from the toasted coconut flake infused pisco, the jalapeno shrub, and the charred pineapple agave, takes time and everything is made by hand.
The Firehouse
The venue’s co-owner, Adelaide Winters, said on the new venture: “The Firehouse has been an idea of ours for a long time, inspired after spending summers in California and Ibiza. The sort of places that we just never wanted to leave.
“Intimate, yet epic and all lovingly made. Where everything is enticing, the welcome, the food, the music, the drinks. All the best it can be. For everyone. We just wanted to open somewhere that gives the sort of experience we’re after when we go out.”
The Firehouse will be an all day venue open Thursday – Friday from 12pm-12am, and at the weekend from 10am til late – it’s set to kick off this weekend with a soft launch from Friday to Sunday.
Make sure to follow The Firehouse’s official Instagram account for updates and official opening dates.
What's On
Hawksmoor creates ultimate steak sandwich for huge Manchester barbecue event
Can’t wait for this!
Live From The Grill is returning in 2024 for a third year, bringing with it next level barbecue food, drinks, live music and DJs.
Deansgate Square will once again host a weekend of BBQs from some of Manchester’s best restaurants, including Hawksmoor, who will be serving up the ultimate steak sandwich.
Also serving up some top scran will be Knight’s Caribbean BBQ, Japanese robata by Kitten, Food Sorcery Cookery School, and Chit ‘n’ Chaat with Indian street food.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Plus, there’s £3.50 pints all day and other drinks deals exclusively for Manchester’s Finest subscribers – so make sure you get signed up.
The free event is taking place on Saturday August 31st and Sunday September 1st, down at one of the city centre’s most exciting new neighbourhoods, New Jackson.
Both Saturday and Sunday’s day-long parties are free to attend with tickets. Saturday will feature Rinse.FM residents Habitat, DJ G2 & Friends, soulful drum and bass from Rare Groove, and Manchester’s longest-running club night, Funkademia.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Sunday is curated by Gigpig and is all about the bands, including rising jazz superstar Kemani Anderson, electro-soul singer Yemi Bolatiwa, 60s and 70s-inspired blues duo Corduroy Moustache, singer-songwriters Ruby J and Grace Kelly, as well as a set from DJ Lenny.
Live From The Grill 2024 is happening at Deansgate Square, New Jackson, M15 4TN, from 12pm till 8pm both days.
Tickets are free, grab them here.
What's On
Manchester’s biggest after work drinks with FREE pints happening this week
Get yourself down!
What promises to be Manchester’s biggest after work drinks is happening this week, and you can head down for a pint on us.
Manchester’s Finest is serving up complimentary drinks at a secret location in town, and you’re invited to enjoy an after work drink on the house.
This is in collaboration with the new ChinChin app, which helps you organise nights out with your mates.
Manchester’s Finest Group
The massive after work social is happening this week, on Thursday August 15th.
Simply head to the secret location from 5.30pm to enjoy one of 400 pints being given away – choose from Amstel, Inch’s cider or a soft drink.
The fastest and easiest way to make plans with friends, download the ChinChin app to find out where to head and join in the fun.
Manchester’s Finest Group
To secure your invite (and free pint), create your ChinChin account, click the link to let us know you’re coming, and head to the secret spot – which will be revealed on the app.
And if that’s not enough, ChinChin will also throw in £5 Uber credit for attendees to safely get home too – redeem it when you first check-in on ChinChin.
Please drink responsibly.
What's On
The North’s best street food is coming to Manchester this weekend
The best street food is coming to Manchester
The British Street Food Awards Northern heats are coming to Freight Island this weekend, bringing with it some of the region’s best street food.
Part of the largest street food competition in the world, the free event arrives in the city this summer this weekend, August 17th and 18th.
The Northern champion will be selected by a panel of judges: Matty White, known for his work on Manchester’s Finest and Steph’s Packed Lunch, Luke Payne, chef at The Pack Horse in Hayfield, and British Street Food Awards founder and food journalist Richard Johnson.
Hello Oriental
The participating traders have now been released, along with their taster dishes which are all available at £6.50, as well as an additional ‘killer dish’.
You can sample Caribbean food from Back-a-yard Jamaican, Baldy’s artisan pies, Burgerism, Colombo Street’s Sri Lankan street food, and Asian fusion from Fuku, and Hello Oriental.
There’s Greek classics from Mega Gyros, Mia’s Arepas, Pattersons fried chicken, Indian street food from Payal, Rio-Mex’s fusion of Brazilian and Mexican street food, and BBQ from Smoking Coal.
British Street Food Awards
Don’t miss traditional Malaysian cuisine from Syiok-Lah, That Ziki’s Greek street food with a modern twist, and Zapp, who are bringing traditional Polish street food.
Past winners of the prestigious award include MEATliquor, Wingmans and BAO. The winner of this year’s competition will head to London for the UK finals in September.
And in even better news, you can head down yourself and try all of the North’s best street food over the weekend.
Colombo Street
You can also have your say in the People’s Choice award, with the winners of both announced on August 18th.
The awards coincide with Freight’s summer of top tier – and free – music programming too, with Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip headlining Sunday’s line-up, alongside the Body Heat DJs.
Grab your free tickets here.
Find something to do in Manchester
Powered by 
The Italian spot doing 50% off their entire a la carte menu
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
Hawksmoor creates ultimate steak sandwich for huge Manchester barbecue event
Manchester’s biggest after work drinks with FREE pints happening this week
The North’s best street food is coming to Manchester this weekend
