Northern reviewer Dave Marsland is in the Northern Quarter for one of the Manchester's launches.
Music and Manchester go together like Ant and Dec, and the city’s Northern Quarter remains a breeding ground for independents to raise their profile to a wider audience.
Renae was born to offer a stage to such artists, with an open space combined with small tables dotted around and a wall covered with vinyl records behind the DJ booth.
While the drinks menu isn’t exhaustive, it does offer some gems to enjoy while grooving to the vibes. The Matcha Martini stands out with its vanilla-infused vodka and butterscotch flavour.
There’s an outdoor area and a second floor is coming too, offering a creative workspace. The idea is to create a community friendly, music-led venue, but as a cocktail bar it feels generic.
When you’re on the same street as cocktail havens The Morris and Cane & Grain, even long-time residents Terrace, Renae needs to up its game to thrive.