A new study has ranked the top bottomless brunch offers in the city, taking into account factors like the number of 5* reviews, price and outdoor seating availability.
All very important, we’ll admit, but if your attitude to bottomless brunch is anything like that of our friends then you’ll appreciate there’s still a lot more to be considered. After all, bottomless brunch is a marathon – not a sprint.
It’s all got to be assessed tactically, which is why it’s important to take details like how long you can drink and how many drinks and dishes are on the bottomless brunch menu into account, alongside the most important question of all – ‘is it truly bottomless?’
Looking to find the most highly rated independent brunch locations, The Bottle Club has covered all of these points and more in its assessment. Suffice to say, we’re pretty impressed with their commitment to the cause.
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Fress
Northern Quarter
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Coming in at the top of the list is Fress, Northern Quarter’s gilded bar and brasserie cafe. It’s rarely seen without a line outside before 2pm thanks to the popularity of its brunch offering, whether customers are going bottomless or not. The way it works here is pretty simple, with one menu and the option to upgrade to bottomless house wine, beer, mimosas or prosecco for an additional £15.
Impossible
Peter Street
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Whimsical night spot Impossible is just as impressive in the day time. Boasting one of the best bottomless booze selections in the city, £30 gets you unlimited drinks from a list of over 20 different options, plus a main dish and side. There are no eggs to be found here – instead, think mini burger trios, mini wrap trios, katsu fries, salt and pepper fries and togarashi tortilla.
Peaky Blinders
Peter Street
As the name kind of gives away, this is not just any bar. It’s a Peaky Blinders-themed bar, complete with hunky Cillian Murphy lookalikes in waistcoats and flat caps. Mother, may I? For £30 a head, you can enjoy as many cocktails, prosecco, own-brand gin, pale ale or draught lager as you like in 90 minutes whilst picking from a ‘birdcage’ of meat or veggie treats. Available to book from 17th May.
Elnecot
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Ancoats
Of all the brunching spots on this list, Elnecot is a must for any self-professed foodies. Situated in the trendy independent neighbourhood of Ancoats, this locals bar and kitchen proves especially popular on weekends. Similar to Fress, there’s no dedicated bottomless menu here – instead, simply pay an additional £25 for 2 hours of unlimited access to breakfast martinis, aqua di Valencia, earl greyhounds (Gin, Earl grey tea and grapefruit), bloody marys and beer.
The Pen and Pencil
Northern Quarter
Inspired by New York’s famous mid-20th century ‘Steak Row’ bar of the same name, The Pen and Pencil sits right on the edge of Manchester’s Northern Quarter close to Piccadilly station. The only place on this list to feature bottomless food as well as drink, menu options include brunch staples like avocado and feta on toast, steak and eggs, a variety of poached eggs and big stacks of fluffy American pancakes. Hosted on the last Saturday of the month, go all-in for £40.
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A local employment charity is looking to raise £25,000 for Greater Manchester women this Christmas
Danny Jones
The regional arm of a nationwide employment charity that specialises in helping women into the workplace is aiming to raise a minimum of £25,000 for Greater Manchester locals this Christmas.
Smarts Works, an organisation that does crucial work to combat unemployment all over the UK, is ramping up its year-round efforts this festive period – a time that can prove difficult for many – to help women secure jobs and support those that land them in their new roles.
Teaming up with, The Big Give (the leading match-funding programme in the country), the charity hopes to potentially double its target amount to reach what could be a life-changing sum or hundreds if not thousands across the region.
Not only will this crucial funding help support Smart Works in its mission to empower unemployed women, equipping them with the confidence, skills and tools they need to secure employment, but it will also help spread awareness and access surrounding the organisation’s vital services.
Credit: Smart Works (supplied)
Starting from the week commencing on Tuesday, 3 December and running until 10 December, any financial donation Smart Works receives for their Christmas fundraiser will be matched by The Big Give.
This means that should they surpass their £25k target, they could potentially unlock over £50k for their centres here in Manchester and Stockport, with other facilities providing much-needed help all over the North West.
How much they manage to raise by the end of the week, the money will go towards funding tailored coaching sessions, interview preparation new starter support and even supplying applicants with work- appropriate clothing for women who need it most around the region.
Better than just helping people enter or get back into the working world, Smart Works also supports unemployed women right throughout the process, from making sure they dress for the job they want, receiving coaching to nail the interview and continuing to provide help once they’ve started.
Over two-thirds of women who use the Smart Works service find employment within a month of their appointment. Last year in Greater Manchester alone, Smart Works helped more than 833 women; nationally into work and the charity aims to support 10,000 women nationwide this year.
The fundraising page opens from 12pm today (3 December) and will remain open until the same time a week from now, giving us Mancs plenty of chance to make a difference.
Another key area of Smart Works’ most important areas of work is outreach: i.e. actively engaging with townships and villages, referral partners and job fairs to encourage as many referrals as possible, which goes a long way to building stronger community connections.
During the challenging holiday season and with a cost of living crisis still looming large over all of us, the value of initiatives like this in Manchester and the work done by the important employment charity cannot be overstated.
Featured Images — Smarts Works Greater Manchester (supplied)
News
Gregg Wallace apologises after Downing Streets labels ‘middle-class women’ comments ‘misogynistic’
Danny Jones
Gregg Wallace has issued an official apology as he looks to be in increasing trouble not only over recent reports of his misconduct on set but his subsequent reaction to the allegations and now viral “middle-class women” comments.
The 60-year-old MasterChef presenter and well-known foodie face stepped down from the BBC cooking show last week after a total of 13 people came forward to complain about his ‘sexual’ behaviour over the course of a 17-year period.
Despite having denied an initial accusation from a former female colleague regarding an incident back in 2018, in which insists no comments or actions of a sexual nature were made, a dozen more individuals have now submitted historical complaints to the corporation and a full investigation is underway.
However, in an Instagram story shared on Sunday, Wallace was quick to dismiss the claims made by what he called “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” – a response which was quickly met with a severe backlash online.
Equally problematic was his suggestion that because he had worked with an estimated 2,000 people during his time on the show the words of “only 13” women were somehow less valid and/or believable.
Having also shared a video thanking all of those supporting him, as well as numerous other stories featuring personal messages from people both on and off the show defending him, he has continued to rebuke those who have put his conduct over the past two decades under a microscope.
That being said, it looks as though the now former TV personality and household name is doubling back after even Downing Street came out to condemn his comments, with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelling the response video “completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”
Having since deleted a number of his IG stories and now shared a follow-up video to his initial reply, telling his followers: “I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people.”
He said that he was not in a “good head space” when he posted the response and has been dealing with a lot of stress since the story broke, adding, “I felt very alone.” You can see the clip down below.
As you see, the ex-green grocer and restaurant owner said he intends to step away from the story for now and let the in-house investigation move forward without interruption.
Both the BBC and production company, Banijay UK – who make MasterChef and the various spin-off series on which Gregg Wallace has served as a co-host – are currently conducting an internal review of those complaints made by former contestants and staff, including a BBC news anchor.
While none of the allegations are yet to be proved, one former male contestant reportedly told Sky News that the current allegations are just the “tip of the iceberg“, claiming he witnessed a “toxic environment” and was so “horrified” he considered quitting the show on his first day.
Georgina Pellant -
6th May 2021 
