Chocolate has this uncanny ability to raise our spirits even in the lowest moments. Which is probably why we’ve all been scoffing so much of it for the best part of a year.
Greater Manchester has had it undeniably tough in terms of pandemic restrictions, but the silver lining is that one of the country’s greatest sweet treat emporiums just happens to be our neighbour.
Throughout lockdowns, Slattery – Whitefield’s famous three-storey bakery and chocolate shop – has been supplying locals with the kind of mood-enhancing, mouth-watering desserts more decadent than the kind Charlie Bucket clapped eyes on in Roald Dahl’s novel.
The shop’s latest launch though – chocolate lockdown platters – are being scoffed down quicker than they take to prepare.
Slattery announced the magnificent takeaway trays at the start of the year – and demand has been so high that staff have warned anyone collecting there could be queues on arrival.
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SlatterySlattery
Of course, if you’re lucky enough to live close by, you can get your boxes sent to your door instead.
The Slattery At Home website is advertising a delivery service for certain properties in Greater Manchester within a five-mile radius.
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A number of lockdown trays are currently on sale online – ranging in size, variety and price.
These include the ridiculously delectable Sharing Chocolate Dip Platter – which comes with shortbread, brownies, fudge, pretzels, marshmallows and Oreos – and the Waffles & Cookies Chocolate Dessert Platter with fresh strawberries.
There’s also Afternoon Teas, birthday packs, and brownie selection boxes available, along with a Valentine’s Day board piled high with heart-shaped doughnuts, chocolate lovehearts and Rose Prosecco.
You can view the full range on the Slattery website here.
Eats
Popular Thai street food restaurant Zaap Thai is finally coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A Thai street food restaurant with sites all over the North has finally announced plans to come to Manchester for the first time.
Zaap Thai is famed for its authentic and affordable street food-inspired menu, served up in restaurants designed to mimic the bustling street food markets of Bangkok.
Expect colourful fairy lights, illuminated signs, graffiti art, enamel crockery and even seating booths built into tuk tuks.
Zaap Thai already has locations in cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and Durham, but hasn’t made it into the North West before now.
It’s now set to open on Lincoln Square – where you’ll already find Maray – this June.
This new Zaap Thai location is set to be one its biggest venues to date, with 160 covers.
The expansive menu features 80 dishes from across Thailand, from street food small plates to big bowls of noodles and fiery curries.
Their menu highlights include chicken satay, crispy pork belly, stir-fries like Pad Ga Prao, and sweet dishes such as mango sticky rice and pandan custard pancakes.
That’s alongside Thai-inspired cocktails and mocktails, plus Thai lagers like Singha.
Zaap Thai is coming to ManchesterFood at Zaap Thai
Ban Kaewkraikhot, founder and executive chef at Zaap said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing Zaap Thai to Manchester.
“This is a city with a rich and diverse hospitality scene, and we’re delighted to be joining that fantastic community.
“Our mission is to share our authentic flavours of native Thailand with the city – we want to transport guests to sunny South East Asia by providing an amazing and affordable menu where you can try something new each time.
“Our restaurant is inspired by the places we love back home and everyone is welcome. We can’t wait to bring the Zaap experience to Manchester!”
Zaap Thai Manchester will open on Lincoln Square in June 2025.
Former Lunya site to be taken over by kebab house, five years after closure
Daisy Jackson
The restaurant space that was previously home to Lunya will finally be brought back to life, with a new kebab restaurant moving in.
Lunya, which had a two-storey restaurant and deli on Deansgate in the beautiful Barton Arcade, shut down in 2020.
It was one of the earliest and most high-profile closures caused by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, with owner Peter Kinsella penning at the time a heartbreaking open letter to then-PM Boris Johnson.
The Lunya site has remained empty for the last five years despite its enviable location in the heart of Manchester – but finally, new signs have gone up and a new operator is swooping in.
The windows now tease the arrival of Great British Doner, touting itself to be ‘the ultimate doner experience’.
The new opening will be selling wraps and boxes stuffed with beef, chicken, halloumi and falafel.
In a statement supplied to Place North West, Andrew Hynes, director at Hynes Illingworth said: “Barton Arcade will be the first UK opening for British Doner with two additional locations also secured in Manchester city centre.
Great British Doner is moving into the old Lunya site on Deansgate
“The business has been established by experienced restaurateur, Mehmet Korkut, previous owner of Café Istanbul and UK franchise owner of heritage brand Sultanahmet Koftecisi.”
There’ve been a lot of changes down this end of Deansgate in the last couple of years, including the openings of Simmons, with the city’s ‘biggest happy hour’, and Mama Roux’s, as well as the departures of Classic Football Shirts within the Barton Arcade.
When it opens, Great British Doner will join the likes of award-winning coffee shop Pot Kettle Black, and independent menswear retailer The R Store in the landmark building.
The Manc -
11th February 2021 
