Unearthing latest outpost of Botanist
DIDSBURY IS THE LATEST LOCATION FOR THE UPMARKET BAR CHAIN
THE Botanist opens its latest outpost in Didsbury next week, sprucing up the old Milson Rhodes site with its familiar English country garden style.
The former Wetherspoons pub on School Lane is now unrecognisable after a major refurbishment by New World Trading Company, which has included knocking through part of the ceiling to create an airy atrium in the main bar area, where live music will be performed every night at the piano.
“We’ve opened it up from top to bottom so you can see down into the gallery area from the top, where we’ll have acoustic acts playing,” said general manager Daniel Leach, who joins The Botanist from The Oast House in Spinningfields.
Above the piano and fireplace opposite hangs a huge chandelier pieced together from rakes and forks and strung with vintage bottles, pots and pans, while around the corner a greenhousestyle conservatory area opens out onto an outdoor terrace.
There’s more outside seating on two corner balconies upstairs, with living walls of plants greening up the space.
The theme runs on into the cocktail list, with botanical-based creations such as the lavender aviation (£7.50) and a blackberry and mint julep (£7.95), and an 11-strong gin list.
The bar also stocks more than 80 beers from around the world, with everything from its own speciallybrewed Pacific Pale Ale to world bottled beers such as Japanese Hitachino Nest listed in its lengthy Anthology of Ales.
Upstairs is the main restaurant area, overlooked by an open cold kitchen at one end and a grill station at the other, where diners can watch dishes such as its signature hanging kebabs being prepared.
The food menu also features deli boards and nibble such as homemade Scotch eggs and falafel, along with pub grub staples such as fish and chips, pies and rotisserie chicken.
There is clearly an appetite for it in the area, with dozens of people popping in the door to ask about bookings during our showaround - even Manchester United ace Juan Mata stuck his head in to see if it was open yet.
He’ll have to wait until April 3, when it opens to the public after a series of soft-launch services this week.