Theo Tobias opened Something More Productive in September 2023, taking over the Withington unit that had previously housed the record shop Wilderness. Coffee comes from Kobean and Swan Song, two small roasters based in Greater Manchester, and the menu runs to soups, sandwiches and a rotating babka supplied by Long Boi's Bakehouse in Levenshulme. The all-day vegetarian food offer draws families, students and remote workers rather than a single crowd, and by evening the counter shifts to a short wine list alongside occasional jazz nights. Crockery on the tables is made by a local potter, and mugs behind the counter have been decorated by artists from the neighbourhood. Theo's poodle Roscoe is usually stationed by the door, greeting regulars as they come in.
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