The all-day bar and restaurant is opening in the old Byron site as part of the new Qbic hotel
What a productive walk across the city that turned out to be. We spied a new bar and restaurant on Deansgate, a new commercial art gallery on South King Street and scored a very decent sausage and egg butty from Katsouris.
Firstly that new bar and kitchen. It's called Motley and will take over the ground floor of John Dalton House on the corner of Deansgate and John Dalton Street - in the old Byron spot.
Here at Confidential we're particularly intrigued by the promised 'Morning Quickie' - a fill-your-own breakfast bag
It forms part of the hotel conversion taking place there by 'modular budget hotel concept' (we're guessing that means trendy but poky) company Qbic, which opens a 260-room hotel there later this year.
The new Manchester site will become Qbic's second in the UK, after opening their debut UK hotel in Whitechapel, London in 2013. The brand also has a hotel in Amsterdam and plans to open a fourth in Brussels.
So what of Motley bar and restaurant? The website describes the Whitechapel branch as 'a character filled space', 'a melting pot for locals and explorers alike' and 'a home from home' with 'dialled back friendly service and great food and drinks'.
The all-day breakfast through to dinner menu includes 'The Big Pan' (featuring half a dozen eggs - blimey), 'The Naked Superfood Burger' and sweet potato, lentil and chickpea curry... 'elfy eatin' seems a theme.
Here at Confidential we're particularly intrigued by the promised 'Morning Quickie' - where punters 'grab a bag, fill it from the breakfast buffet and head out the door'. (One question: can you bring your own bag?)
Over at the bar you'll find a cocktail list created (not 'curated') by Dan Berger of The Ned and Blind Pig fame, as well as wines, bubbles, beers, mocktails and all that carry on.
So there you go, The Motley, opening later this year, next door to Bill's, which offers pretty much the same thing.
Oh and about that new art gallery...it's called De Lacy and has a Lowry print in the window, naturally.
