Simmons bars have recently opened their first branch in Manchester, wanting to bring the party up North. Well-known in London for their cheap happy hour deals and kitschy décor, they are the home of students looking for a bargain at the end of a long week. Always on the hunt for new deals they can offer, Simmons have now jumped on the bottomless brunch train and are offering “Bottomless Sessions”, 90 minutes of unlimited prosecco, cocktail teapots, music and a slice of pizza.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, we rolled up to Simmons at a reasonable 1pm for a taste of what’s on offer. The venue is very spacious, replete with striking décorp, complete with a skull-shaped disco ball, purple lights and, inexplicably, a whole lot of teacups. Upon arrival, the staff kindly explained to us the parameters of the next hour and half, and with that, the drinking began!
The drinks on offer include prosecco, bottles of beer, and cocktail teapots, served in their infamous teacups. Each teacup is unique, like the concept, creating a Mad Hatter style set-up which gives day drinking some real class. The teapots provide a communal atmosphere to the experience, allowing you and your mates to mix-and-match and enjoy a good gossip huddled together in the round booths, and no one has to put the kettle on.
On to the drinks themselves, Sex with a Teapot is large-scale sex on the beach; refreshing and fruity, it is an undisputable classic which goes down just as easily at 1pm as 1am. While it is no longer available on the included menu, we were offered the Hold up Teapot, a mix of Jack Daniels and Aperol with a variety of fruit juices which, while enjoyable, emulated the taste of a random drink drunkenly assembled at pres.
The other teapots available are the Electric Iced Teapot, a citrusy, melon based take on the deadly Long Island iced tea, and Blackberry Rumble Teapot, an enticing mix of rum, hazelnut and blackberries. That said, the selection available is small, and with such a huge range of inventive cocktails on offer at Simmons during happy hour, the menu for the bottomless sessions is certainly disappointing. Prosecco and beer bottles are available for those of you with an aversion to sweet, fruity drinks, though you won’t be able to enjoy the same dainty porcelain.
Cleverly named “Bottomless Sessions”, the experience is not the filling brunch that many of its counterparts present, as the sessions offer one slice of pizza per person. The pizzas are made by Holy Slice, boasting an anti-flop motto and promising a tasty pizza with a crispy base above all else. Offering the holy trinity of pizza toppings, there is a choice between pepperoni, pesto rita and NYC crispy cheese (a margherita).
We tried the pepperoni and the pesto rita, both of which arrived seeping with oil and, upon first touch, neglecting the crispy promise with a flop. The pesto rita proved particularly challenging, as the already small portion was made yet smaller by the continuous disintegration of the slice, half of which had to be deserted as it fell apart in the oil. Nevertheless, despite appearances and technical difficulties, both pizzas were flavourful and delightfully cheesy, though a quick dab with some tissue is recommended before tucking in.
As far as bottomless brunches go, Simmons’ Bottomless Sessions are priced at a very average £30pp, though they fill a particular role. If you are a budding foodie, or in search of a great variety of innovative cocktails, this may not be the option for you. But if the goal is to drink with friends, and potentially belt out a song or two in the karaoke room, Bottomless Sessions, could be worth the trip; as long as you are ready to drink your weight in bubbles and booze, and have had a carb-loaded breakfast beforehand.
Simmons are well known for their deals, including 2-for-£10 Marg Mondays and five-hour happy hours five days a week. However, bottomless brunches are generally not for the deal chasers and savers, so this is certainly a splash out, but if you are looking for a place to let loose one afternoon, for a birthday or with your mates after exams, look no further than the glaring neon Simmons sign in the centre of Deansgate, just maybe stick to the happy hour deals instead.
Simmons is open Sundays-Thursdays 4pm-2am, Fridays 2pm-4am, Saturdays 12pm-4am.
