New food and culture enterprise to help the homeless to open in former Ancoats warehouse

A new social enterprise aiming to help end homelessness across Greater Manchester is set to open in a former Ancoats warehouse this summer.

Set across three floors, Peacemeal will include an artisan bakery and restaurant, a studio space and a late-night music venue.

The multi-functional ground floor will feature an all-day eatery, transforming into a late night venue that will see DJ’s take over the space spinning their greatest record collections.

The all-day food offering, organised by DJ/restaurateur Luke Cowdry, will serve locally sourced, fresh, nutritious soul food. You will be able to get fresh pastries and freshly baked bread from the in-house bakery, artisan coffee, seasonal salads and filling sandwiches.

A special offering on the food menu will be the ‘holy grail’ one pot menu. This will be available throughout the day and will feature guest recipes from top chefs from around the north.

On the second floor there will be a studio space dedicated entirely to wellness offering yoga and meditation classes which will be free of charge.

The rooftop space will be transformed into an urban farm, working with rehabilitated prison leavers and homeless people, who will be assisting in growing fresh produce for the kitchen.

Peacemeal is aiming to create positions in the bakery, in the back, front of house and for a delivery service connecting to businesses across the city centre.

They will be recruiting staff who have experienced homelessness, providing a platform for less fortunate individuals to reconnect with a normal life. Working with key Manchester charities, they are looking for individuals who have completed job workshops and kitchen courses, have keys to their first home, and need the final step in securing a job.

Peacemeal is the brainchild of Oliver Wilson, son of late Factory Records founder and Manchester icon Anthony Wilson.

“Rough sleeping on the streets of Manchester has been described as a humanitarian crisis,” says Oliver.

“As Manchester witnesses another renaissance, I knew there was something that this city could do, especially through our thriving food and cultural scene. We aim to support Andy Burnham’s homelessness initiative, fitting into his ‘four r’s providing the final step of ‘reconnection’ through supported employment. We’re also approaching this in a holistic fashion, making sure music and arts play a central role in everything we do.

“We are also proud to be working with other charities from the Manchester Homelessness Partnership such as Booth Centre and Mustard Tree, and key partners in the Manchester food & beverage industry.”

All profits generated by Peacemeal will be donated to charity and community projects across the city.