A brand-new street food menu designed for “eating on your feet” has arrived at The Oast House this week.
For close to 10 years, the Spinningfields sun-trap has served up its iconic kebabs, roast dinners, and more to hungry punters across across the city, but as every Mancunian knows all to well, scoring a table to sit and enjoy them to their fullest can be challenging during the busy summer months.
Which is why the new street food menu is designed to be enjoyed mid-drink without ever having to leave the courtyard.
The new menu – which The Oast House said is inspired by “the best street food around the world” – officially landed yesterday and is now available to tuck into.
Classic street eats such as Greek Gyros, grilled Mexican-style corn Elote, and various loaded fries are all being served up.
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Chefs have also been inspired by the French-Vietnamese hybrid of Banh Mi – a soft petit baguette filled with fresh pickled vegetables, roasted belly pork and zingy condiments.
“Standing-friendly versions” of the British classic Fish and Chips, complete with Manchester caviar and gravy, and a new take on the American dive-bar-snack of Chicken Wings marinaded in Aperol to give a tangy twist are also on offer.
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Explaining the decision to introduce the new street food menu, Danny Leach – General Manager at The Oast House – said: “We often see guests join our popular courtyard for drinks, but unable to resist our tasty table menu.
“But hanging kebabs were never designed to be standing kebabs.
“Now, guests already joining us for drinks can enjoy tasty food without having to leave our sun-trap courtyard.”
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The Oast House said the menu is inspired by “the best street food around the world” / Credit: The Oast House
With prices starting at just £3.50 a dish, you’ll need to be quick as the new street food menu will be only be served from The Oast House’s main kitchen for a limited-time only.
The street food menu is not the only new addition to The Oast House this summer.
Celebrating the summer sun in true Italian style, the new sandy setting features an outdoor beach bar that includes a jet ski and Fiat 500s – and visitors are invited to chill out in the relaxing cabana-style seating or take a seat at the bar swings.
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals
Emily Sergeant
Pubs are to be permitted to extend their opening hours if England make it through to the semi-finals of EURO 2024 this summer.
With the Premier League, and the English and Scottish football leagues, all drawing to a close over the next couple of weeks, our nations are already looking ahead to what is gearing up to be a massive summer of sport – with both the UEFA EURO 2024, and the 2024 Olympics coming up before August is out.
And now, it’s been revealed by Home Secretary James Cleverly that if either England or Scotland’s mens national football teams make it to the semi-final of European football’s flagship tournament, then pubs will be allowed to stay open for longer.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… because isn’t there always?
The Government has said that venues will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on match days if either or both teams reach the last four or the final of the competition, but this only applies to pubs that already have a license to open until 11pm anyway.
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals / Credit: Piqsels | Wikimedia Commons
The move to extend opening hours comes after a consultation at the end of last year, and is hoped to provide a boost to the hospitality industry – which has notably been hit hard during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The Home Secretaries in England and Wales, under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, can make an order relaxing licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, but the Scottish and Northern Irish Governments have to set their own rules.
“We have listened to the public through our consultation,” explained Home Secretary James Cleverley, “and we will be extending pub licensing hours should England or Scotland reach the semi-finals or final of Euro 2024.”
The EURO 2024 semi-finals are to be held on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July / Credit: UEFA
Mr Cleverley said the move will “allow friends, families and communities to come together for longer to watch their nation hopefully bring it home”.
This legislation is set to be laid in Parliament today (Wednesday 8 May) to ensure there is enough time for it to be debated and passed before the tournament begins on Friday 14 June, the Government has confirmed.
Crown & Kettle team confirm takeover of infamous Mother Mac’s pub
Daisy Jackson
The team behind the Crown & Kettle pub have taken on a new challenge – the legendary Mother Mac’s pub on Back Piccadilly.
The boozer, which has something of a gruesome past, is being almost completely gutted ready for its transformation into a three-storey pub.
Soon to be reborn as The Rat & Pigeon, the independent watering hole will have seven separate areas across its three floors.
Since The Manc first reported the closure of Mother Mac’s, the team behind Crown & Kettle have been busy stripping the city centre pub back to its bones.
They said in a statement online that the historic building has been left ‘rotting behind a veneer of naff refurbishments’ (the pub changed hands a few years ago).
The Rat & Pigeon has been given vital structural support ready for the next stage – ‘breathing life into this historic boozer’.
They said it’s taken 16 skips, a few electric shocks, and ‘an eight week stint at the chiropractors’, but now pictures inside the pub show that it’s coming on nicely.
The floors on the first and second floor have been restored to their former glory and there are even paint samples on the walls now.
The Rat & Pigeon wrote: “They say you shouldn’t pick at a scab. The thing is, over the years this building has been slowly rotting behind a veneer of naff refurbishments plastered one on top of the other. We haven’t just picked the scab, we’ve peeled entire layers and took it right back to the bone… and then found the bones were buggered n’all.
“In for a penny, in for a pound.
“16 skips, multiple electric shocks and a 8 week stint at the chiropractors later we managed to tear out the crap and provide the old lady with the structural support required to see out the next 150 years.
They later added: “Transforming a tired ground floor only pub into 3-floor behemoth isn’t without its challenges.
“Once the building was structurally secure we turned our attention to the 1st and 2nd. With every layer of plaster removed or board lifted we were uncovering new ‘challenges’. It got to a point where we were scared to take a peek. But peek we did.
“Debris carted down two flights of stairs, full fixed wiring and plumbing throughout, new structures built and plaster applied with floor lovingly restored to its former glory – our vision to breathe new life into this historic boozer is starting to become a reality.
“There’s 7 separate areas over three floors, each with its own purpose and appeal – something for everyone. We genuinely cannot wait to welcome you in.”
The official launch date, and the full transformation of Mother Mac’s into The Rat & Pigeon, will be announced soon.