A bizarre dining club that sees their quirky diners venture into the most unusual of places for a meal has arrived in Manchester for the summer.
Disappearing Dining Club (DDC) are a weekly supper club that brings like-minded foodies together to host dinners in spaces that are unlikely to usually see a picnic, never mind a banquet.
Over the last few years, DDC has thrown lavish dinner parties in the strangest of places – from car parks to churches, rooftops to railway arches, lighthouses to launderettes (which founder Stuart Langley admits was his favourite).
CHOW DOWN: Diners are happy to enjoy the feast wherever the venue
DDC take over those venues with a here today, gone tomorrow ethos, to give diners an experience they may never have again.
Originally established in London four years ago, DDC was launched in Manchester last year with a three-night stand in Ancoats’ Murray’s Mills – a complex of former cotton mills built in the late eighteenth century.
COLOURFUL LOCATIONS: Disappearing Dining Club like think outside the box
Founder Stuart told MM that they established DDC in Manchester after having been invited to host a dinner party and realising what a fantastic city they’d come to.
He said: “We had such a good time that we wanted to come back and do more. That and because Manchester is cool.
“There are so many terrific spaces. I hear there is an old ballroom in what’s now Primark. I’D LOVE to have a go at that!
“In London we started things off with some dinner parties, then as we got busier we needed a kitchen, so we ended up opening a restaurant. It would be great if we could do the same thing in Manchester.”
This July and August, DDC return to Manchester with Dinner Dance MCR, another three-night affair, which will take place in secret venues around the city centre that will be announced the week before each party.
SUPER SUPPER CLUB: Four courses in the most unusual of locations
Each dinner party will comprise of a four-course meal made with seasonal ingredients, accompanied by food-friendly wines and a full bar, with music from their resident DJ, Danny Whitehead (of Mambo Ibiza), and guests.
If you can’t make dinner, you can join the crowd for dancing afterward- doors reopen at 10pm for a late-night party.
HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW: DDC like to always find new venues
“It’s about having a good time with people you may or may not know, in a place you’ve never been to before for a dinner than may never be repeated,” said Stuart.
Guests are seated at long tables, with quality home-cooked food served family-style, to encourage mingling and new friendships.
This dining club values taste over pomp and pretension, so if you require a stiff-starched napkin and a sommelier, maybe give it a miss.
Dinner Dance MCR tickets are £56 for a welcome cocktail, four courses and an all-night fiesta, or £11 if you want to skip dinner and just come to the party.
DDC recently started using their events to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, with the aim of helping to fund and build specialist units in NHS hospitals and provide dedicated staff.
One pound from each ticket sold will be donated to the trust.
For more information, or to book tickets, call DDC on 07507 754 318 or email i[email protected]
