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Trof presents the Deaf Institute
Trof 3 is the latest venture for the expanding chain, and its most imposing
Trof has taken a step closer to world domination with the opening of yet another new food-and-boozer in its chain. Trof 3 – AKA the Deaf Institute – is the third such watering hole in the rapidly expanding Trof empire, following hot on the heels of Trof 2, in the Northern Quarter, and the much-loved original in Fallowfield.
This all-new Trof squats inside the neo-Gothic grandeur of the Grade II listed Deaf and Dumb Institute (hence the name, though owners Joel Wilkinson and Adelaide Winter dropped the ‘dumb’ moniker lest it cause offence). Just off the student-tastic Oxford Road, and a stone’s throw from MMU’s main campus, it’s an ideal setting for Wilkinson and Winter to employ their usual friendly formula: good food and an extensive menu of booze.
The hearty, reasonably priced menu features everything from full English breakfasts (£4.95) and blueberry pancakes (£3.95) through to post-lecture nibbles (halloumi and pitta, £6.50; falafel and pitta, £6.95). There’s also a mean roast with all the trimmings every Sunday (£8.55). As for drinks, the bar groans under the weight of no less than 24 bottled beers. These include our favourite, Beer Lao, plus a few organic beers and ciders thrown in for good measure. A lengthy cocktail list rounds things off nicely.
So far, so good, but what sets The Deaf Institute apart from the other Trofs in the chain is the building itself. Imposing and grand, it has long been a landmark in this part of town and its scale means that there’s room to play with. So, alongside a communal-benches-and-tables café, there’s a cosy boutique bar (sitting snug in the basement) and a dome-shaped music hall (complete with a smoking terrace, tiered seating and glittering mirror ball). This latter space has put Trof 3 on the musical map, as it’s played host to nights as diverse as Chips With Everything and Akoustik Anarkhy, plus live shenanigans from the likes of The Longcut and up-and-comers, The Beep Seals. Complete with friendly bar staff and cute/cool/quirky interior, The Deaf Institute is the hot ticket south of the city centre – well worth the short hop out of town for.
Trof presents The Deaf Institute Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HE (0161 276 9350/www.thedeafinstitute.co.uk). Sun-Thu 10am-2am, Fri & Sat 10am-3am.
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2 Comments
As for the above comment about the staff, I whole heartedly disagree that they are unprofessional and that the service is terrible. The service is always really fast, they somehow manage to serve 20 people at once. I asked one of them how she did that once, she told me she was a witch :) They seem to know their stuff about their cocktails as well, and they're all super friendly.
They do chat with each other I've noticed, but don't people in most bars? (I don't think I'd want to go to a bar where the staff didn't like each other, imagine the atmos.) But also, they make the effort to chat to you and make you feel a part of what's going on. That's one of the main reasons I like the place more than the other Trofs.
I used to work in a bar during my first year at uni and after a long shift, I wanted nothing more than to escape the place. You can tell a good bar when even the staff like to stay for a drink.
If you don't like a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where everyone seems to get along, then go next door to the Footage and see if you get better service in there. Or better yet, walk down the road to Kro 2 and see if you get any service at all. Posted on Jul 31 2008 04:17
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