Roc and Rye has opened inside a Grade II listed building in the heart of the Upper King Street area, bringing a combination of coffee, cocktails, signature rye whiskey and a range of other drinks-to-die for.
The press night provided a showcase of what to expect, with creative cocktails like Lost at Sea served as part of a ship-in-a-bottle, deli-style snacks, a tower of rainbow macaroons and DJ tunes. It’s American glamour meets Manchester swagger.
The Spring Gardens building designed by Alfred Waterhouse is a stylish space to relax at any time of the day.
The art deco bar is covered in turquoise cushioning, whilst a feature ceiling and music-responsive LED lighting system create an immersive atmosphere.
It’s a place to sip your drink under the golden globe lights and feel like you’ve slipped back to the roaring twenties, perhaps.
The food offer features sandwiches, snacks and patisserie selections sourced from a rotating selection of popular local providers, including Beehive Food of Deansgate.
Dormouse Chocolates and The Garden, the Hale-based organic café serving salads and juices, treated guests to samples throughout the evening.
Even the coffee is inventive, thanks to the Nitro coffee system – one of the first in Manchester – which creates cold-brew with a creamy texture close to Guinness.
Behind the venue are Maritza Haydon and Matt Bonner who, along with friend and bar consultant Sean Finnegan, wanted to bring something exciting to after-work drinking culture and create a space where people could meet for coffee and business.
It’s open from 7am on weekdays so you can get a beautifully-crafted coffee fix and carry on till late, with an array of alcohol, including whiskey straight from the barrel. Something for any time of the day – from morning brew to an after-work few.