Menus, Tent Cards and Window Posters for Independent Food Start-Ups in Ancoats
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Ancoats has become one of Manchester's go-to spots for food. Visit Manchester guides describe it as a food-led neighbourhood, sitting right next to the Northern Quarter. Old mills, canal paths, and new places opening around Cutting Room Square and along Blossom Street and Jersey Street.
If you're opening a cafe, bar or food stall here, you're joining a busy crowd. That's exciting. It also means people have plenty of choice.
So your first prints need to work hard. This guide covers menu printing for new cafes, tent cards, window posters and when to order them so they're ready for opening day.
What a new venue prints first
When you're opening, the to-do list is endless. Here's what we'd put at the top of the print pile.
- Menus. People need to know what you sell and what it costs.
- Window posters. These pull in walk-ins and tell people you're open.
- Tent cards. Little table signs for specials, Wi-Fi details or your socials.
- A sign inside. Something sturdy by the counter or the door.
Before you print anything
Make sure your menu is final. It's tempting to rush, but changing prices or dishes a week after opening means printing again. Do a soft launch with friends first if you can. You'll learn what sells and what needs to change.
A note on food rules
We print what you send us. We can't advise on food labelling or allergens. For that, the Food Standards Agency is the place to go. Check their guidance before your menu is finished.
Menus that are easy to update
New places change their menus a lot in the first few months. That's normal. So plan for it.
Keep it simple
- Fewer dishes, written clearly, is easier to read than a long list.
- Group things in a way that makes sense: breakfast, lunch, drinks.
- Use a font that's easy to read in your lighting. Dim bars need bigger text.
Plan for change
- Keep seasonal or daily specials off the main menu. Put them on tent cards or a board instead.
- Order a sensible number of menus to start with. You can always reorder once the menu settles.
- Save your design file so a small change doesn't mean starting from scratch.
Our menu printing page shows the options. Pick what suits your space.
Prices that might change
If you're still working out your prices, think about how often you'll want to reprint. A tidy menu with a few lines you can update later is better than a perfect menu that's out of date in a month.
Tent cards for tables
Tent cards are those little folded cards that stand up on tables. Small, but they do a lot.
Great uses for tent card printing
- This week's specials.
- Your Wi-Fi name and password.
- Your social handles, so people tag you in their photos.
- A loyalty scheme or a "come back for brunch" nudge.
- A QR code to your online menu.
See our tent cards for the details.
Keep them tidy
Tent cards near drinks and food can get splashed. Keep a spare stack behind the counter and swap them out when they look tired.
Window posters for walk-ins
In a place like Ancoats, lots of customers are just walking past. Maybe they're heading to the canal, or wandering over from the Northern Quarter. Your window is your chance to make them stop.
Pick a size
- An A3 poster (297 x 420 mm) is good for a small window or the door glass.
- An A2 poster (420 x 594 mm) works for bigger windows and is easier to read from across the street.
Start before you open
During your fit-out, the windows are often covered anyway. Use that space. An "Opening soon" poster with your name and opening date builds a bit of buzz with people who walk past every day. By opening day, some of them will already be curious.
What to put on window posters for cafes
- "Now open", in big letters, for the first few weeks.
- Your opening hours.
- One thing you want to be known for. Your coffee, your bakes, your Sunday roast.
- A great photo of your food, if you have one.
Think about your busiest times
Ancoats gets lots of people walking along the canal and through the streets at weekends. If weekend brunch is your big thing, say so in the window. Make it easy for a passer-by to think, "Let's go there on Saturday."
Something sturdier inside
An A2 foam board (420 x 594 mm) makes a smart sign by the counter or the entrance. It's rigid, it stays flat and it's for indoor use. Use it for "Order here", a drinks list or your story.
Order timeline
Here's how timing works when you order to Manchester.
- Standard UK shipping is 2 to 3 working days of production, then about 2 days for delivery.
- Working days are Monday to Friday.
- Same-day delivery is only for London and inside the M25.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks before opening | Finish your menu after your test runs. Check FSA guidance. |
| 3 weeks before | Design menus, tent cards, posters and boards in one matching style. |
| 2 weeks before | Order everything together. |
| 1 week before | Check every print. Put posters up with "Opening soon" or your date. |
| Opening day | Menus out, tent cards on tables, "Now open" in the window. |
A delivery tip for new places
If your unit isn't open yet, the courier may find nobody there. Send the order to an address where someone's around, or make sure you're on site that day.
Treat these dates as a guide, not a promise. Opening week is hectic enough without waiting on a parcel.
Ready for opening day?
Good food start-up print doesn't need to be fancy. It needs to be clear, look like you, and be ready on time.
Pick your menus, tent cards and posters, upload your designs and we'll print and send them to you in Ancoats. Questions? Call us on 020 7701 2515. You can also read more about our poster printing in Manchester City Centre.
