I saw a post this week on Feel Good Club. It read:
“Just imagine. It’s Friday, you’ve finished work, it’s still warm. You and your pals are having an after work drink. There’s no need for masks, no need for distancing. You hug goodbye and everything is good. Soon.”
While we make our way through our third lockdown in less than a year, with restaurants and bars closed for more than two months (this time around), this fantasy feels like nothing more than a warm, fuzzy dream.
But while we may be a way off yet, we’re hopefully starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we can tentatively start to look ahead to a life beyond the pandemic; a time where dining out and socialising will once again be on the cards.
And we’re starting to feel that optimism from operators too, with some new openings on the horizon.
One new venue set for Manchester is a brand new food, drink and entertainment space called Society.
With plans to open in March this year, Society will be an all-day space for street food, craft beer, wine and cocktails.
Located in the former Pitcher and Piano site in Barbirolli Square, the 350-capacity hub will have feature five independently-owned kitchens, a cocktail bar and specialist craft beer taproom, hosted by Hebden Bridge brewery Vocation.
Open from 10am every day, the large space with high ceilings, promises to have plenty of nooks, banquettes and long tables designed as a place for visitors to dine, drink and socialise throughout the day.
Confirmed food traders include Slap & Pickle diner, serving a menu of burgers and loaded fries, and pan-Asian specialists Manzoku Street Food serving sushi and sides.
Leeds-based, Falafel Guys will bring their signature falafel and shawarma wraps to Manchester for the first time.
Finally, the team behind Ancoats restaurant Elnecot will launch their new pizza concept Dokes Pizzeria at Society, serving fresh stone-baked pizzas.
Posting on Instagram, Elnecot wrote: “The cat is out of the bag. Or the pizza is out of the oven… We’ve been working quietly on a new project for a while now and here it is. As part of a brand new space in the city centre called Society, we will be introducing our brand new concept… Dokes Pizzeria.
“We will be keeping the Elnecot ethos of British, seasonal ingredients and we will be showcasing some of the amazing producers who we have worked with over the past three years. We can’t wait to share it with you.”
Entertainment will come up in the form of a rotating line-up of resident DJs such as Manchester-based Regal Disco and other special guests.
The team is also planning a programme of events, live music, takeovers and collaborations with local chefs.
Nick Gregory, Director and co-founder of Society, said:
“We’re very excited to finally open the doors to this iconic venue and look forward to welcoming guests throughout the day, evenings and weekends at Society.
“We’ve got an incredible line up that will showcase local food operators as well as our 2021 events programme that will be dedicated to highlighting independent artists from Manchester’s thriving music scene.
“It’s so important to us to create a destination that showcases the very best of Manchester and Society will be just that.”
Society will be located in Barbirolli Square and will open in March 2021.
For more information, visit: societymanchester.com.
