Cotton Neptune Mill

Add this to your list of places to meet near Piccadilly Station – then make sure you’ve got Google Maps on to help you find it. Tucked away beside the tram tracks in the 150-year-old Neptune Mill, it’s not quite hidden enough to be a hidden gem, but you’re unlikely to stumble across it by accident.

It opened in 2024 and is the second location for independent local brand Cotton. The first, in Halle St Peter’s, has been going strong since around 2010, making it one of the first success stories of Ancoats’ new era.

The winning formula is good-value food, made fresh every day, with plenty of healthy options. Head here before 11am and you can get a smoked salmon-stuffed croissant to eat in for £5. (Co-owner Rick explains that they prefer to price all options the same, rather than according to the ingredients, so a salmon croissant won’t cost you any more than a taleggio and tomato one.)

Coffee is also fairly priced and comes from Atkinsons in Lancaster. They use the Archetype blend, with notes of dark chocolate, hazelnut and molasses, for a smooth, rich cup.

At 11am, the menu switches to lunch, when freshly made sandwiches, salads, quiches and tortilla arrive from the main kitchen at Halle St Peter’s. As at breakfast, there’s a good-value meal deal: £9 for any sandwich, a bowl of salad, and a drink or juice (£8 if you swap the sandwich for a deli item).

My personal favourite is the Greek salad, one of their bestsellers. The homemade nduja sausage rolls are another popular choice – kudos to co-owner Chris for developing the recipe.

Cotton is a cool space in both senses of the word, with its red-brick walls, exposed beams, and the welcome chill of air conditioning on hot days. There’s also a terrace in the mill yard and, what’s more, they have an alcohol licence, so classic cocktails, spritzes, wine and beer are on the menu too.