The whole country is holding in a collective breath as we wait to see if England will be crowned champions in the Euros Final this Sunday.
The men’s team haven’t won a major championship since 1966, so history was made when the Three Lions beat Denmark 2-1 on Wednesday night.
With excitement building and bosses around the city handing out extra days of paid leave like they’re going out of fashion, there’s never been a better excuse to make a big day of it ahead of the match.
Get yourself set up for the night with a solid scran at one of these killer spots in the city, dishing up everything from burgers and pizzas to grilled cheese, loaded salt and pepper chips and more.
Bread and Bowl at the Crown and Anchor
A whole loaf of sourdough bread, hollowed out and filled with all your favourite grub? Sounds like the perfect pre-match scran to us. Filling choices include Full English, a ‘nacho bowl’ will chilli con Carne, guac and sour cream, a ‘brie’ bowl with added mozzarella and gruyere, and a Philly cheesesteak stew.
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They’ll even deliver a post-match ‘hangover package’ to your door, so if you’re really taken why not get another on order for Monday? You’re going to need it.
Find Bread and Bowl at the Crown and Anchor, 41 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EE. Open Sunday, 10am-7pm.
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Salt and Pepper have permanently taken over the kitchen at Black Dog Ballroom
Salt and Pepper at Black Dog Ballroom, Northern Quarter
As the name suggests, everything here gets the authentic salt and pepper treatment: from chicken strips and massive king prawns to tofu, sticky beef, and wings. Have yours with boiled rice, salt and pepper crinkle cut chips, or stuffed into flatbreads for the ultimate pre-match scran. S&P has also got a site in the Arndale market, great if you want to take it away.
Find Salt and Pepper at Black Dog Ballroom on 52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW. Open Sunday, 12pm-4am.
The home of grilled cheese in Manchester, these guys do not mess about. They’ve got two sites in the Northern Quarter; a more casual takeaway spot just off High Street, and a cafe with outdoor and indoor seating just down the road off Tib street.
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Breakfast grilled cheeses are served until 12pm, after that choices include ‘The Midnight Bacon’ – their signature three-cheese toastie served with a sticky bourbon-glazed pork chop; and the ‘Pig on a Lead’ – the ultimate mac and cheese grilled sandwich, served with 9-hour BBQ pulled pork.
Find the Northern Soul Grilled Cheese cafe at Unit G20, 21, 44 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA. Open Sunday, 11.30am – 7pm.
Lust, Luck, Liquor and Burn is known for its super slutty burritos, nachos and tacos / Image: Lust, Luck, Liquor and Burn
Lust, Luck, Liquor and Burn
Lust Luck is known for its super slutty burritos, nachos and tacos, all of which come dripping in delicious house-made sauces, for good reason. But don’t overlook the sides here, either – there are some belters on the menu. Our favourite? The bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers, filled with goats cheese and served with a sundried aioli.
Find Lust, Luck, Liquor and Burn at 100-102 High St, Manchester M4 1HP. Open Sunday, 12-11pm.
Rudy’s pizza has the best dough in the city and a great range of changing specials on top of its usual menu, make it a top choice for your pre-match scran / Image: Rudy’s Pizza
Rudy’s Pizza
Fact: it’s impossible to go wrong with a Rudy’s pizza. The multi-award-winnning chain, first started in Ancoats, now has sites across the UK but the quality here is still just as brilliant as ever.
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Favourites include their nduja Calabrese pizza and Capricciosa, topped with prosciutto cotto, kalamata olives, portobello mushroom and artichoke hearts; but you’re just as well off ordering a margherita here – the neapolitan sourdough base is so good, you don’t really need anything else.
Find Rudy’s at their Ancoats restaurant on Cutting room Square or on Peter Street, next to Albert’s Schloss.Open Sunday, 12pm-10pm.
Crazy Pedro’s part-time pizza parlour specialises in NY style, cold-proved pizza served by the pie and the slice / Image: Crazy Pedro’s
Crazy Pedro’s Pizza
With two sites, one in the Northern Quarter and another on Bridge Street, no matter where you are watching the football n town it’s always easy to get to a pre-match scran at Pedro’s.
The pizza here is a world away from Rudy’s: New York in style, not Neapolitan, it comes with crazy toppings and can be ordered by the pie or slice.
Think burger-themed pizzas like the ‘Mac Daddy’, topped with mini hamburgers, jack cheese, burger sauce, a nacho-laden pizza laden with pico de gallo, gauc, tortillas, chilli and salsa, and their ‘World Famous Hot Dog Pizza’.
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Find Crazy Pedro’s on Bridge Street or on Short St in the Northern Quarter, next to Dive Bar and NQ64. Open Sunday, 12pm-12am.
One Greater Manchester university named among top 10 best in England for 2026
Emily Sergeant
England’s best universities for the upcoming academic year have been named, and one Greater Manchester institution has made the cut.
And this is a very important title too, as it’s all according to current students.
It’s that time of year when higher education institutions nationwide await their annual rankings, and thankfully, Uni Compare has now released its highly-anticipated 2026 league tables ahead of the upcoming academic year, ready for prospective students to get the insight needed before choosing where to study.
Since launching its rankings back in 2020, the platform has become a trusted resource for students across England – with this year’s data drawing from the largest review database yet.
Uni Compare has amassed over 151,000 reviews and ratings since its inception, creating one of the UK’s most comprehensive student-led review databases focused exclusively on the university experience, and the 2026 rankings represent the culmination of 28,430 verified student reviews and ratings collected across 209 universities in England.
The annual league tables focus exclusively on institutions in England, ranking them across five key student experience areas.
Accommodation, course quality, and student social life are just some of the student experience areas taken into consideration, and then the percentage score indicates the proportion of students who said they would recommend their university to others.
The University of Salford has been named one of England’s best for 2026 / Credit: University of Salford
The only Greater Manchester university to make the top 10 list is the University of Salford, claiming a respectable ninth place with a 98% overall recommendation score.
Unlike many other round-up lists, northern cities – and particularly North West-based universities – dominate the top 10, with institutions such as Liverpool John Moores University, Edge Hill University, Leeds Beckett University, and Newcastle University all claiming spots within the coveted lineup.
Best Universities in England 2026
Middlesex University
Liverpool John Moores University
Nottingham Trent University
Newcastle University
Edge Hill University
University of Liverpool
University of Derby
Leeds Beckett University
University of Salford
University of Sheffield
Not only that, but the University of Liverpool and the University of Sheffield also rank highly, but despite all this, the north hasn’t claimed the top spot – that has gone to Middlesex University.
“What stands out this year is just how competitive the top positions are,” commented Uni Compare founder, Owen O’Neill.
“The rankings reveal what students are actually experiencing day-to-day, from the quality of their accommodation, to how well they’re being prepared for their careers.
No trains are set to run through Stockport station for three weeks this summer – here’s why
Danny Jones
Commuters can expect some significant disruption to a major rail link this summer, as no trains are set to pass through Stockport train station for the best part of a month due to fairly sizeable maintenance worksnearby.
As a result, those catching the trains in and around the North West will have to make do with alternative services, diversions and rail replacement buses for at least three weeks.
With the Stockport station ‘Masterplan‘ officially announced in 2024, the key Greater Manchester connection is set for a major overhaul in the coming years, with the aim of turning it into a “modern facility” fitting of the town’s ongoing resurgence.
First up, it seems, is the long overdue replacement of the Greek Street roundabout bridge, which was built back in 1958 and has been in need of updating for some time.
⏳10 weeks to go❗️
From 2-23 August, trains won't run through Stockport while we rebuild the Greek Street railway bridge as part of a £20m investment in safer, stronger journeys
🚧Rail replacement buses will be in place and more information to come
— Manchester Piccadilly (@NetworkRailMAN) May 30, 2025
More details surrounding specific travel arrangements are set to be distributed to the public in the coming weeks, but Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have confirmed they will be accepting train tickets on Bee Network buses in the meantime.
While the ticket office and underpass between Edgeley and the recently regenerated Stockport Exchange will remain open, the station itself will be virtually out of operation for three weeks in August.
At present, the works are scheduled to last from Saturday, 2-23 August, so many of those travelling through the town during this time may need to make alternative arrangements.
Issuing an update late last month, Network Rail’s project manager William Brandon said: “The work to strengthen Stockport is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make train journeys on the Manchester spur of the West Coast Main Line safer and more reliable.
“I understand that closing the railway through Stockport for 21 days will be inconvenient to our passengers, and I am sorry about this […] I’d advise passengers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time for their journey.”
The area in question. (Credit: Network Rail)
Network Rail clarified that while the Greek Street bridge is being demolished and the new one (which is set to last all the way up until 2145) is reinstalled, engineers have already been working closely with utility companies in the locale to safely divert gas, water, electricity and so on.
As for Avanti West Coast themselves, Stockport Station Manager, Lisa Magee, went on to add: “While there’ll be no trains to or from Stockport for 21 days […] Avanti West Coast teams will be on hand to support those making journeys via rail replacement bus.
“Together with Network Rail and other train operators, we’re finalising the timetable and will share more details in the coming weeks, so customers can plan their journeys in advance.”
“We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding, and as always, we strongly encourage them to check the National Rail website, as well as with their train operators, for the latest updates.”
This isn’t the only major travel update for SK announced as of late, either – something much bigger is coming to the borough as part of the Bee Network expansion.
Georgina Pellant -
9th July 2021 
