Nibble

Fancy breaking off from an NQ shopping trip for coffee and cake, preferably without filling the coffers of a global coffee chain? We can think of nowhere better than Nibble NQ, an independent female-owned café, tucked away on Oldham Street.

On our trip, a quick peek through the window reveals that we need to come back later since every table is taken. Always promising. One mini spending spree at neighbouring vintage clothes shop Pop Boutique later, we meet our goal.

Wonderful selection of homemade cakes and colourful salads

Entering the cosy, welcoming space we’re greeted by owner Lauren Irlam, and the mouthwatering sight of Nibble’s wonderful selection of homemade cakes and colourful salads on display. We’re seated at a pastel pink patio-style table in the painted window – all seats offer a street-side people-watching view here. As we peruse the menu, the comforting sounds of the coffee machine steaming and groups of friends chatting and laughing add to the ambience of the houseplant-adorned room.

Whilst other customers chat or work at laptops, we check out the ‘Girls Can’ merchandise hung up around us. Lauren started selling tote bags and tea towels emblazoned with her message of female positivity after Nibble’s post-lockdown reopening. “Lockdown was the hardest time of my life as a business owner, and personally, and getting through that really enforced that us girls can f*cking do anything. We started our merch line to help spread the message, empower other women and give them a little pep talk when they need it.”

Then there’s the food. The first bites of our modest, afternoon tea-style choices of raspberry Bakewell muffin, topped with almonds; and salted caramel coffee brownie are sensational but swiftly blown away by an impulse selection of brownie French toast from the all-day brunch menu. You’d expect a little bit of brownie crumbled over the top of the dish or perhaps a mini one on the side – instead there’s an impressive portion of vanilla-scented French toast in pools of glistening chocolate and cherry sauces, topped with what might be an entire brownie in pieces around the plate.

And my god, it’s a delicious brownie. Chewy, unctuous and deeply chocolatey. Unable to master everything we’ve ordered, we’re forced to take the muffin and the other brownie home for later so we can give our all to this masterpiece.

Not much of a hardship, really. If you too would like to sample some of these heavenly brownies, you can pop into Nibble or even order a box for home delivery online. On International Women’s Day, women who visit the café between 8:30 am and 12 pm will be gifted a free coffee, and the upcoming half-term holiday brings novelties such as pancakes all week for Pancake Day, a ‘shake and cake’ date deal, and home cake decorating kits with UK delivery. Plenty of reasons to stop by or click in the coming weeks.