Almost Famous is heading to Withington. The cult Manchester burger brand, which ushered in the patty revolution in the city, will be taking up the spot vacated by The Libertine pub.
The Libertine was opened last August by the team behind the likes of Cottonopolis and The Edinburgh Castle. However, it closed before Christmas, citing issues surrounding its energy contracts.
The pub was opened in the historic Old District Bank, with Almost Famous now moving in to benefit from the fit-out of the Grade II listed building. They plan to open up by the end of May, with a week of parties.
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“We’re opening in a place very dear to our hearts,” owner Beau Myers told the Manchester Evening News. “Having lived in South Manchester between Fallowfield and West Didsbury for most of my life, I know this will be the perfect fit for us.
“The building is absolutely stunning, a grade II listed bank at the top of the High St which we plan on injecting with all the fun and playful styling of Almost Famous, it’ll be a place of magical escapism in the heart of a bustling South Manchester suburb.”
The new spot will boast 120 covers, as well as a 40 cover private dining room for other events. Meanwhile, as well as serving burgers, cocktails and beers, they also plan to run take-out from the pub, meaning that areas like Fallowfield, Burnage, Chorlton, West Didsbury, Didsbury Village and Gatley will be able to order Almost Famous burgers via Deliveroo.
He added that the new site will be ‘going for a friendly neighbourhood vibe’, with planned movie nights, quiz nights and ‘partnerships with local businesses benefiting the community’, with plans for a special ‘Southside Burger’, which will be exclusive to the Withington branch.
Beau went on: “Not gonna lie the last few years have been s**t - a proper struggle in every sense and all about protecting what we have and keeping things going - so now that our s**t is in order, it’s such a buzz to be opening a new place.
“I was a student in Fallowfield and have lived around West Didsbury most of my adult life, so it feels really special to be opening somewhere I know I want to hang out in and I think friends and everyone else will want to too.
“I've been drunk on the number 42 between town and Dids and probably partied in every venue along the route so to be part of that madness now is really something. Famous is that escapist playground where people make memories - all about the good times.
“First dates with awkward burger juice dripping down your face, parties with the best of friends, family meals where you don't have to worry about the kids behaving - we got a 10ft gorilla for them to climb on.
“Now I've got a family, it feels like I've gone full circle with all of these experiences, it's not that we're growing up, we're still crazy, but it feels like we're coming home.”
Almost Famous started out on High Street in 2012, with no reservations and queues snaking through the Northern Quarter. It went on to open branches at the Great Northern Warehouse, and recently on Edge Street, in the site vacated by Home Sweet Home.
There are also branches in Leeds and Liverpool, with satellite kitchens in Lane7 bowling alleys in Leicester, Bristol and Newcastle.
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