New in Food: Man Bites Frog, Trader Dan's & more

Feature by Jess Hardiman | 01 Jun 2016

Seems like that Northern independent spirit is alive and well this June, with loads of new gaffs to check out – from the curious Man Bites Frog in Manchester's Chorlton suburb, to Lovelock's in Liverpool and The Hedonist Project's latest incarnation, Trader Dan's Surf Shack. 

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of new restaurant and bar openings in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, our monthly round-ups of the best new openings every month should help you choose somewhere new to try – from cosy coffee dens to beach-themed bars. Opening a new food and drink venue in Manchester, Liverpool or Leeds? Let us know – send the details to hiya@theskinny.co.uk.

New bars in Manchester

Man Bites Frog

Chorlton has itself a new boozer – by the curious name of Man Bites Frog, no less. Taking inspiration from the French, the space comes with the kind of mismatched furniture that wouldn’t feel out of place in a granny flat, all coming together to channel the relaxed vibe that’ll have you believe you’re sinking an Armagnac alongside your cheery grandmère. It’s the outside courtyard that might just prove to be the jewel in the crown, though – poised not only to accommodate our al fresco thirst, but also outdoor silent cinema screenings. Nous aimons. Open now, Barlow Moor Road, Manchester.

Red Door

Already an established name in Liverpool and Chester, this one’s particularly significant given the recent passing of Living Ventures boss Tim Bacon, who leaves us Red Door, housed in the Deansgate building where it all began for him (with his 1990s bar JW Johnson’s). Set in a basement space underneath The Botanist, the VIP launch do is on Thursday 9 June, after which it looks like the bar will follow the same fate as its sister sites to become another cocktail hotspot – with an eight-person sharer served from a giant disco mirrorball just one of the highlights to expect. Opens Thu 9 Jun, Deansgate, Manchester.

[Cocktails at Red Door]

Arcane

King Street’s at it again, adding yet another late night boozer to its growing crop of food and drink ventures. This time it’s Arcane, which is open now underneath La Vina. Inside, it’s a cosy if not slightly unfinished den of sofas, mid-century coffee tables, old books and seriously gorgeous glassware – though it’s the cocktail list that’s most promising, rotating on a regular basis to truly capitalise on the products available. Definitely a strong contender for a reliable nightcap. Its neighbour down the road, Wood & Co (from the Dusk Til Pawn crew), is also now open. Open now, South King Street, Manchester.

New restaurants and cafes in Manchester

Tea 42

After going into liquidation at the tail-end of last year, it seems tea and cake shop Tea 42, which specialises in catering to the gluten-free among us, is back in action. Open now, High Street, Manchester. 

B.Eat Street

Not content with the success of their junkyard golf and Friday Food Fights, the B.Eat Street team are now doing one better with the opening of an entire street of food vendors. They'll be taking over an unused strip behind the Great Northern and packing it with bars and micro diners that'll stay open until 3am. Looks like there'll be outside space for sun-worshippers, too. Due to open mid June, The Mews, Manchester. 

[Hawksmoor 10th anniversary]

New Classics menu at Hawksmoor

The mighty Hawksmoor on Deansgate may have only been with us for a year, but the brand is currently celebrating its landmark 10th anniversary. For the occasion, they’ve launched a six-course Classics menu that takes you through the tastes of the company’s rich history via the avenues of its even richer dishes, like those moreish, oozy short rib nuggets stuffed with Ogleshield; scallops with white port and garlic; and, of course, a choice of fillet or rib-eye steak and bone marrow, with sides and sauces including triple-cooked chips and anchovy Hollandaise. It’s an undisputed meat feast, although the true pièce de résistance has to be the sticky toffee pudding when paired with Cesar Florido cream sherry. £70 a head (£110 with paired wine from Fiona Beckett); Deansgate, Manchester.

New bars in Liverpool

Be At One

No opening date yet for this one, but it looks like we'll soon be in on Be At One's cocktail action (which the rest of the UK has already been taking advantage of). Rumoured to serve over 150 different drinks, we're sure there'll be summat there for you. Seel Street, Liverpool.

New restaurants and cafes in Liverpool

Lovelock’s 

Indie café Lovelock’s is now open on Old Haymarket, a new venture for owner Sarah Lovelock, who’s harnessed a distinctly homely, approachable vibe to the place – a bit like you’ve nipped round to your friend’s for a catch up, and said friend has the locally roasted Merseyside coffee in and a stunning green tiled counter. Accordingly, the food is simple and decently priced: sarnies and bagels come in at no more than £3.50 and include fillings such as pulled pork (and a vegan alternative), serrano ham, cream cheese and rocket, and bacon, brie and cranberry, while breakfast dishes cover the grounds of porridge, baked eggs and that ubiquitous avocado on toast. Open now, Old Haymarket, Liverpool.

[Lovelock's. Photo: Nic Taylor]

Jam Restaurant and Tea Bar

It’s a bold move, specialising in the one thing that us Brits are so defensive about – but with more than 25 different types of tea, Jam Restaurant and Tea Bar look like they’re sufficiently up to the job. They're also keeping doors open until 11pm, giving us the café culture we need to help us veer away from the pints. Due to open at some point in June, Sir Thomas Street, Liverpool.

FINCA BBQ

Meanwhile, Cuban street food bods FINCA add to their humble serving hatch at their Botanical Gin Garden summer home, by firing up the BBQ throughout National BBQ Week for an extended menu that includes Pollo Assado (mojo chicken thighs), Moros Y Cristianos (rice and black beans), and baby back ribs with a guava BBQ sauce – all adding to their current spread of cubanos sandwiches, mariquitas and bunuelos. Better still, for the launch do on Saturday 4 June they'll be donating a percentage of the profits raised on the day to local charity Claire House Children's Hospice. Nice work. From Sat 4 Jun, Botanical Gin Garden, New Bird Street, Liverpool.

New bars in Leeds

Trader Dan’s Surf Shack

A concept bar that reinvents itself every quarter, The Hedonist Project got off to a good start at the end of last year with Liquor and Whisky, which was followed in spring by Old Tom’s Gin Kitchen. Now, they're taking summer by the horns with Trader Dan’s Surf Shack, a beach bar that’ll help us feel the sunshine even if the weather outside won’t play ball. Or at least, they'll let us sink enough rum to forget about that heatwave we didn’t want anyway. Launches Thu 30 Jun, Lower Briggate, Leeds.

[The Hedonist Project space]

Stampede

Serving up a carnivorous triple threat of ribs, wings and burgers, Stampede recently granted Leeds with its second UK outlet (its first being in Lakeside shopping centre in Essex), taking over the unit that used to be home to Colazione. Sides include the usual suspects of slaw, BBQ beans and, above all else, the indulgent Canadian marvel that is poutine. Open now, Albion Street, Leeds.

In need of a new favourite spot? Read the results of our 2016 Food & Drink Survey

Festivals, tastings and one-offs – find out what's on in our Food events column 

http://theskinny.co.uk/food