21st century Fox

IT’S been almost two years in the making, but The Quick Brown Fox is finally preparing to open this weekend. The 100-capacity bar comes from the team behind Alphabet Brewery and PLY, and will have wine and cocktails on tap plus rotational beers.

The site was plagued by issues related to flooding, power and planning permission, coming close to opening way back in 2017.

Now the space has been transformed with reclaimed wooden floors and a shining brass bar.

There are huge potted plants all the way along the curved windows and low brown leather armchairs placed in prime people-watching position.

The bar will act as a stepping stone between the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, with the Crown & Kettle standing diagonally across the road.

Draught cocktails will include nitro espresso martinis, clarified strawberry daiquiris and white negronis, curated by general manager Daniel Smith, formerly of Kosmonaut and The Liars Club.

There are 24 taps behind the bar, only 12 of which will serve beer (a rotating selection from both local and national breweries).

Six taps will be for organic and biodynamic wines, with an additional 20 seasonal wines on the bottle list selected by acclaimed London wine bar and magazine, Noble Rot.

Owner Joe Fearnhead said: “We have had a few setbacks on this project, including a flood (thanks to the great Mancunian weather) so many of you will have seen our slow progress getting to this point but now it’s here we couldn’t be more excited.

“We think the time is right for our offering, table service and great drinks in a relaxed environment, somewhere to pop in after work and stay till close.”

Of the blossoming Swan Street area, Joe added: “It’s exciting round here, it feels like everything’s moving this way. Since we first started this project Mackie Mayor opened which has brought a lot of people here.

“Then there’s the Smithfield Tavern, Rose and Monkey, Pull Up, Sammy’s has just opened – it’s cool in there. We get a lot of foot traffic being on this corner.”