Fort, a popular independent coffee shop in Manchester, has announced it will open a second café in a historic building in the Northern Quarter. The new site will be located in the Grade II-listed Sevendale House on Lever Street, the former home of Foundation Coffee House, which operated there from 2015 until December last year, and later briefly housed Northern Pour.
Expansion and Revamp
Fort originally opened as a pop-up on Deansgate in 2023 and has since earned acclaim from publications such as The Telegraph and Conde Nast Traveller, which praised it for serving 'one of the city's best flat whites'. The new café will open on July 28, while the original Deansgate location will close for a week for a refresh before reopening in August, with both sites operating simultaneously.
In a social media statement, the Fort team said: 'So, we’ve finally found a long-term home. But with a twist. I’ll keep it brief as there is plenty of good **** to come, but we will be opening on Lever Street in the NQ. This will happen on 28th July, so next week. Classic us leaving everything until the last min.'
Expanded Offerings
The new Lever Street unit, which includes a kitchen, will allow Fort to expand beyond its current selection of coffees, pastries, and light bites. The team noted: 'Our Lever Street site will run the same coffee program as our existing Deansgate site. So Familiar, fruity, funky etc etc. But here you’ll be able to have some scran. As fortunately for us (and you) there is a kitchen.'
Future plans include evening events with wines, pints, and nibbles, as the statement added: 'Then as things settle, think evenings, wines, pints and some lil nibbles, good friends, good music, but more about that in the future.'
Local Support
The announcement received enthusiastic support from locals and fellow businesses. Withington cafe Something More Productive commented: 'Well this is a great decision! So excited for you.' Deansgate restaurant and bakery Doux Chaton added: 'Congratulations dream team! Good luck next week.' Federal cafe simply replied: 'WOW'.
Fort is located at 255 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN (closing July 28, reopening in August) and will open at Sevendale House, Lever St, Manchester M1 1JB from July 28.
