Heart and soul have gone into this one. More than a business, this esteemed coffee house and contemporary tea room is named after Edith Taylor. You probably don’t know who she was, so let’s make an introduction. The grandmother of Gran T proprietor, Chris, and a woman responsible for an abundance of amazing childhood moments, she was known for her warmth, kindness, love of life and fun. And her memory, and attitude, have inspired the look and feel of this beloved institution and favourite of the city’s caffeine scene.
Filled with comfy vintage sofas, retro light fittings, signs that read ‘Welcome Home’ and ‘Not Before Coffee’, wingback armchairs and a gallery’s worth of curio artwork and photographs, the place exudes a ‘make yourself at home’ spirit, inviting everyone into a family front room for a refreshing cuppa. Opening the first site, down in Altrincham, in 2017, it took seven years for a second to launch in and amongst the hospitality-packed streets of Ancoats. A timeframe that speaks to the slower pace of life Gran T advocates.
According to Taylor, arriving at the actual Gran T’s house meant being greeted with the sound of a kettle boiling, two digestive biscuits on a plate and a good catch up. While the digestives have been replaced by fresh pastries, homemade bakes, toasties, ciabatta sandwiches, and soups, the idea is very much the same. The kind of place you can pop in for a quick brew and wind up spending a full afternoon watching the world go by over a stream of excellent refreshments, with coffees and teas the real highlight here. An abundance of varieties, blends, roasts, and botanical infusions are available, so opt for a robust builder’s brew or something far more fanciful, either way we guarantee you won’t want to leave. A spot nobody forgets in a hurry, for all the right reasons, the premises are also available for private hire, including a movie screening package complete with projector, popcorn and drinks.