Cotton Ancoats — Restaurant in Manchester

Really disappointed because it was lovely environment to work in but the customer service wasn’t great at all. I asked for the WiFi password and the lady serving me abruptly told me and then asked me to look at the wall at the front (I was sat at the back) as she walked off. She did come back to bring a loaf of cake. I asked her again and she took a second longer to tell me again. I brushed this off as I thought that she might just be anxious or having a bad day. As it approached lunchtime, (not yet lunchtime and the place was pretty empty still), someone came and asked me if I was done as I was flitting between a low table at the back to charge my laptop and a higher table. I appreciate that this was in anticipation of a lunchtime rush but there’s a way to say this. The tone used by all of the people who spoke to me (bar one) was one of annoyance. Not sure why as I was a paying customer. As I was walking out, I brought my coffee cup to the front just because I sat at the back and thought it might be helpful. It’s something that I do in coffee shops out of courtesy and as far as I’m aware most places appreciate it. One of the workers watched me bring it and look around for where to put it as it was busy at this point. It’s only when I went to him, that he offered to take it off me. He then told me to leave it where it is in future rather than bringing it. Again, I can appreciate that for this coffee shop specifically that might have been unhelpful, however there’s a way to acknowledge that someone is trying to be helpful but also relaying the information. I like my coffee and have been to lots of coffee shops and just think that they were rude in there...

I decided to have brunch here as I was performing at Halle St Peter's, and the cafe very conveniently located inside the venue. I ordered a wrongly and cumbersomely labelled 'Eggs Benedict with Salmon' (aka Eggs Royale, of course). What I got was a massive slab, made to impress, with some unusual additions that made it not practical to eat but, worse, was a far cry from a classic eggs royale. Let's start with the foundation: a thick piece of toasted sourdough bread. On its own or with melting butter it would have been delicious. But not here. The crunchiness made it hard to 'manage' the dish (try to cut concrete with a butter knife!). An implosion waiting to happen. The other ingredients, precariously balancing atop the toast, made for a bizarre combination: the salmon itself was ok, but I simply don't understand the addition of a fancily named (I didn't even register what they called it) hash brown which simply made the barrier between the two overdone poached eggs at the top floor and the toast in the ground floor even more impenetrable. And who doesn't like the egg yolk to run and soak the bread? Being denied that pleasure was akin to bring betrayed! The Hollandaise was tasty, I give it. But the weird addition of pickled onion and the hash brown contaminating the dish with the aroma of frying pan oil wasn't very pleasant. Still, I ate it all as I was starving, so there you are!... In short, less is more. Don't give in to the hype fad that seems to have taken over that...

A nice light area to sit and enjoy your food or drink with a view on to the square and a nice little menu.

Sadly there are multiple issues that give it a poor performance of 3 stars. Something is always forgotten off the dish, this seems absolutely ridiculous, but my husband went and bought 3 butties, his being sausage, he got back to the house and there were no sausages on his butty! Right? How can you not notice that you are handing someone 2 pieces of bread? This is just the best example but happens so consistently. They don’t seem to be able to poach eggs, they’re boiled eggs disguised as poached eggs! 9/10 times our eggs have been boiled. My other half doesn’t like to make a fuss but the 3rd time we ever went in I said something and sent both dishes back, even then they came back half boiled over. If you can’t poach an egg take it off the menu or employ someone who can. Come on. It should be difficult for someone who is a professional cook.

The most infuriating in my opinion of all the issues is the staff. The servers are the most miserable people I I’ve ever come across in such an establishment. If you don’t like people, don’t work in a customer facing role. It’s like the criteria to get a job there is ‘what’s your best ‘I hate the world and anyone in it’ face.

Unfortunately this is the only place to get breakfast before 11am in Ancoats, and is the only reason we return.

Great potential but let down...