Independent coffee shop aims to hit right note with city centre opening

A coffee shop aimed at the creative industry is to open in central Manchester.

Ditto Coffee is a coffee shop with independent music and speciality coffee at its heart.

It is an evolution of Ditto Music, the world’s largest digital distribution and label service provider.

The new Manchester branch is set to open in May at Bruntwood’s Oxford Place, part of their ‘West Village’ community which wraps around from Portland Street through to Oxford Street.

Ditto Music, which has worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Chance The Rapper, intend to offer the next step for music discovery with Ditto Coffee by embracing the local creative community.

With its first shop already open in Liverpool, Ditto Coffee Manchester will be a creative hub for celebrating and promoting independent artists, giving them a brand new route to market.

With low key performance space for local artists, an in-store demo dropbox – for a chance to secure recording deals with Ditto or to headline their live events – and opportunities for musicians, promoters and independent labels to display and sell their merchandise and records in the shop, Ditto Coffee Manchester says it will be a vital and exciting new spot for the independent music community.

Positioned close to musical institutions like the Royal Northern College of Music, as well as Access to Music next door, and some of the city’s best live music venues including Gorilla, Deaf Institute and YES, Ditto Coffee said it intends to bring the local community together as a central hub within the neighbourhood with great coffee and an independent spirit.

Matt Parsons, chief executive of Ditto Music, sayid: “While Ditto Music gave emerging musicians a digital route to market never before available, Ditto Coffee will put local, independent music on the high street.

“We believe coffee shops have a unique community spirit, and throughout our journey building Ditto into a global business, we’ve found them to be the perfect place for people to come together, share ideas and make new connections.

“It’s the next evolutionary step for music discovery and we’re particularly excited to be bringing this concept to Manchester – a city that has always lived and breathed music and particularly on Oxford Road, Manchester’s hub for innovation.

“This is our second Ditto Coffee location in an exciting roll out plan for us across the country.”

Ditto Coffee will serve up quality, ethically-sourced coffee roasted by Neighbourhood Coffee in Liverpool.

The 800 sq ft venue will be laid-back and versatile, with performance space for emerging local artists. Freshly baked homemade cake and snacks, including vegan and gluten free options, will be in abundance.

Ditto Coffee will be the latest addition to this thriving cluster of creative businesses, joining LEAF to provide an even more interesting and eclectic food and drink offering for the community.

Andrea George, head of retail and leisure at Bruntwood, said: “This is an incredible new brand heading for Manchester, with only one other location in the UK right now.

“Music runs through Manchester’s heart and soul, so it’s particularly exciting to be bringing this innovative new concept to the city.

“Ditto Coffee is offering something unique for music lovers, musicians and coffee lovers alike – all things which we have plenty of in Manchester.

“Oxford Place, part of our West Village neighbourhood, is the perfect spot for the venue. Just a stone’s throw from Circle Square and sitting right in the heart of the ‘innovation district’ on Oxford Road, it’s surrounded by music and culture.

“Ditto Coffee is a perfect addition to this neighbourhood and I can’t wait to see it flourish.”