There's a cafe with nothing around it making waves in Salford

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Walk along to the Mariner's Canal around the back of the Lowry Outlet Mall, cutting through onto Eerie Basin - formerly known as Dock 9 - and you'll see very little except for the City Lofts and The NV apartment.

However, venture to the end of the dock and you'll find the Anchorage Buildings. At first glance it looks like two nondescript office buildings, but look a little closer and you'll find Blanconero, an Italian-influenced coffee shop and neighbourhood cocktail spot.

The brainchild of Gavin, a former hotel general manager, and Alessandro, a graphic designer from Rome, the idea was to bring something a little different to the waterfront. “It’s our strong point - but also our weak point - that there’s nothing else here," explains Gavin, who has been busy helping the kitchen team refine their food offering, which spans everything from brunch and freshly baked focaccia sandwiches, to pizza and pasta, over the last few months. READ MORE: Inside the huge waterside food hall that's set to transform Salford Quays into a foodie paradise READ MORE: From Sexy Fish to Popeyes: The new bars and restaurants opening in Manchester this October There may be nothing around it in the immediate vicinity, but just one Quay over you'll find the recently opened Central Bay, a new waterfront drinking and dining destination, which opened at Quayside MediaCity last month.

The main focus there is Kargo MKT, an all-singing, all-dancing food and drink hub. Featuring 20 kitchens, a 2,000 sq ft outdoor terrace, five shipping container kitchens and a bar looking out onto Old Trafford and the Imperial War Museum, its arrival has certainly represented a change for Salford Quays, which over the last decade has become more renowned for