A little while ago, I wandered into the beautiful building that is the Barton Arcade and my heart sank. There, instead of my favourite wine shop was an empty space. I stood open mouthed for a few minutes, before a kind soul took pity on the gaping goldfish of a human in front of him and pointed me outside.
Spirited Wines had moved. Not only that, they’d undergone a bit of a transformation. Now whilst downstairs offered the same range and service as the old site, upstairs offers a relaxed open plan bar, with wide high windows looking onto Deansgate, comfy Chesterfield sofas, as well as a dining space.
Not only can you now pop in and buy a bottle to take home, but there’s a bar offering fabulous wines for you to sip at your leisure, delicious cheeses and charcuterie and, a great selection of spirits and beers, if wines should not be your thing.
Oh yes. They do a mean gin and tonic – and they know me too well already, for as soon as I walked in the room on their formal opening night, a tall glass almost immediately found its way into my hand.
I’m getting far too predictable.
As well as casual dining and drinking, there’s also a whole host of tasting events planned by the chaps – from rum, to gin, and wines galore – as well as organised tastings, there are often one or two bottles on taster behind the bar upstairs. Just ask, or keep an eye on their social media.
All of my visits so far have been far too brief, but I’m quietly planning an afternoon with a large glass of red and a platter of nibbles, sitting with my laptop, watching the world go by below.
I mean that sofa looks rather comfy doesn’t it? It makes me want to slip my shoes off and curl my feet up.
And I can think of nothing more pleasurable on a grey drab day, than an indulgent time on a squishy sofa with a glass full, cheese and nibbles at hand, maybe even eschewing the laptop for a book, or the company of a good friend.
Hmm. I hope they don’t mind if I quietly move in.
