Eats
It welcomed England fans for the first time this past weekend.
Danny Jones -17th June 2024
Foodie favourites Brewski are set to open a new location over in Ancoats later this year but in the meantime, they’re turning the space into a pop-up bar for the Euros.
Now this is the kind of pro-active thinking we like to hear.
Brewski announced a new addition to their American Pies pizza concept over on Cutting Room Square last week and although an opening date is yet to be confirmed, they’re making sure to give football fans another place to watch Euro 2024.
As teased in a short video on their social, the new pop-up has taken over the old Second City site and is following their sports bar footsteps this summer – better still, it’s free entry.
Brewski boasts three main brand venues in Chorlton, Sheffield and Chester, but this new venture will be just their second American Pies restaurant in the UK full stop – but not before they serve up a summer of footy, pints and enough screens for everyone to get a proper view of the action.
Sounds simple but it can be hard to guarantee in a busy pub.
Another feature we really like about the impending pop-up, which quietly opened for England’s opening Euros win over Serbia, is that Ancoats locals and the droves of Manchester fans now likely to make their over to the square from are being encouraged to bring their food.
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Think of it like a picnic/potluck only with the hate-to-love-it stress of a major international tournament.
Read more:
- BOX launch lookalike competition where you can win free pints and bar tabs for Euro 2024
- One of the UK’s best bars is coming to Manchester for one night only
- Chips @ No.8 – Greater Manchester’s greatest chippy opens new bar and restaurant
As for when the newest American Pies spot will open, since things are still in the early stages we don’t have too much information for you but we can tell you that it’s up there with what we believe are the best pizza places in Manchester.
The ‘Ancoats Sports and Recreation’ pop-up bar will be showing every single game and, once again, there are strictly no bookings or entry fees, so it’s definitely worth giving a go.
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As for all the other places where to watch Euro 2024 in Manchester, you can full find our full guide down below.
Oh yeah, and in case you didn’t know already, it’s coming home…
Where to watch Euro 2024 in Manchester
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Featured Images — The Manc Group/Brewski (via IG)
Eats
The White Lion, Stockport’s oldest pub, reopens after 15 yearsDanny Jones
The White Lion, Stockport’s oldest and one of its most historic pubs has been reborn and is now officially open to the public for the first time in 15 years.
Brought back to life by the team behind Alfredo’s Pizza Social, which opened up just a stone’s throw away on Great Underbank last year, the newly reopened White Lion Coaching House is up there with the borough’s most storied and decadent buildings.
With a fascinating history which harks all the way back as far as the 15th century (when the location was said to have first been given its hostelry license to serve as a pub/inn), the building only became the impressive Edwardian structure we see today back in 1904, but it’s long been sat unutilised.
Now, though, The White Lion has been given a whole new lease of life and is set to serve not only as a bustling town centre boozer but also as a place to grab classic pub grub, book private functions and live sport. Perfect timing for the Euro 2024.
Having operated as a pub and coaching house throughout the Victorian era, TheWhiteLionhas served as everything from a post house for horseriders, a labour exchange, an auction house and even a coroner’s court at one point. It was given its distinct mock Tudor facade back in 1823.
The upper floors of the Grade-II listed building were turned into 11 luxury apartments back in 2020 after being acquired by Stockport Council in partnership with the Trafford Housing Trust (now London & Quadrant) as part of £7m local investment, but now the pub itself has been brought back to life.
In the heart of SK’s historic Underbank district and adjacent to the busy Merseyway Shopping Centre, which is also steadily being redeveloped, the latest iteration of the White Lion has all the character of its rich heritage but with all new fittings and fixtures like plush booth-seating, multiple bars, TVs and more.
The White Lion is also relaunching with a tried and tasted food menu of British pub classics like fish and chips, burgers; a proper Sunday roast and their soon-to-be signature ‘Lion Wraps’, which elevate the now-beloved Yorkshire puddings street food with pot of gravy for dipping to boot.
Although the structure itself is made up of four storeys total, the newly opened pub spans across the entire ground floor and the fully converted cellar area, which promises to be perfect for live music, parties, meetings and popular live sporting events.
Being resurrected by industry veterans, Paul AstillandJon Dootson – who between them have owned and run many Manc institutions including Cord, Centro, Thomas, the old RampantLionnear Victoria Park and Tib Street Tavern over in the Northern Quarter, there’s plenty of pedigree behind this new opening.
Commenting on the relaunch, Astill said: “As soon as Jon showed me the building I just fell in love with it and I instantly said I want to be involved. The White Lion has an amazing history and everyone in the community has a story to tell about it.
“It’s taken us over four years to finally open the doors and we’re really proud of the result. It’s a beautiful building but it was an empty shell when we started. We feel like we’ve really achieved something when people comment on us keeping the original features but it’s actually all new with the exception of the
entrance.”
Read more:
- One of the UK’s best bars is coming to Manchester for one night only
- Local breweries unite to offer free pints to those who vote at this general election
- You can actually get paid £250 to watch the Euros this summer
With the pub already open to the public from 11am-11pm from Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, Stopfordians are buzzing to have this important piece of their local history back open and restored to its former glory.
Paul went on to explain how they’ve “also created the ‘Lion’s Den’ and Boardroom in the cellars, which is a space that has never previously been used.” Lions, dens – get it?…
“It’s kind of a gentleman’s club feel that’s perfect for intimate gigs, parties or private functions”, he continued, adding: “It’ll also host the ‘Lion’s Den Sporting Club’ showing all sports starting with all the Euro games.”
What about you, Stockport locals – have you popped into the new White Lion yet and, if so, what are your first impressions?
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester,subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The White Lion Coaching House (supplied)
Eats
Manc favourite pizza place PLY announces shock closure of long-standing Northern Quarter siteDanny Jones
In another gutting bit of Manc hospitality news, local favourite pizza spot PLY has sadly announced that it will be shutting down its long-standing location in the Northern Quarter.
Having grown to become a foodie and nightlife institution over on Lever Street and remaining one of the most popular pizza places in town pretty much since day one, PLY has been a mainstay on the Manchester culinary scene for nearly a decade.
Known for enticing mid-week deals that always welcomed back a regular crowd, great deals and discounts for students that always ensured it had an atmosphere well into the evenings, and serving up consistently delicious pizza and welcoming other independent traders, it’s a tough one to take.
PLY confirmed the gutting news in a lengthy post on their social media pages on Wednesday, 19 June, revealing that this will be the last week for people to visit their original NQ home.
The emotional statement confirming PLY’s closure reads as follows: “With a heavy heart, after nearly 10 years at Stevenson Square, this is our FINAL WEEK.
“Opening back in March 2015, PLY, originally born as Neapolitan Pizza Joint, dazzled customers with its trendy art and giant Mirror Tiled Pizza Oven. A staple of the Northern Quarter food and drink scene throughout the years. Most recently, with the introduction of Independent food traders including Mickys, Cardinal Rule and Lazy Tony’s.
“Unfortunately, after 10 years, our home at 26 Lever Street is in need of some major TLC and renovations that are sadly out of our hands, which is why the decision to close our venue has been made…
“We would love to say a huge thank you to our amazing staff, a team we are so proud of and know for sure will all go on to smash it. You truly are all (past and present) Amazing.
“Our wonderful independent traders Mickys, Cardinal Rule and Lazy Tony’s, our fantastic suppliers and contractors, our security team [and] everyone that has run an event at PLY over the years.
“The legend that being is Brian (if you’ve been fortunate to have ever met Brian you will know how much of a rock he is to all of us at PLY), you have all made this a truly wonderful ride, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
“Most of all, YOU, our fantastic customers and supporters, our regulars and now friends that have joined us for a pint, a birthday or even a wedding reception throughout the years, to you we say thank tou.
“But for now, we hope to see you all over this final week at PLY to say one final farewell. Come drink the place dry on Saturday (there will be big discounts).
“The PLY brand will live on through @ply.pizza.loves.you“.
“Carl, Mark and the team at PLY”
Read more:
- Local breweries unite to offer free pints to those who vote at this general election
- Trove breaks silence on shock closure and confirms Levenshulme site will also close
- Brewksi launch pop-up Euros bar in Ancoats site ahead of new restaurant opening
As mentioned, the PLY brand as a whole will survive through the remaining locations in King Pins at Manchester Arndale Arndale, Trafford Palazzo, New Century and The Dockyard over at Barons Quay in Northwich, so at least it’s not goodbye completely.
They also revealed that new tenants are set to move in and transform the space very soon, so the place you spent all those nights scanning slices isn’t gone forever and we eagerly await to see who takes over the reins.
Nevertheless, rest in peace to the original PLY and thanks for the memories.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester,subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/PLY
