On the same day as I posted about Elixir Tonics & Treats closing weekend, I thought it only fair to mention a newcomer to Deansgate.
Red Door, part of the Living Ventures group, already has sites in Chester and Liverpool. Manchester is the latest one to open, only a couple of weeks ago, in a space synonymous with the late Tim Bacon, originally home to JW Johnsons back in the 1990s.
And no I’m not quite old enough to have gone to that original venue. Unless I went underage anyway.
Red Door promises cocktails, cocktails and more cocktails. Which given my earlier post today, might go some way to healing the hole in my heart. A little bit anyway. As I missed the opening party, which I believe was a bit of a corker, I headed in with a date to have a nosey and try it out. For research purposes obviously.
It’s unmissable, set next to The Botanist on Deansgate, you’re greeted with, yes you guessed it, a red door, and a set of stairs leading into the bar itself.
Downstairs, there are plenty of booths and tables, a good sized bar and a stage/DJ booth, making it perfect for live music and late night dancing – and hopefully minimising the rugby scrum at the bar.
As this was a Tuesday night, there were zero queues at the bar and so we perched comfortably to chat and sample from the cocktail menu. Oh, did I mention they have a happy hour, that offers 2 for 1 cocktails? No? Well there you are.
I was always going to go gin on my first, and so I opted for the Mrs Jones. Whilst I know of two versions of a Mrs Robinson (Bourbon and raspberries, or vodka with citrus) this twist was Tanqueray gin with fresh grapefruit, garnished with a little sugar rim. Juicy, fresh – the gin was still detectable and as they use fresh grapefruit there’s no bitterness, only fruit.
My date being of the rum loving persuasion, he opted for the Caramelised Rum Punch. A heady blend of fruit and rum, whilst part of the drink is heated on the stove top, the other in a Boston glass, before they’re blended together with a little fire, into a tall glass. The result is sweet, fruity and fresh with a rounded kick of cinnamon.
Onto our second drink and whilst my date went onto the Daiquiris – pleased with the offer of a range of rums and offer to adjust the balance to preference, I went from gin to whisky and a little Nikka from the Barrel in the Lost in Translation.
Possibly my favourite cocktail of our evening, the whisky is blended with a touch of mineral water, a Lapsang Souchong syrup and orange bitters, before being served with an ice sphere. It’s simple and delicious. No theatre, no drama, none needed.
Rather frillier was the Big Dill, a combination of watermelon, dill and Tanqueray gin. Though a little bitty – there were plenty of microherbs to clog up your straw – flavour wise it was a good option, fresh, clean and fruity but not overly sweet.
As we edged into one before home territory, I had a deeper look at the cocktail menu. As well as one involving a helium balloon and one involving a chemistry set, there are a number of sharers. From a disco ball sized cocktail, to the sharing Zombie – there are a number of hefty cocktails for you to enjoy.
And yes, it’s a full size disco ball.
The final element of the menu features spirits – one that I was happy to dive into, having spotted the Beefeater Oak Aged Burroughs Gin, one firmly on my gin pokemon list. Whilst there are a number of spirits in there well above the £20 a measure (one even over £100) this was in at £7.50 and so I didn’t mind indulging a bit, and ticking it off the list.
Overall, we rather enjoyed the bar, and the opportunity to dive in while it was quiet. We can easily picture a busy Saturday night for this venue and whilst the cocktails don’t have the maverick nature to them that those in Elixir have (or had), the staff are happy to go off menu and make you a classic or something a little bit creative (on a quieter night of course).
Given a little time to settle in, I think this will be a great addition to Deansgate, and a much needed one.
Might see you there.
All cocktails consumed were paid for by ourselves, taking full advantage of the 241 offer.