Just off Deansgate, down a set of stairs, away from the queue for Red Hot Buffet and the resurrected Italia, is the newest bar in Manchester, Liquor Store.
Leaning heavily on the USA, with Budweiser and Brooklyn Beer, a wine list that aside from a pretty little prosecco is completely apple pie, this new bar aims to take a little of Mancland and mix it with the best of the USA.
With the clean lines, brick and dark wood of an NYC style eatery, it mixes these seamlessly with the Manc – Gallagher, Stiles and Dawson stare at you from the walls, and each cocktail menu features a relevant album cover.
But its the attention to detail that grabs you. It’s rare I meet someone who cares as much about these things as I do – but they do. From the loos to the drinks behind the bar, through to the coffee and tea they use. Everything they use has been thought about carefully and, here’s the best bit, rather than put the pennies in the pockets of the big boys, the aim is to buy local, source local and keep the money local. That’s something you’ve got to respect.
And yet, you ask, what of their drinks menu? With old fashioned beauties like the Last Word and newer classics like the Porn Star Martini, your cocktails are more than catered for. Beer your thing? Budweiser, Brooklyn, Sierra Nevada, Samuel Adams, or Liberty are just some on offer.
And if you’re after something to warm you up after Christmas shopping, the tea and coffee is amazing.
So this week, while you’re out with your mates from work, after the Christmas do, or just looking for something a bit different, why not try something a little bit more American pie than steak and ale?
What a splendid place! I must toddle over to it on my next excursion to the city centre. A bit of Americanna does one good. The album cover menus sound spectacular, worth the trip just for getting my peepers on those.
You should try to recognise all the faces on the wall too….