Derren Brown dropped into one of the city’s most sought after bars on Saturday night, following his show at the Lowry. The A-list illusionist hit Speak In Code, recently named among the best bars in the country.
Replying to a fan on Twitter, Brown said that the bar served him a ‘sensational’ martini, and paid tribute to the ‘lovely team’ who attended to him. “Last night I went for a sensational martini at Speak In Code, a wonderful speakeasy cocktaily spot in Manchester,” he tweeted.
“Sensational martinis are worth noting; they are few and far between. Thank you to the lovely team there.” The hidden bar, denoted only by a discrete sign and which is run by Nathan Larkin, opened on Jackson’s Row in 2018.
But it’s quickly become one of the hottest tickets in town, particularly since February this year, when it was named in the top 10 cocktail bars in the UK. Larkin told the M.E.N after finding out the news: “We’ve been up for awards in Manchester every year, and this is the first time we’ve ever had any national recognition.
“We fully expected our names to be called at number 49, and we’d have been ‘cool, we’re on a national platform in a room full of the best bars on the planet’. But the further it went on, they were calling out some of the best bars in the world. Lyaness in London, the American Bar at The Savoy. We thought they’d forgotten about us.
“We just had to pinch ourselves that we’d made it into the top 10. We’re speechless. And a bit starstruck when you’re up there with bars that have taken the title of best bar in the world on multiple occasions.”
The bar has just a handful of tables, and all the drinks on offer are plant-based, with ingredients like aquafaba - aka chickpea water - replacing egg whites.
Brown has been in town since last week, performing Showman, his first new theatre show in six years. Our critic gave the performance a full five stars, but like all those reviewing the show, were asked not to reveal any spoilers. But he said that the audience was left 'open-mouthed' at Brown's work.
The show runs until July 16.
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