Bakerie is the best kind of place. Offering fresh bread and unique wines in a chilled out space with an intriguing playlist and friendly service. The venue is situated in the NQ on Lever Street, Manchester – the communal benches make it the perfect place to sit, eat and chat, at any time of day. There are more intimate tables for two and also three large booths available for private hire.
The menu is simple and seductive with bits and bobs, sharing plates, soup, stews and sandwiches and baskets of fresh bread to accompany. The three of us ordered a selection of dishes to share: wonderful Meditteranean inspired meat and cheese boards, Chicken and bacon salad and Wild Mushroom Fricassee on toast. Everything was delicious but I’d particularly recommend the sharing boards which arrived prompting smelling divine and looking even better. Pile each mouthful high with a chunk of brie, a slice of sizzling hot pepperoni and wisp of salad.
And though meat and cheese flavours can’t be beaten, it is the soft fresh aromatic bread which keeps the Mancunians coming back to Bakerie for more. A basket of bread wedges is presented, a selection from the kitchen: white organic loaf, granary, baguette, and my personal favourite, Focaccia.
Look out for wine tasting events, bread making classes and all manner of other top things in the pipeline. Bakerie is family friendly with a toddler menu available until 7pm and gluten free, dairy free and vegan diners are catered for.
New restaurant Pie & Ale opens this week alongside Bakerie.
More information here: http://bakerie.co.uk/
Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled with Virgin Trains.
Typical journey time between London and Manchester is just 2h 7m on one of the state-of-the-art tilting trains, six days a week. Engineering works slow things down a little on Sunday mornings, but by lunchtime they’re operating services – at 2h15m – just a shade slower than Monday to Saturday. Trains every 20 minutes, six and a half days a week.
Booking in advance and travelling off-peak is the best way to get great deals – including some fantastic First Class bargains. Single fares start at: Advance Standard £12.50 and Advance First £38.00, book here.