Discover why Ramona is the perfect social spot for summer

Motorcity arrives in Manchester

Ramona is a purveyor of the Detroit-style pizza in Manchester, pinching the best bits from both the Italian and American traditions, and serving it by the chunky square slice. Nicknamed Motorcity, Detroit is another industrial northern powerhouse, known as the beating heart of the US car manufacturing industry in its heyday. Rumour has it that this style of pizza was first rustled up on a motor oil pan, so it seems only fitting that Ramona is serving up slices from a former MOT garage.

After discovering the joys of Detroit pizza on frequent trips across the pond, the team behind Ramona were determined to build a Mancunian home for their favourite dish. Baked in a dish to form a fluffy focaccia base, the dough is slathered with fresh toppings – think n’duja, Calabrian sausage and a signature Detroit tomato sauce. The cheese, however, is the real star of the show here, climbing up the edges and caramelised into a crispy crown. Pair a slice or two with some tater tots – these are the ultimate carb accompaniment, baked instead of fried, and covered in tangy truffle mayo or hot honey sauce. The menu doesn’t stop there, with a fresh salad offering that changes every day and huge triple chocolate tray bakes that are also served by the slab.

Industrial chic with intercontinental influences

The Ramona site itself has been transformed by Capital & Centric, the developers motivated by social impact and responsible for breathing a new lease of life into a number of the city’s formerly derelict sites. The set-up maintains the original industrial style of the warehouse, with corrugated roofs and skylights. Outside, the large suntrap space boasts firepits and campfires for those cooler evenings and giant tipis to shelter from the inevitable Manchester rain.

When it comes to the drinks, Ramona is all about ‘Wild Spirits’ such as tequila, rum and cachaca. Hailing from Jalisco in Mexico, the house spirit, El Tequileno, is made from volcanic water which makes the margaritas here extra special. There are countless variations of the zesty cocktail available at the Margarita Bar, including popular frozen versions with fruity flavours such as banana and pineapple. With beer on tap from independent breweries and an in-house coffee counter using beans from the local Blossom Coffee Roasters, the al fresco site has everything you need for socialising in the summer.

More than just a pizza parlour

Far from content with building their pizza empire, the team have recently unveiled their new endeavour, The Firehouse, in the adjacent building. While Ramona is inspired by the steel pan pizzas of Detroit, The Firehouse draws on intimate summer nights spent in California and Ibiza, enjoying cocktails and stellar company around an open fire. It might be similar in atmosphere, promising ‘slow fires’ and more of those ‘wild spirits’ but the food offering at The Firehouse is unique. The centrepiece of the menu is the signature Firehouse chicken, coated in a unique blend of peri spices and lovingly charred over an open flame. This is accompanied by a range of rustic sides, such as roasted squash and crushed roast potatoes, alongside fluffy pita bread baked in-house.

Once the sun sets, both Ramona and The Firehouse are transformed into a performance space, offering an eclectic mix of DJ sets, live bands and dance crews. This year, the sister venues have launched a huge programme of live entertainment that champions independent acts from across Manchester. Party-goers and music lovers alike can easily move between the new venues for a unique performance experience.

Regular weekly events include MotorCity Sunday, a laid back afternoon of bottomless pizza slices and live soul music inspired by the Blues scene in Detroit. There’s also Campfire Live sessions straight from the tipi every Thursday, which support up-and-coming acts on the local scene. In what might be a first for a pizzeria, the team have also launched their very own live radio station, Ramona Radio, which features guest DJ’s and even patrons plucked from the beer garden.