One of Manchester’s newest brunch hot spots has announced its closure after less than a year in the city.
Tahi opened at the new Circle Square development just last summer, promising top-quality coffee and baked goods alongside an all-day menu of brunches lifted from the world-famous cafe culture of New Zealand.
The beautiful space in the brand new neighbourhood featured dishes including sweetcorn fritters, beef mince on house-baked muffins (a NZ classic), and braised beef cheek with bubble and squeak.
But despite a promising start, Tahi today announced its closure, citing all the reasons that have been hammering the hospitality industry across the UK.
The restaurant posted on Instagram that it had been ‘a difficult time for hospitality, in particular the independents’.
They urged their followers to go out and support local business and thanked their ‘lovely staff’.
Tahi’s full statement said: “It is with great sadness that we are announcing the permanent closure of our Circle Square Eatery.
Tahi in Manchester has announced its closure. Credit: The Manc GroupTahi in Manchester has announced its closure. Credit: The Manc GroupTahi in Manchester has announced its closure. Credit: The Manc Group
“Our heartfelt thanks go out to the lovely staff which have supported us in bringing our vision to life throughout this last year and to our loyal customers who tried their best to support us.
“Many factors have led to this decision but ultimately this is a difficult time for hospitality, in particular the independents, and for us the consistency to build a stable business wasn’t there.
“We really urge you to get out and support your favourite local businesses and try out the new ones trying to bring you something special as it’s so important to us.
“Cheers and farewell Manchester from everyone at Tahi.”
Dozens of devastated messages have been pouring in from fans.
One person wrote: “This is heartbreaking! You are a real asset to the city with unrivalled pastries, fantastic service and top notch food and wine. I’m so sad to read this. Will miss this special place very much.”
Another person commented: “Nooooo! So sad to hear this, Tahi was my top of the list recommendation when someone wanted somewhere for breakfast. Hope you’ll find some other way to continue at another site or a pop up.”
Someone else’s comment said: “Sending all the love from NZ we are so proud of you and understand the difficult decision you had to make.”
Lively Irish pub Nancy Spains set to open in Manchester for the first time
Daisy Jackson
An Irish bar famed for its live music is heading up to Manchester for the first time, and is promising £2.50 pints to lure us in.
Nancy Spains will be venturing out of London for the first time promising to bring the ‘ultimate traditional Irish pub experience’ to the Northern Quarter.
If you were to ask what the hottest trend in hospitality is right now the answer would, apparently, be Guinness. We’re drowning in the stuff.
This latest opening is more about Murphy’s, another Irish stout, than Guinness (they actually won’t serve Guinness at all) but the craic will be much the same.
Nancy Spains is actually set to open almost directly opposite the aforementioned Salmon of Knowledge, taking over the former Corner Boy unit on Stevenson Square in the heart of Manchester.
To celebrate its opening, the pub will be serving its first 5000 pints of Murphy’s for just £2.50, so that it can show off the atmosphere that’s established it as ‘one of London’s favourite pubs’.
They’re promising an array of Irish whiskeys behind the bar, live music performances, and a lively late-night setting.
Nancy Spains was set up by three brothers who travelled all over their home county of rural Kerry researching Irish pubs, before launching two venues down in London.
They want it to balance a traditional pub with the vibrancy of the city.
Peter O’Halloran, co-founder of Nancy Spains commented, “We’re so excited to be launching in Manchester, bringing Nancy Spains to the heart of the Northern Quarter.
“After the success of our two venues in London, it was only right to bring Nancy Spains’ infectious spirit and Irish pride to Manchester. Slainte!”
Nancy Spains will open its first Manchester pub on Saturday 15 March at 21 Hilton Street.
Lucky Mama’s – The Italian restaurant serving pasta in a dough bowl and ‘pregnant’ pizzas
Daisy Jackson
Lucky Mama’s is a local sensation, thanks to its slightly whacky but delicious Italian creations like pasta served in a bowl made of pizza dough and its latest offering, a ‘pregnant’ pizza.
What on Earth is a pregnant pizza, you ask? Firstly we should stress this is a nickname we’ve bestowed upon the dish, rather than Lucky Mama’s chosen branding.
But essentially it’s a helping of fresh pasta that’s folded into the bubble crust of the pizza, like a half-calzone.
Lucky Mama’s started life when founders Mamadou Dhiam and Gaby Santos set up a trailer in their backyard in Eccles in the depths of lockdown.
But thanks to a formidably loyal following that’s spread the word of Lucky Mama’s far and wide, it now has two pretty pink restaurants in Greater Manchester.
Back in 2022, they threw open the doors to their Chorlton restaurant, before returning back to home turf for spot number two in Monton in 2024.
The recipes are fresh and pretty authentically Italian up until the last step, when they throw a curveball by loading their pasta into unconventional vessels.
‘Pregnant’ pizzas at Lucky Mama’sTraditional Roman pizzasLucky Mama’s pink restaurant in Chorlton
Their pasta pizza bowls are what they’re best known for and they fly out of the kitchen – this is where pizza dough is placed around a metal bowl before being baked in an oven.
Then it’s piled high with freshly made pasta, with popular flavours like cacio e pepe, mushroom alfredo, and rasta pasta.
Pasta is available in a regular ceramic bowl too.
You’ll find Lucky Mama’s at 565 Barlow Moor Road in Chorlton; and 217 Monton Road in Eccles.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd August 2023 
