Into the Gathering Dusk is a botanical drinks project. I find wild ingredients and use them to make all kinds of drinks, cocktails, health tonics, cordials and teas. We walk past wild food and drink every day and my project highlights the interesting and tasty plants we have all around us in the city. I hope to inspire people to appreciate and use them.
Manchester is full of brilliant ingredients. Our streets and parks are full of beautiful mature trees and the wild, unmanaged spaces in the city also have useful plants and weeds just waiting to be noticed.
We also run workshops where you can explore flavours, traditions and techniques and make your own wild drinks. We’ve been hosted by some marvellous places like Caffé Lupo Italiano and Isca Wines and have collaborated with local food legends, Holy Crab and Manchester Tart Co. We’ve also been invited to ‘pop up’ in some of Manchester’s most beautiful spots like Barbecue Coffee, Idle Hands and Ducie Street Warehouse where we serve our botanical creations alongside the best live music acts and DJ’s.
We’re part of a diverse community here in Manchester made up of people who have brought their plants and traditional methods and techniques here. A trip to an Asian fruit and veg shop or a supermarket in Chinatown will introduce you to fascinating new ingredients you’ve never heard of but that can do so much good.
We benefit so much from cultural diversity and should be welcoming people in to our communities, especially those seeking refuge. That’s why we give 10% of our profits to Manchester-based refugee support projects and charities like Together Now, who support families to be reunited after separation during the asylum process, and Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) a charity supporting women with practical, legal and social support. We feel very fortunate that we’ve been able to continue to do this during the pandemic.
Ancoats is such a creative and vibrant community. So many of the city’s cultures are represented here and the local businesses support one another and collaborate brilliantly, making it a truly friendly place for a day or night out. The local businesses are exceptional – a concentration of cool, award-winning venues, all working really hard to be wonderful.
A cocktail that represents Ancoats? I’d probably leave that to the cocktail heroes who are based there! But I do love to work with ethical raw honey, gin and some of the local trees in Ancoats such as gingko and beech leaves. That could be a fitting and delicious mix!
We’ve recently been invited onto the Eat Well Manchester marketplace alongside some of Manchester’s food and drink heroes. The collective is made up of hospitality professionals and volunteers to support the most disadvantaged people impacted by the Covid-19 crisis by providing delicious chef-made meals.
We’re continuing to run our cocktail delivery service and are collaborating with a selection of small retailers to provide a range of bottled cocktails and vermouths. This has been really good fun and is driving creative development of new products.
We’re adapting our workshops to be safe for smaller, more distanced groups without losing the fun, creative group atmosphere, and we’re also hoping to appear at some Manchester Christmas markets, both online and in-person, so watch this space!
As we come through this crisis, I think that our hospitality culture will continue to be driven by excellence, a spirit of collaboration and generosity to its community. It’s hard to predict how we will adapt and change in response to current and future events, but I’m guessing that the spirit of Ancoats will remain innovative, hardworking and fun. Whether you’re single, part of a couple, or a family – from any culture, at any age – Ancoats is a diverse, welcoming and exciting place to be.
We’re hoping to organize some events at Broadside as soon as it’s safe to do so. You can expect a variety of socially distanced and online workshops, group events and competitions to keep you feeling entertained, cared for and creative! Think yoga, plants, cocktails, food, arts, crafts and more. We want to organize events that you’re interested in, so do get in touch and let us know what you want.
To find out more about Into the Gathering Dusk, the amazing products they concoct, the charities they support and the unique events they run, head over to their brand new website or Instagram page. If you’re interested in a collaboration for your party, event or business, make sure to drop them a line.
Just a quick one…
Favourite food spot in the city centre?
Erst is my favourite – beautiful, exciting and incredible attention to detail in a lovely spot. Best spot for a family night or first date? Sugo or Rudys – you couldn’t be more comfortable there. You can also enjoy gorgeous smaller plates at Jane Eyre (and cocktail brilliance) and Nam – really clean vibrant dishes, it offers an exciting, bustling evening out with great music. I haven’t been to Mana yet, but it’s a must-try apparently.
Favourite bar?
It’s got to be Cocktail, Beer, Ramen & Bun – so fun and innovative – but again there are so many and the standard is very high.
Best place for a brew?
I do love Idle Hands but there are LOADS of great coffees on offer – Trove, Pollen, Just Between Friends, Another Heart to Feed…the list goes on!
Where do you like to go for a walk?
I love walking in the city but I am no guide. I can’t tell my left from my right and often go the extra mile (aka get lost!). You should check out Not Quite Light photographer Simon Buckley’s Instagram for beautiful spots to explore in the city. If you want to get out of town you can always hop on the Metrolink and be in Chorlton in 15 minutes, from there you have the water parks and the beautiful paths running alongside the River Mersey.
Favourite brunch spot?
It has to be Idle Hands again. I’ve never had a breakfast better than their Turkish eggs. Meat eaters, veggies and vegans are equally well catered for there too.
Favourite arts venue?
The programmes at the Royal Northern College of Music are brilliant.
Favourite place in the whole of the city centre?
Joint winners: City Art Gallery on Moseley street and John Rylands Library on Deansagate.
What’s YOUR favourite cocktail?
It has to be my Nettle Martini! Obviously I’m blowing my own trumpet, but I did make it for myself with all of my favourite wild plants so…
Tell us about a local business or hidden gem we may not have heard of…
I really love the elegance and care in the vintage clothes collections at Retro Rehab on Oldham street, its a really gorgeous shop. For general gifts and treats, Form Lifestyle store is a hidden gem.