Fizz and fine food combine at 1761 and Lily’s
MANCHESTER’S lavish £1m Champagne bar and restaurant opens its doors next week, serving fizz and fine food on Booth Street.
Set across two levels, the 1761 and Lily’s Bar takes over the former Avalanche unit, which had been empty for over a year.
The first floor is home to 1761, a restaurant serving their take on British classics, such as cured trout made using the local Manchester Three Rivers gin; hearty lamb shank with polenta, lime pesto and toasted almonds; or chargrilled rib-eye steak with potato dauphinoise.
The restaurant is decked out with luxurious chandeliers and classic interiors such as Chesterfield sofas and decadent wallpaper.
To the left of the main bar, visitors will find a mural of Lily Bollinger, renowned owner of the famous Bollinger Champagne, Underneath, guests can follow a flight of stairs to the basement Lily’s Bar – which is still currently under construction.
When it opens to the public, Lily’s Bar will be a seductive drinking den, stocked with all manner of cocktails and fizz. Drinks will take the theme of ‘a moment in time’ with each one inspired by a story from the history books.
Cocktails include the Camphore Cure (£11), inspired by an early form of penicillin discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, and made with Woodford Reserve, Domain de Canton, lemon and served with a pear and ginger syringe.
Owners want this to be an interactive, experiential environment, so drinks will be partly made at the bar and partly finished at the table. At the heart of this is a 118,000 litre marine fishtank, which will be home to freshwater fish, but it’s yet to be confirmed which varieties. The fish tank was previously set to house stingrays, but owners quickly backtracked on this feature after facing fierce criticism from the local community. Phil Healey
Adding the fish to the tank will be a gradual process and has yet to start, and owners say this is because they want to ensure they have the perfect environment for the animals.
The bar will also feature Lily’s Library, set to open in December – a secret drinking den available for private hire complete with its own bar, projector and fireplace.
Glossop-based operator Phil Healey is behind the new two-floor venue on Booth Street.
Phil, who has owned the Victoria Lounge in Glossop for three years, grew up in Belle Vue.
“I wanted to create something that is truly of this city,” he said. “For me, the whole concept of 1761 is something that has come from Manchester, in Manchester, for Manchester.
“It’s not cheesy or themed but about creating a real feeling of pride and warmth for this city. Or of course people can just come to see the fish.”
The restaurant will open daily for brunch, lunch and dinner, from 11am to 10pm, and Lily’s will be open from midday to midnight daily.
1761 and Lily’s Bar will host a VIP launch this weekend, and will be open to the public from Wednesday November 22.