Plere

Lee Janda was the man behind some of Chorlton’s best bars, including the much missed (by me, anyway) Charango. Now he’s back, and along with partner Fiona Fairbairn, has brought some cool bar energy to Beech Road with Plere.

The name comes from an Old French verb meaning ‘to please’ which fits. Its bright peach exterior lifts the spirits before you’ve even set foot in the door.

The French connection matters because Plere is – whisper it – a wine bar. Wine bars in this country have been forever tainted by 80s yuppie hangouts called things like Champers but Plere is a very European affair. If George Orwell’s perfect pub was The Moon Under Water, then maybe Emile Zola’s would be Plere. It’s the sort of place you find in small towns up and down France but that never seem to translate to our drinking culture. Until now.

As well as an excellent selection of wines that show a lot more inspiration and personality than the usual safe choices, there is a concise menu of cheese, charcuterie, tinned fish and nibbles with bread from the highly-regarded Holy Grain.

There are beers too with more of a focus on German pilsener and weissbier than just crafts in colourful cans.

Music is a big part of Plere too, from the vintage posters to the DJs to the feeling you could sit by the window all day drinking wine and talking about bands.