West Didsbury café bar Folk opens new site in Prestwich

A popular West Didsbury café bar is expanding into Prestwich.

Folk is a laid-back, popular bar on Burton Road in West Didsbury. An uber cool, family- friendly cafe by day and a cosy drinking den at night, it’s a local favourite thanks to its eclectic range of locally-brewed beers, plush decor and regular DJs.

Since launching it just over a decade ago, Justin Parkinson has added two Wine and Wallops to his quirky empire and has had a quick dabble in the Northern Quarter collaborating with Flok.

His latest project is an updated version of Folk on the huge corner plot on Bury New Road in Prestwich where Solita used to be.

The building can accommodate up to 170 covers in the main restaurant and lower ground bar. There is also a private dining space for 20 upstairs and outdoor seating. They have already extended into the adjacent former hardware store.

A small part of the bar is already open.

Not wanting to compete with Prestwich’s popular Grape to Grain on the opposite side of the road, Justin opted against opening another Wine and Wallop.

Prestwich already has a cluster of buzzing, independent bars like Cuckoo, Grape to Grain and All the Shapes. Folk will sit perfectly amongst them and is just the addition that locals have been waiting for.

Justin’s hoping Folk and Grape to Grain will complement each other and be another reason for locals not to have to go into town for a night out.

So with Prestwich upping its game with its drinking and dining scene, is Prestwich finally becoming the Didsbury of the north and starting to give the south Manchester suburb a run for its money?

Roll on the Christmas drinks at Folk, folks.

403 Bury New Road, Prestwich M25 1AA