Stockport’s got a new Deep South inspired dive bar with 40 rums and 50p wings

A Tennessee-inspired dive bar by Ate Days a Week founder and local hospitality legend, Andy James, has opened in Stockport.

Notion is a grungy, late night dive bar with a party vibe. As well as serving cocktails, it also boasts “the most extensive back bar in Stockport” with over 40 rums and 40 whiskies available to try.

The bar is one of the very first in Greater Manchester to serve premium Indonesian rum Nusa Cana, which uses nutmeg and clove combined with ginger, coffee, cacao and pineapple to create a delicate, warm rum with a balanced finish.

Notion also serves Angel’s Envy, a rarely-imported Kentucky straight bourbon that is a craft-first, hand-blended award-winning delight for American whiskey lovers.

Best chicken wings in Greater Manchester?

The food menu includes chicken wings which Notion reckon are “the best in town – and possibly the best in Greater Manchester!”

They’re buttermilk-brined for over 24 hours to make sure the meat is soft and juicy when fried and – what’s more – they’re only 50p each.

The bar also serves hand-pressed Cheshire beef burgers which can be customised.

The signature cocktail, called Are you in love with a Notion?, fuses vodka, Chambord, raspberry and pear with apple juice and lemonade, while Notion’s take on the Zombie combines gold rum, overproof rum, white rum, Jägermeister, orange juice, pineapple juice, apple juice and lime.

Décor takes inspiration from real deep south tin dive bars with wooden walls and spray paint, and the music caters for everyone with some serious cheese thrown in for good measure.

Stockport’s bar scene “the best it has ever been”

“I’ve worked in food and drink hospitality since I was 16; most recently working for Manchester bars such as Cane & Grain as head chef, Bunny Jacksons, 33 Oldham Street and more before ending up at The Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats running the pub kitchen,” says Andy.

“Before lockdown kicked in, I started Ate Days A Week which makes and delivers awesome sandwiches and desserts.

“The venture took off ridiculously in lockdown which led me to finding the site in Stockport to give it a home. 

“The venue has an upstairs area, and two further lockdowns later and we finally have Notion – somewhere people can come and party and completely let loose, especially after such a challenging year.

“The Stockport bar scene right now is the best it has ever been and it’s only going to get better.

“A new wave of independents are coming in and giving it a breath of fresh air and bringing a newfound love of the word “hospitality” to the area.

“I absolutely love how it’s a community and we can work together with other businesses to bring out the best of the area.

“We’ve already got a very strong working relationship with Neil Garner’s Cherry Jam which has recently opened in the marketplace, working together on their bottomless brunch which boasts food from Ate Days.

“We have more collaborations coming up, so watch this space.”

Notion can be found at 8 Vernon Street, Stockport, SK1 1TY and opens Thursday – Sunday. Find out more at atedaysaweek.co.uk.