CityLife

Silver Apples on Orchard Street

FROM the Yeats-inspired name through the home baked cakes, vintage china, cheese evenings and continental beers, Silver Apples on Orchard Street has settled into West Didsbury like a beautifully engaging miniature whirlwind that you can’t resist being sucked into.

This gorgeous new independent bar is a family venture from three siblings who’ve channelled their energies into providing cups of tea, cask ales (Thwaites' Wainwrights, for now) and creative energy into the local community.

The result is a cosy 40 capacity Budapest-café culture inspired bar with an old world-meets-modern Manchester aesthetic.

Big street-side windows reveal wooden chairs, quirky artwork, twinkling vintage glass beaded lampshades, an ageing piano (one of the owners’ own), a tiny bar and inviting menu boards.

Poppy seed cakes

As former suppliers of cake to other Manchester bars (including Kro), their own venture gives them a chance to showcase their wares (including the signature courgette, and popular lemon and poppy seed cakes) – alongside pies from Bristol-based fine pie producers pieminster, and other hearty treats.

Breakfasts will join the lunch and dinner menus from March, and give local mums something else to be pleased about.

Everything here feels lovingly conjured, including the entertainment.  

The ticket-only (and heavily subscribed) quarterly cheese tasting nights come with a free glass of wine, free biscuits, helpful tasting notes and a cheese quiz for dedicated lovers of the genre to flex their knowledge.  

Vintage clothes  

Film nights will be accompanied by sausage and ales; Valentine’s night  by custom cupcakes and cocktails; and a vintage clothes and style night (where you can swap or buy new old clothes and jewellery) will be attended by an expert in alterations for on-the-spot adjusts.  

Add to that live jazz, folk, world music, acoustic jams, pancake and film nights – plus one off intime gigs (Stephen Fretwell before Christmas, more in the pipeline) – and Silver Apples should be on your to-visit list.                     

Billed as the last refuge of half baked bohemia this side of Sixties Soho, it’s also the best place to get cake till late CityLife has ever seen. Which is reason alone to drop by.

Call 0161 445 3130 for more information.
 

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