POT KETTLE BLACK Barton Arcade

I was really excited to try their food after reading all the nice reviews. The food was indeed delicious, one of the best plates one could have for brunch in Manchester. However, if you have only one customer at the table and they order a coffee and a dish, you don't spill half of the coffee without saying anything about it and bring the dish at least 25 minutes later. The food was good but it wasn't good enough for me to put up with the terrible service. The coffee was good, maybe it'd be a better idea to get coffee only and leave. Also, inside the restaurant it was extremely loud so either bring a pair of headphones or prepare to get a headache from all that noise.

Was looking for a new coffee shop to go to in Manchester and had this was on my radar, the food did not disappoint. The coffee was lovely and had a very good depth of flavour, the eggs Benedict was faultless as well (good portion sizes). Finished with an almond croissant which I would recommend. The only reason this place fell short was the service which was a little too slow, although the food came out quickly, everything else took a little more time. Overall a good experience though - would come again!

A cute little cafe serving brilliant breakfasts and fantastic coffee (some of the best I’ve had!) in a stunning arcade tucked away in central Manchester. The food was brilliant with the eggs being cooked absolutely perfectly, and the brisket being cooked well too - and the sourdough was very tasty and perfectly toasted. I had an espresso and a machiatto, both which were perfect - which is a challenging feat. The pastry we had which, in all honesty, I’m not sure what it is, was delicious and I considered coming back for more pastries from their attached bakery. Strongly recommend for breakfast/coffee lovers based or visiting in Manchester.

Cool indoor coffee shop offering all day brunch. Flavorful tasty dishes, tried the spinach and mushroom Benedict and the feta and avocado sourdough, were amazingly enjoyable food.

I'm so glad we visited this lovely place for our breakfast! High reccomend you book a table, and just a note, sitting out in the arcade can be a bit cold! Everything was delicious, and staff were super friendly. The decor was lovely, and the atmosphere was great!

Food was amazing. Service staff was great. We were seated out in the arcade area which was quite cold and the food got cold quickly as we were eating. If you’re planning a trip, get a reservation inside or go when it’s warm. Otherwise, highly recommend.

I'm not disappointed, is just not for me. The The staff were great. It's really noisy inside unless you enjoy 80/90s music. The food was OK. The sourdough was difficult to cut and then progressed to soggy. The chorizo was dry, overcooked and would be better served as small juicy pieces iso a single slab. The menu seemed a little limited compared to what i saw online before we booked. No Turkish Eggs, no Huevos Rancheros optons could i see. It was packed and they were queuing out the door. Not a place for a catch up, though the arcade seats would be slightly quieter if you can snag one. We booked ahead a week for the Saturday and only had inside option available.

Such beautiful food and drinks, and tasty! Sadly we waited an hour for our food on a Saturday lunchtime. But they had a kitchen mix up so u suspect this isn’t the norm, however service just wasn’t on point this time around! … Would go back to try something else and give it another chance

So I went for Brunch at Pot Kettle Black Location: Barton Arcade, Manchester Angel Gardens, Manchester What I ordered: Brekkie Bun Mimosa Cinnamon Bun Overall I'd rate my experience here a 4/5. The atmosphere was really homey which I loved! The Brekkie Bun made of a potato brioche bun was filled with a sausage patty, bacon , fried egg , cheddar cheese & sweet red pepper sauce. I wanted something to satisfy my breakfast roll craving and this did the job. The pepper sauce was a nice addition to it. It was my first time trying a mimosa and it wasn't too bad. The cinnamon bun was nice too. I do prefer cinnamon buns to be warm rather than cold but apart from that, it was a nice way to end brunch. The staff was all really nice and I believe this place is also dog friendly. Was eyeing the Banana French Toast on the menu so if I got the chance, I'd definitely go back.

TL;DR - Fantastic coffee and food, but since going to table service it's lost some of its charm. I've loved PKB since it opened. Sure the coffee is great, but the real delight was in having served on a little silver platter with a biscuit and glass of water - something so simple, I'm amazed more people don't do it. The venue is gorgeous and the staff are always friendly and helpful - it was a regular stop for us when in the city centre. But recently, things have changed. They've made the unit larger - which is a good thing because of its popularity, but they've also moved to table service (rather than order at the counter as was the case before). This may be good if they're moving more into the food end of the market, but for those of us who want a quick coffee it's spoiled things - you have to find a table and, at busy times, try and get the attention of someone to serve you... it's a small thing, but I think it's been detrimental. I still love PKB and would happily hand over my money in exchange for their food and drink, but it's no longer a spur of moment coffee stop and I think that's a shame.

Lovely little indie cafe in the quaint Barton Arcade in the heart of central Manchester. The breakfast menu is to die for, although a little pricey. Tea comes on a wooden tray adding a nice touch to the meal. The stuff is super friendly despite the place being busy. Although the atmosphere is fairly relaxed, in my case the service was quick, so I have nothing to complain about!

I have always heard of this place but I have never visited today was day and I was not disappointed. The decor is really nice and subtle excellent for chilling out with a coffee- and these guys take their coffee very seriously - I had my new favourite coffee drink of a piccolo this came with a small glass of water and a biscuit stick all serve on a mini silver tray I think all the drinks come this way and I must say I am impressed. I wouldn't say I am an expert at coffees but I do enjoy a quality taste and this is by far one of the best coffees I have tasted I will be visiting again!

I've had to knock a star off which isn't something I particularly like doing as, if you read my reviews, you'll see I love to shout about brilliant businesses and experiences. PKB is still great, the coffee is lovely, the cakes are great and the menu is a breath of fresh air! So why the 1 star deduction? WIFI! I work remotely, which means I spend a lot of time in coffee shops and cafes and wifi is all but essential for me to do my work - simply put if a place doesn't have wifi I rarely visit unless it's a social occasion. Last time I went in to PKB I couldn't get any of the wifi networks to work - the old one and the new one both wouldn't work. Quite frustrating, which ultimately led to me spending £5 on a coffee and cake that I had to rush down to shoot off to somewhere else that could satisfy my wifi needs!

I didn't want to go to Starbucks like I usually do when I wanted to do work today so I got on Yelp and looked for a cafe to check out. I saw a review of Pot Kettle Black and while the reviews were pretty positive, what got me interested with the place was the pics of the hot chocolate. So I got my book and walked over... The place is on deansgate and not that hard to find. The place is super cool, has an industrial feel with the wooden floor with a mixture of metal furniture. There's a lot of comfy seats to the place so it's not uncomfortable. There's a big table in the middle and plenty of power sockets. They have the typical coffee offers and three different types of hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was only £3. They all have food and sweets, but didn't try any of it. I got the orange hot chocolate and it came with water, a chocolate wafer biscuit, and of course the chocolate. The hot chocolate was not too rich or too sweet and had a nice orange flavour. The only thing I wanted was a hotter cup of chocolate. While I like the place a lot, it was really cold so make sure you have a coat or scarf to stay warm. The staff was really nice and welcoming. Overall the place was cool and will come back and try the other hot chocolates and drinks.

Much like Emily B., I can't really make up my mind about Pot Kettle Black. I've been on a few occasions - meetings, coffee with my mum etc. - but it never stands out as 'the place to be' for me. Perhaps it's because I don't like coffee, or perhaps it's something else. The interior is nice, located in the beautiful Barton Arcade, and with plenty of natural light. I like the white tiles and general clean feeling, and the higher seating gives freelance workers a good opportunity to set up for the day. There's good wi-fi available too but can be a bit tricky to connect during peak times. I've had a good smoothie here which was packed with plenty of fruit, but usually go for a standard pot of tea. The cakes here are much more exciting, with a recent salted caramel brownie keeping my mum and I energised for a few hours worth of shopping! Service has always been friendly enough but a bit scattered; there does seem to be a lack of communication, with some staff wandering around for a while with items before their colleague points out the right customer, but they usually get there in the end. I'd probably come more often if I was a freelancer as it does widen the options in this part of town, but it's not drawing me back on a regular basis at the moment.

I've heard alot about Pot Kettle Black over the past 12 months or so, and have desperately wanted to try here for a while now, luckily my search for a barbershop brought me to the Barton Arcade, and hence Pot Kettle Black. PKB is an independant coffee shop, surrounded in Deansgate, close to St Anne's Square and the Arndale Shopping Centre, by so many big brand coffee companies, PRET, EAT, Starbucks, Costa, all have stores within minutes of a walk away from here, so Pot Kettle Black must be doing something right to be able to afford, what I guess is a high rent in the Barton Arcade, and being able to stay open, and I agree that they are. They is lots of plug sockets here, with one at near enough every table, and with the main central table being flooded with them, which is especially good to sit and work for a few hours, if you can work on your computer, and it is a nice, relaxing atmosphere to be able to do that too. The staff here seemed a little poor, I was waiting for a minute or two at the till, while the staff carried on their conversation, and I even talked like I was being served, only to be ignored. When I was served, the staff seemed a little quiet and it was hard to here them, having not offered any flavouring syrups, I decided to go for a plain latte. My drink was £2.80, which I find pretty pricey considering the size, and that it is an independent chain, but I do understand they can't do it too cheaply, as I'm sure rent is high at the Barton Arcade, and simply they need to do that to pay for all the plug sockets! The coffee was quite strong, but still I did enjoy it, and it was good quality, I do understand why they didn't want to offer flavouring syrups, as it would "make people not appreciate the coffee" as my barista pointed out, it cost £2.80 as I said, and was served with a biscuit (sadly not gluten free) and a glass of water. I was a little upset to see that PKB had wasted an opportunity to offer gluten free, they claimed to me to offer gluten free brownies, but they were not separated, and they was a high chance of cross-contamination, so I had to avoid that. They told me they would not be able to offer it anyway due to having a small kitchen, but they plan to make the kitchen bigger in the future, and they may offer it. In my opinion, they could clean the surfaces down (as they should anyway) and simply bake the gluten free first in the morning, and put them in plastic bags, that could result in minimum cross-contamination, and seem more inviting for coeliacs to visit, as it is really nice to have something with your coffee, which isn't a prepackaged and non-fresh wrap or brownie. They do have a couple of signs in the surrounding areas of Deansgate and St Anne's Square, which let you know it is nearby, with a few humorous messages, and free wifi is also available here, which I feel is great as it adds to the place being great to work from, and it also requires no long sign-up, which makes it not worth connecting to the wifi at all, and with codes on every table, you don't need to worry about bothering the staff for the password, hence can connect easier and quicker. I was a little disappointed with the service here, especially to warrant paying £2.80 for a drink of that size, and it also would have been nice if they did remove the biscuit, knowing I'm gluten free for health reasons, but the coffee is quite nice here and good quality, and it is a nice place, so I do feel 3 stars is a fair rating for Pot Kettle Black. UPDATE: A recent visit here left me leaving both disappointing and hungry, It started off so well offering gluten free soup and bread, however I was quite upset that is appeared to be overpriced, even being charged £1.50 for an extra two slices of bread for food that was barely average. I also ordered an iced coffee which sadly was terrible, to the point I had to send it back and I mentioned this to my waitress, however one thing which annoyed me was that she still tried charging me for it. I was upset to have to order a drink and send it back, let alone had to kick up a fuss as they tried to force me to pay for something, which is unacceptable and poor customer service so sadly I feel the need to demote Pot Kettle Black to a single one star due to poor levels of drink and food quality and service and pricing issues.

I've been to Pot Kettle Black twice now and I don't know how I feel about it. It's a really smart joint, tucked away in Barton Arcade, and the staff are great. It's a nice place to hang out and kill time. I'm just not sure that the coffee is very good. On my first visit it was okay but on my second it was quite unpleasant, very bitter. Maybe this is personal taste but I don't think a flat white should be overpoweringly bitter and should be a bit more of a people pleaser? I won't be rushing back over other places, but as I said it's a convenient place to kill time sometimes so you never know.

Returning to an old haunt to find it the same and better This cafe has now been open for almost a year and they've settled in to being a prime coffee spot, with a fantastic atmosphere, selection of food and great service as always. PKB was always a well-oiled machine but there's something so lovely about the ease of service, the consistent quality of the drinks, no matter who's pouring them, and the general attention to detail. The guys have made tiny adjustments--the "outside" seating, the music selection, the food and its presentation--and have made something that was already very, very good into something faultless. Pop in for a drink, grab yourself soup or a sandwich, a brownie or a slice of cake, and prepare to sit in here for hours.

After reading the amazing reviews on here about this new and exciting Coffee shop i had to give it a try, Pot Kettle Black is based in the beautiful Barton Arcade which is just off Deansgate, I love the style of what they have done to the place from what it used to be like when it was the Circle Bar and Club. The Interior is lovely and it has a industrial but classic style at the same time, theres quite a few tables and chairs to go around and a table in the middle. There is also a raised area with high stools which seems to be the place to sit, there's also power points scattered everywhere so dont worry about charging youre Macbook up or your iPhone, PKB has lovely big windows as well for people watching! This place is quite stunning for a coffee shop! I had a beautiful tasting large Latte it was smooth tasting and you could just taste the coffee for a while after and at £3 which wasn't a bad price considering the elegance of this place it also comes on a cool silver tray with a small water and a biscuit, nice touch! The staff are super friendly as well and the whole place had a great feel to it. This is a really cool coffee shop and I'm sure its going to get really busy when people get to know about it and I sure am a fan!

I'm very excited about the potential of 'Pot Kettle Black' - a new coffee shop that's opened in the Barton Arcade just off Deansgate. First off they have it down in terms of the style of the building and the fresh minimalist approach to decor - pretty much all glass walls and a feeling that's open and inviting. With plenty of room at the actual coffee counter, I can't see there being a crush for takeaway, while the middle bench can probably seat 15, with scattered tables and chairs all over. This is great because let's face it, a lot of the best places in the NQ for coffee (NTP, Fig' and Eastern Bloc) are always rammed and it can be a bit of a fight for a table. The coffee was nice (the sample I tried was from the fantastic Workshop coffee in London) and due to me having a billion coffees already I went for a large pot of Assam tea (good value at £2). They also do a selection of sandwiches and cakes but they'll have to be for a return visit. Fast wifi, good music (definitely an 80's soul vibe when I was in yesterday) and friendly staff/owners ( I got chatting to John and Mark yesterday who were very passionate about coffee and deserve to do well) it's the perfect place to hangout at all times - especially with them opening till 7pm, meaning it's a good choice for after work if the boozer isn't on your agenda. Make sure you check it out - soon!

Polite and calming atmosphere, I keep coming back here, particularly at the end of the day. The staff are lovely, and know their stuff, even seem not to irritated with small children ringing the service bell on the counter constantly (unlike me). Enjoying the summer fruit smoothie, free WiFi (come to expect it these days, but I like it here because it is fast. Also a good crowd using the place for a mixture of work, meeting, and play.

Having walked around town and in need of something hot to drink me and my shadow headed for pot kettle black coffee shop in deansgate barton arcade. inside the interior is nice with some comfy chairs at the sides and a longish table in the middle, theres softly played music in the background and i found it quite relaxing and peaceful and could easily get lost in my own thoughts. I Ordered my usually latte which came in a glass rather than a cup, was also given a complimentary biscuits and a glass of water all on a tray staff were very polite and asked me if i wanted anything else? If i wasnt in a rush i could of easily sat another half a hour or so in this beautiful coffee shop away from all the hustle and bustle of town. mybe next time i will!

I'm keeping it short today. Great service, delicious cakes, well-roasted beans and well-made drinks (smooth without the burnt/bitterness taste) AND great presentation and atmosphere. I can see myself sitting here comfortably doing work on my laptop. They even provide power outlets near most of their tables. A plus for people who likes to work at a coffee shop (like me).

I love Barton Arcade, I think it's such a cool space. It's the perfect location for a new quality coffee shop - far from a drab chain cafe. During PKB's first week of opening I went two or three times, it simply is a splendid and comfortable place to have a pause and enjoy a quality brew. PKB use the famous London roaster Workshop's coffee- and I'm sure that the longer this place is open the better the coffee will get. Not to say that PKB aren't already providing some top notch coffee- it's just the place is so new and already so popular, I can only see it getting better! There are some nice touches at PKB that aren't necessarily found in Manchester's other quality coffee shops. The staff are really friendly, in particular there are a couple of lads working their that are seriously handsome. Beautiful men aside, the presentation of the coffee is spot on. The small plate with the water, the coffee and a little wafer twirl biscuit (there's probably a name for these) - make it more of an occasion (which it should be when you're paying that amount!). Good coffee ain't cheap these days. The barber shop nearby is so cool I always feel I'm missing out a tad (it's men only). PKB has provided me with an equally cool pad to hang for a while in one of my favourite corners of town. The interior of PKB is so trendy, and its not all look - the big chairs are so comfy. They are pretty big too- I feel like an evil scheming villain or a princess- depending on my mood. Also, the carrot cake is good. I have also heard positive things about the chocolate tiffin. Treat yourself.

I was so disappointed with my most recent visit to PKB, I have been a few times now and haven't had an overly amazing experience but nice enough to make me want to return. This time round, however, was pretty poor. It was a Sunday morning so pretty busy with other brunchers but there were a few empty tables, none of which were clean. I ended sitting in the middle section which isn't quite as cosy as the little window tables. As far as I could see there were only two members of staff working which just wasn't enough for the amount of people in the cafe. In the defence of the staff they were lovely and really chipper which is why they get 3 stars not 2! I ordered a flat white and toast. They both arrived fairly quickly and really well presented. I really enjoyed the toast, nice seeded bread with butter and jam. They did sneak a burnt piece under two nice pieces though which didn't thrill me! I didn't enjoy the coffee so much, it tasted burnt and not much love went into it. The atmosphere and the décor is nice, the wifi is pretty good and this is an ideal place to get on with some work. As I said, the staff were really cheerful so they definitely help make this place a nicer place to be. After about half an hour of being in there two more members of staff arrived to help spruce the place up so the tables got cleared and service became a bit quicker. I just think this place is expensive, when they are on top form this place could be a winner but catch it on a bad day and you just get a poor experience.

Pot Kettle Black is situated in the beautiful Barton Arcade and itself has a great interior as well as delightful staff and good background music, plus wifi. I ordered a hot chocolate which came with water and a bolero wafer stick biscuit - good accompaniments. However the hot chocolate itself, although beautifully presented, was not great - not sweet but not pleasantly bitter (i.e. made of dark chocolate) either, basically no real flavour. I'd say Java is still my top choice for hot chocolate in Manchester, thanks to its love of the marshmallow.

Pot Kettle Black is one of my favorite coffee spots in the city. Whether you're meeting friends or getting work done, PKB is a winner. I've enjoyed the whole caffeinated menu (haven't had any of their smoothies, though they look amazing). Cakes are well done, too. Probably the stand out thing for me is the attention to detail in their coffee. They treat each process with care: espresso drinks, V60, Aeropress, etc. and it shows. Also: location! Wonderful spot with a fair amount of seating.

When I was at my hairdressers a couple of weeks ago, she happened to mention that she had heard from a client that a rugby player had opened a coffee shop in Barton Arcade. I didn't need to hear any more and promptly added to my 'need to visit' list but due to being extremely busy wasn't sure when I'd get the chance. Then earlier in the week I noticed reviews popping up on Yelp as well as a Manc Confidential review, I decided that I would make Sunday (i.e. today) a 'me day' and as part of that decided I would pay this place a visit. I put a book in my bag but really with no intention of reading it should the fit rugby player owner be there. I found the place ok and went to the counter to order my drink. Went for a hot chocolate and was offered four different varieties. I went for a classic but will be back soon to try the raspberry, white and orange flavours. Went for an almond cake to accompany the hot chocolate. Overall paid £4.50 which is good for this kind of place in the city centre. One thing I like is the big table in the middle which is ideal when on your own , rather than taking up a whole table. It has a nice communal feel with the Sunday papers available for perusal. They brought the hot chocolate over and I thought it was a nice touch that it comes with a little glass of water. I often order a glass of tap water when having hot chocolate. so it''s a nice (and unique) touch that it automatically comes with one. One of the highlights of my visit was when the fit rugby player owner asked me if I wanted a top up of water. Being a rugby union fan, as opposed to league, I'm not sure who he played for or his name, but I recognised him from his photo on Manchester Confidential. That is definitely a winner and I am sure will help bring in the punters. As a service to my fellow yelpers, I decided to stay and breathe the same airspace as the rugby player and have another drink. I went for tea and had a pear and vanilla rooibos on the recommendation of the waitress. It was very nice and just light enough after the hot chocolate. Overall I am already a big fan and will be back. The staff were friendly, even asking my name, which is a nice touch. the drinks and cakes good and a really relaxing atmosphere. It wasn't very busy but I think it has a bright future ahead of it because it is a bit different than others and is the only independent place in the vicinity, so it will definitely get trade. Definitely recommend others trying this place out.

I have genuinely found my favourite coffee shop in Manchester. Pot Kettle Black, found in Barton Arcade just off either Deansgate or St Annes Square, is a unique little cafe that served me one of the best coffees yesterday evening. The inside of PKB is very homely and welcoming. There were plenty of people already sat enjoying their coffees - some were families, friends couples and a few people were working away on laptops which was also good to see. It's a place for everyone. They have plug sockets around the main island-type table, which is a huge plus for me as my phone battery tends to let me down very often. The menu was great and boasted all the best coffees. Their little Christmas menu caught my eye though as I saw they served some boozy coffees - Disaronno coffee to be precise - so I opted for that. Tim C. went for a mulled wine. The coffee took a while to make, but it was well worth the wait. Served to me on a little silver tray, the Disaronno shot was in a separate glass so I decided to try the coffee on it's own first - and it was so so good. After plonking the Disaronno into my coffee and chomping on the little wafer biscuit you get as a freebie I was over the moon. Try it. I'll be back to Pot Kettle Black.

Manchester is still rumbling after the huge coffee and craft beer explosion, with new places popping up every month it seems. I welcome all new independent coffee shops but I have noticed a tendency to make their black coffees super strong, like really strong. Everything has its place and strong coffee can be great, but when I want to relax and drink the best long black in town, I go to PKB. Friendly staff, chilled & cool environment and most importantly great coffee. If you can grab a seat I challenge you to find a better coffee shop, anywhere!

Really liked this little place popped in to refresh on a dreary Saturday and refuel with some tea. Its mostly coffee they serve however they do have earl grey on the menu. You can either have leaf tea or teabag just make sure to specify when ordering. I always go for leaf tea as its normally better quality and stronger. Make sure you ask for extra water as well. I had a slice of carrot cake which was just right the topping not being too sweet and the center not being too dry. They look like they do snakck and soups as well but i didnt try any of these on this trip. Must pop back to sample! Make sure you help yourslf to a glass of the lemon and lime infused water from the kilner jars near the counter its really refreshing

Pros: beautiful building, great flavour cons: cold food, small portions great flavour, but small portions * * * * Eggs Benedict - great flavour, nicely poached eggs, still hungry after finishing * * * * Eggs Royale - Gin and dill cured salmon, great flavour, great muffin, nicely poached eggs, came out cold, was still hungry after (fine for breakfast but a bit light for lunch) * * * Espresso * * * Latte - kind of funky bitter flavour * * * * * orange juice - sweet, large portion, deliciously refreshing

Little hidden gem this place, best coffee in town and not bad on the olde grub. Anything from stews, soups and sandwiches. Weekends are really busy so plug in your laptop and phone while they serve it to you. Great meeting place or for a quite coffee on your own. Get down there

I am glad to have found this little cafe in the middle of the city centre, when usually I have to go all the way to Northern Quarter to get a good cup of coffee. So the next time I am in town or you are in town, instead of heading to Nero or Starbucks, give this little coffee shop a try! I had v60 as usual and the coffee was roasted in Clerkenwell in London. They also have Aeropresso if you are a fan of the other. wifi password is available upon request.

Pot Kettle Black is one of those places I kept meaning to visit because I'd heard really good things about it and their Instagram feed always makes long after their coffee. So I popped in today expecting to be wowed, unfortunately I wasn't. While it's pretty cool looking inside, there aren't actually that many seats. The coffee menu is extensive, even catering to the V60 and aeropress aficionados, but it was the coffee for me that let it down. I went with a flat white, which was served beautifully and got my hopes up. The taste however was really quite bitter, making me think the beans had been over roasted. I could still taste the bitterness even after eating my (delicious) peanut butter square. For me it is a little style over substance, and left me wishing that I'd gone to Starbucks across the way.

Pot Kettle Black has a very slick NQ feel to it. The lounge chair, the muted greys - making use of an industrial feel without being distant & derelict. There's a huge island workstation central to the outlet, with plenty of power points. The large full length windows are used to great effect, allowing light to pour through. The coffee is very nice. A balanced roast. I opted for a cappuccino, which comes on a silver tray with a biscuit & a glass of water. A nice touch. Another appeal of the place are the amazing tunes they play. I would list them but I have to leave something to your imaginations!

PKB seemed very popular when I went to visit. Wanted a quick warming cup of Joe before heading home on the train and PKB had the most promising reviews. Set in an arcade, PKB is a little coffee shop with a couple of benches outside. Prime location to see the very trendy, Hoxton-esk Gentlemens barbers shop across the way. Complete with barman making cocktails and dapper tashed galore it's certainly entertaining to watch. There's a very simple but good choice of coffee and cake. I liked that the coffee wasn't too big and it came with a little glass of water and wafer. The coffee itself was nice, much nicer than most chains. It's a little bit on the pricey side but nice and different from the alternatives none the less. Chocolate Oreo Brownie is a winner. Worth a look.

Not much of a caffeine fan, I feel I'm not best placed to review this cute new coffee shop in Barton Arcade, but it still managed to impress me enough for a 4 star rating. We rocked up early on a Sunday morning to meet a couple of friends for a work/social meet-up. As we were there early it was nice to see plenty of tables free to pick from, and equally quantities of free Sunday papers to browse through. The soft drink selection was limited but sufficient, and very reasonably priced (I hope they've done their sums right!). We picked a spot in the window to watch the city come to life. Our friends are more au fait when it comes to coffee, and I'm assured the espressos are excellent. Served in a stylish glass (vs ceramic) alongside a glass of iced water, it seemed like a more authentic offering than many of the other coffee shops in the area. The selection of cakes looked delicious, and I'll certainly return to sample at some point when I'm not feeling guilty about that many calories before midday.

Coffee is delicious. Atmosphere is great. Staff are super friendly. You can't really ask for much more in a coffee shop/eatery. I didn't have anything to eat but the meals the people had around me looked delicious. I had a usual iced latte and they made it pretty to perfection, only thing is maybe a bigger glass to fit more ice. Great place

Visited here after I awoke with a hangover. It's quite quiet at 8 30 am so it's one of my favourite places to get a fruity start to the day. The banana oat smoothie is simply devine, its a little pricey but it sorts you out if you're feeling fragile!

Love this coffee shop; one of my favourites in Manchester! The coffee and food is great, the staff is ALWAYS absolutely lovely, and the setting is comfortable. Great place to meet up for coffee or get away to study/work. I go often and recommend it highly!

I bookmarked Pot Kettle Black when I saw Jonny's photos and review last week. I decided to pay a visit on a lunch hour. It's inside the Grade II listed building Barton Arcade on Deansgate. Pot Kettle Black is just located in the middle of Barton Arcade. You definitely won't miss it either when you are shopping in the mall or just cut the shortcut from St. Ann square to Deansgate. PKB is in a great location since the Starbuck in St. Ann Square and the nearest Café Nero on Deansgate are always busy. The demand for coffee house is no doubt high in this location. Pot Kettle Black has the independent coffee house character: relaxing atmosphere inside, experienced and friendly barista, quality coffee beans. However, it could be more than just an independent coffee house. It has a bright and large space. It has intimate small table and stools for two in the corner surrounded by glass walls, round table for four and two large tables for group meeting ups. I think PKB put quite a lot thought on space arrangement. All the seating plans look comfortable and chic. It's good for both casual meeting ups and formal meetings. On my visit, I had ordered a Pastrami Sandwich and a Flat White. As for coffee, the barista recommended the V60 since it's brewed with some nice Kenya beans from Workshop - the quality London roaster. I felt like a more milky coffee with my lunch so I opted for the Flat White. The barista showed me the espresso beans from Workshop he was gonna to brew for the flat white. The flat white was complimented with a glass of water and a piece of snack. I always order a flat white on my first visit to a coffee house. It's a good flat white no only because the beans are from a reliable source and it's been brewed properly and most importantly the temperature of the milk is right. The Pastrami, Mozzarella and the pickle in the sandwich were fresh and in fine quality. It's a very good sandwich and it's just a bit cold for me. I asked whether the staff could toast the sandwich when he came to check was everything alright. He apologized for not having a toaster yet and brought a bag for me take away the sandwich if I would like. He also offered a free coffee voucher as a good gesture. Overall, I enjoyed my visit to PKB and I was so glad to have this new addition to our Manchester independent coffee house scenery. I would suggest the back door of the coffee should be closed to bring in a little cosy atmosphere because this space already has the glass wall surroundings. With this good start on coffee and teas, PKB has a great potential to become a popular meeting up place based on such a luxury location and interior space if they invest more on the kitchen with cold and hot lunch ideas.

Ahhh... coffee, my dear, dear friend. How I love thee. I am Australian and therefore a coffee snob who finds it hard to find a decent long black in this country of tea-drinkers. A few options have appeared in Manchester over the past few years which is very exciting and I was very happy to see Pot Kettle Black open not too far from my apartment. Their position in the Barton Arcade is lovely and hopefully it will draw more business to that beautiful and wasted building. What a space! The interior of the cafe is very nicely decorated although the hard metal seats aren't the most comfortable. The coffee selection is great although it is one of the most expensive coffee menus that I have seen in awhile. But the quality of the coffee made up for it - my long black was just delicious. And it came with a glass of water and a little biscuit - so european! It is the quality of the product and the attention to detail that makes me want to go back and pay for another expensive coffee. I checked out the cakes but didn't get one, but I sampled a bite of my friend's chocolate cake. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything astonishing either. The rest of the sweet things looked of a similar 'ok'ness. But the coffee is definitely a winner.

I went to PKBlast on tuesday. For those who don't know its where you get up early and have a mad work out with the PKB boys and have breakfast after. Its a 7am start. I had a really good time, a quick run then up to the roof for some real training. I hurt nicely the day after and the breakfast and the coffee were great. I will be back next Tuesday and if your finding hard to fit in your working out do this. The PKB boys are cheer you on too.

Back for a second visit and conclude the place is good for a change but not to become a regular. They are slow (despite not being over busy)... Products are good quality but the latte for £2.60 very small, and smaller than Starbucks small... Toast (Hovis loaf on side) good...

Great quality coffee. Great food. Good music. What more could you want. It's a little gem hidden away in Barton arcade that's well worth a visit. Cheaper and better than the chains. You get a fresh water with your coffee, as you should, and one of those lovely crisp wafer rolls. If you want a warning treat there's soup. There's also beer's and whine available. All in all, just what a great coffee shop should be. Friendly, welcoming, and great quality.

Friendly staff makes a big change from the normal city centre coffee shops, but most importantly a flat white you dont need to put sugar into. Thats a hard thing to find imo

I am one to those people who absolutely love to go to cafés alone to study, read, or write. I've been to many cafés , and I am always amazed of the multitude of choice in terms of atmosphere, architecture, music , and people there. Pot Kettle black is in Barton arcade , in a calm spot. The light is soft , the music is pleasant , and there are wifi and power outles. ( first criteria , check) the waitress was very nice. There is not a HUGE range of choice , but what they provide is good quality , you pay for what you get : not only a coffee , tea , infusion but flavoured sugar , speculos , and free lemon water. They also sell cakes that people seemed to enjoy. It is a very quiet place to study and the only " inconvenient " is the fact that they do not have toilets ..

Did we happen to come here on one of their 'off days' I wonder? Given the many highly positive views I really had high hopes for PKB only to have them completely dashed in only 20 minutes. Their location on the ground floor of Barton Arcade is certainly a lovely setting, that is, if what looked like a quarter of the other units weren't completely empty. How can such a place not be bustling with life if it's accessed directly from Deansgate, one of the busiest shopping streets in the city? It made for quite a depressing view. Location issues aside, the interior of the coffee shop certainly looked sleek, but it was just a tad gloomy and soulless inside (on a positive note they were pumping out some great tunes). As a non-coffee drinker I obviously opted for a pot of tea, with my friend requesting (twice) that we wanted loose rather than bagged. After a wait of about 10 minutes two pots of tea came...with bagged tea. My cup was dirty but was swiftly replaced. I'm not one to be difficult but it wasn't what we ordered and quite frankly was one of the worst I've ever tasted - we ended up leaving the vast majority of it untouched. An unfortunate experience I'm sure but I'll stick to giving Takk (http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/takk-manchester) my custom for tea in future.

One of my favourite places in Manchester for breakfast. Super yummy food and a really cosy atmosphere. I've spent hours here drinking coffee and chatting away with friends. It's easily done! The oats are definitely a fave of mine! Well worth a visit.

Small place but great food & great service. Their coffee is amazing. Plus, they're probably the only place that serves matcha green tea latte!

Everything about this coffeehouse is perfect! Great ambiance, friendly staff, wonderful coffee, and healthy food options. It is tucked inside the Barton Arcade and offers a wide variety of drink choices and breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Highly recommend the quinoa, spinach, feta salad which has pomegranate and pumpkin seeds. Love going here to work. Keep up the great work, PKB!

I've tried this place twice so far... And chances are that i'll be visiting more often. Don't let the fact that Pot Kettle Black is situated in the empty ghost town known as Barton Arcade stop anyone from trying this place, it is one of the best coffee shops i've been to so far. We wanted to try somewhere different and settled on Pot Kettle Black since it was close by. I had a salted caramel brownie while Ma had a white chocolate chip brownie, both choosing lattes - a safe option for the first visit. We both agreed the coffee is good and definitely worth another visit. I highly recommend Pot Kettle Black to anyone.

Strong coffee and a grand selection of flapjacks. The cherry and chocolate was a fine complement to my frothy cappuccino..

Favourite coffee in Manchester. Fantastic food and super friendly staff. The vegan porridge is the best porridge I have ever had.

Love this place! Been here a few times on dates and with family. The coffee is delicious and when I've had food, that's been excellent too. Nice atmosphere and rarely too busy.

Excellent independent coffee house. Bit different than the big franchises which is a good thing. Flat white served with a glass of chilled water . Always come here when working in Manchester