A Manchester restaurant’s Instagram has been hacked – losing them thousands of followers and a key means of communication with customers.
Bada Bing sandwich shop – a Sopranos-inspired takeaway launched in lockdown by Meg Lingenfelter and Sam Gormally – had its social media infiltrated over the weekend.
The couple discovered they had been locked out of their account on Friday (July 2) – and now the account is actually being held to ransom.
A screenshot of the Whatsapp exchange, shared to Eatmcr’s story last night
The couple behind the successful sandwich takeaway project revealed they have received Whatsapp messages from the person who’s logged into their account, asking them for money to have it returned.
However, when they paid the $300 that was requested – the hacker asked for more money.
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A new small business, Bada Bing has only been trading for a few months but had managed to acquire over ten thousand followers in that time.
Now, they’ve had to create a new account @badabing.mcr, which they’re asking people to refollow and share.
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Bada Bing posted this image of Silvio Dante from The Sopranos to their new account over the weekend after their original one got hacked
Although the takeaway is on the food delivery app Food Stuff MCR, a large part of Bada Bing’s business is operated through social media – particularly Instagram.
Whilst orders can be made for click and collect through their website, social media is their main means of communicating with customers.
Bada Bing has contacted Instagram through the usual support channels but have not yet heard anything back about getting their original @badabingmcr account back. A quick look suggests the original account may have been deactivated or deleted.
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Just a couple of the brilliant sandwiches on the menu at Bada Bing / Image: Bada Bing
The duo have not said much publicly on the matter but have shared an image simply stating “The Bing got got. Don’t disrespect the Bing.”
Bada Bing is currently over at The Refuge – having extended their residency there for at least the next couple of weeks. You can find them selling their brilliant Italian American deli-inspired hoagie sandwiches as part of Eatmcr’s street food takeover.
Head down Friday-Sunday between midday and 6pm to show them some love – and make sure to follow their new account, @badabing.mcr.
Food & Drink
Pizza Pilgrims is finally coming to Manchester with a bold new Neapolitan pizzeria
Daisy Jackson
One of the UK’s fastest-growing pizza restaurant groups (nope, not Rudy’s) is finally set to touch down in Manchester.
Signs have appeared on Deansgate for the city’s first Pizza Pilgrims site, taking over the now-closed tapas restaurant La Vina.
Pizza Pilgrims has been operating since 2011, and now has 25 restaurants right across the UK – but hasn’t made it to Manchester until now.
Their restaurants are famed for their colourful and maximalist interiors, with Italian-inspired decor dripping off every surface.
Expect checkered tablecloths, giant lemons hanging from the ceiling, retro posters, colourful shutters and even washing lines hung with Italian football shirts.
At their site in Leeds, which opened in 2023, there’s even a giant pink flamingo pedalo that’s been turned into a self-serve gelato stand for customers to create their own sweet treats.
On the menus, Pizza Pilgrims is all about double-fermented dough bases, cooked at 500 ̊C to give a light, chewy and charred crust, just like in Naples.
Highlights from their menus include an eight-cheese pizza, a carbonara-inspired pizza, and the ‘You’ve Got Maiale’, topped with nduja, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and a balsamic glaze.
They also serve irresistible fried cacio e pepe balls, stuffed with spaghetti, pecorino cheese and black pepper.
Pizza Pilgrims will open on Deansgate in Manchester later this month – you can find out more and sign up for freebies when it launches HERE.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Food & Drink
The New Didsbury Dozen: the definitive list of boozers on this legendary pub crawl
Danny Jones
Whether you’re a born and bred Manc or simply visiting, ‘The Didsbury Dozen’ is an absolute institution of the Manchester drinking scene.
However, the sad reality of going out post-pandemic is that not every watering hole survived, and unfortunately, some of the original Didsbury Dozen didn’t make it through lockdown. Rest in peace, The Stoker’s Arms (now Dockyard), The Sanctuary (now Head of Steam), The Slug and more.
That being said, while we will certainly miss them, they say every ending is a new beginning; as one door shuts, another one opens — and when we say door, we of course mean the door to a pub.
So, without further ado, we decided to formalise The NEW Didsbury Dozen. At least one drink in each, those are the rules. You can argue all you like, this is the definitive list from here on out, so you’ll just have to deal with it.
1. The Didsbury
Didsbury Dozen pub crawl – The DidsburyDidsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Didsbury
Where else to start but the beginning? Lucky for us, the consensus has always been that a pub crawl called The Didsbury Dozen should obviously start at The Didsbury. Kicking off the crawl on the curved corner of Wilmslow Road, this traditional pub offers little surprise but signals the start of a great night.
2. Ye Olde Cock Inn
Didsbury Dozen pub crawl – Ye Olde Cocke InnDidsbury Dozen pub crawl – Ye Olde Cocke Inn
The best part about the opening two pubs on this list is that not only have they remained literal cornerstones of this crawl, but they are genuinely spitting distance from each other – i.e. just five yards, there’s another old English pub that offers the same as next door, plus a ping pong table. Easy.
3. The Famous Crown
Didsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Famous CrownDidsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Famous Crown
Ok, so now you’ve had a couple of pints, you’re ready for the short walk down the road as you begin the first mobile part of The Dozen toward The Famous Crown. What’s it famous for? Coming back from the dead with solid beer, a cosy interior and some mint food to line your stomach for the bulk of the boozing.
4. The Royal Oak
Didsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Royal Oak
Had some pub grub or at least a butty from the Co-op up the road? Good. Sod that ‘eating is cheating’ nonsense, this is a long old night and we don’t need any heroes — you’ll all be heroes at the end. Next up, another non-nonsense boozer: The Royal Oak. Small and cosy; beer, wine and the rest of it. Simple.
Now we move on to one of our favourites and arguably one of the best bars in Didsbury, let alone on The Dozen, Fletcher Moss. Just 75 yards off the Village high street and offering up live sports, craft beers, plus the beloved beer garden, this hidden gem is just as pretty in the winter as it is in the summer. Iconic.
6. The Nelson
Didsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Nelson
Back toward the high street now; just on the corner of Barlow Moor Road, you’ll find The Nelson. Yes, named after the Admiral and yes, another no-frills boozer owned by Craft Union Pubs. Often serving up Moorhouse beer as its guest and playing host to the local darts league, it’s everything you’d expect.
7. The Dog and Partridge
Didsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Dog and PartridgeDidsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Dog and Partridge
Ok, halfway there and we’re definitely into the busy section now: pubs every couple of yards and, before you ask, yes, we’re skipping The Botanist (formerly Pitcher & Piano), there are loads of ’em. We’re moving on to The Dog and Partridge for some classic ale, Pieminister pies, cheese plates and more.
Now, this one has changed hands more than the Dozen has changed barrels, but the latest iteration of number eight is Manchester’s second Salmon of Knowledge site, which replaced The Dockyard back in March; it’s been a hit in the Northern Quarter, and it’s proved no different in Didsbury. Try it for yourself.
9. The Station
Didsbury Dozen pub crawl – The StationDidsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Station
Hopefully, you’ve soaked up the alcohol with some well-earned carbs as we’re now at a crucial juncture where many bow out. Make sure you’ve got all your belongings as we pull into The Station. This popular Irish pub has sports, live music three nights a week and a serious love of Guinness. Say no more.
Still standing? Good, because we’re entering the final third of this drunken journey and you’ve gotta walk again. The fresh air might do you good. When you do stop, you’ll arrive at The Woodstock: a beautiful establishment with lots of room and lots of booze. If anything, it’s too nice for your raucous rabble.
The penultimate stop on our alcohol-fuelled trip through Didsbury is The Metropolitan, or as it’s commonly known, ‘The Met’. Once a grand Victorian railway hotel, it’s now a massive bar and restaurant plating up banging Sunday Roasts and hangover-curing breakfasts. But you’re on a mission, concentrate.
12. The Railway
You’ve made it. One more drink and you’ve smashed The Didsbury Dozen. Starting in the Village and ending the night in East Dids, head over the road to The Railway, a simple, British, cask ale tavern, much loved by locals. We don’t need to sell it, you’ll love it too — that’s if you can remember it, of course.
Didsbury Dozen pub crawl – The Railway
Better still, you’re only stumbling distance from the Burton Road tram stop. You’re welcome. Now get yourself home, you absolute mess.
And just like that, you’re done. The only question is, did you make it to the end of the new and improved Didsbury Dozen in one piece? We sincerely hope you did and that there was no man left behind.
It goes without saying that you should always drink responsibly and luckily, the idea of The Dozen is you can pace yourself by spreading it out over the day and grab plenty of food on the way — we don’t need any heroes, only good vibes.
We’ll leave you to squabble among yourselves as to what locations we may or may not be missed off and how exactly you’re going to phrase your strongly-worded letters. If we don’t catch you in the comments, we’ll see you in the pub!
Georgina Pellant -
6th July 2021 
