With Halloween lurking just around the corner, no doubt plenty of Manchester’s bars and restaurants are getting into the spooky spirit this week with some special creations.
From DGHNT‘s bloody eyeball donuts that ‘burst’ raspberry jam in your mouth, to these similar-looking concoctions at Tib Street’s Siop Shop (not to mention ghosts filled with Diplomat rum chocolate crème and vegan pumpkin spiced donuts), there are some great one-offs kicking about in the name of All Hallows Eve.
The Halloween specials at Siop Shop also feature a bloodied eye, alongside ghosts filled with Diplomat rum chocolate crème, vegan pumpkin spiced donuts and a classic bone glaze / Image: Siop Shop
The guide is not all Halloween-themed this week, though. There’s simply too much going on to focus purely on specials.
Over in Withington a new burger and wings takeaway has opened with a menu that’s entirely plant-based (we dare you to tell the difference), whilst in the Northern Quarter we’ve got not one but two new bars to shout about.
Keep reading to discover the best new openings and eats in Manchester this week.
Bloody eyeball donuts that ‘burst’ with raspberry jam
Artisan doughnut baker DGHNT has created a brilliant set of new themed creations in honour of Halloween, including bloody eyeball treats filled with raspberry jam that ‘burst’ in your mouth.
ADVERTISEMENT
Baker Sulin is also selling creepy-crawly chocolate oreo spider donuts alongside some that have been mummified with icing at Mackie Mayor this weekend, over 30 and 31 October. All vanilla flavoured, donuts will be on sale individually or can be pre-ordered in boxes of four.
A neon-soaked, Blade Runner-inspired underground bar beneath District
Hidden beneath District on Oldham Street, this new bar comes from the same team – bringing its distinct, new wave Thai experience underground.
From the smells of char that waft from the kitchen to the futuristic, synth-wave soundtrack and red and blue neons slicing through the darkness, it’s not just an experience. It’s an experience with some truly brilliant new drinks.
All eight drinks on the menu draw inspiration from Thai cuisine, utilising some unique ingredients like fish sauce, beef fat-washed rum, tomato, turmeric and grilled bananas.
Pork belly and crackling from Kong’s new roast concept at Northern Monk Refectory / Image: Kong’s Meat & Three
A new ‘meat and three’ concept from the team behind *that* fried chicken roast dinner
Kong’s chicken shop, not content with launching just one viral roast dinner, has now branched out with a whole new roast concept that they are calling Meat & Three.
Simply choose your roast meat from options like red wine braised short rib, crispy pork belly, half a chicken or sweet potato pickled walnut nut roast, then add on three sides of your choice to create your perfect plate.
Think curried potato salad with chive and crumb, three-cheese macaroni, collard greens, house slaw, mini hash browns, corn on the cob, and fresh flatbreads. Plates are priced from £12 with three sides, or you can purchase sides separately at £3.50 a pop.
Find Meat & Three at Northern Monk Refectory Wednesday to Sunday from 12 – 10 pm.
ADVERTISEMENT
Order to your door, pop in and browse, and even opt to drink at the shop itself at one of its tables – either inside or out. / Image: Ad Hoc
A new wine and beer shop where you can sit down and drink inside
Selling premium selections only, the Ad Hoc wine and beer shop on Edge Street has tables inside and out – giving you the option to sit down and pop a bottle in the store.
Run by the very friendly and knowledgeable Miles Burke and Charlie Heyes, it’s well worth having a chat to discover new, unheard-of bottles that can taste just like your favourites but cost half the price.
Bottles range from £10 to £100 and are all handpicked from independent wineries with an organic and biodynamic focus. There are also some top-quality beers and spirits to be discovered on the shelves too.
A new burger and wings takeaway spot in Withington that’s entirely meat-free
Known for plant-based street food dishes, Herbivorous has made a big name for itself as a brand that’s always on the go – but now owners Robyn and Damian have opened their first permanent location in Withington.
ADVERTISEMENT
Must-tries include The Big Kahuna Burger and fried chick’n, as well as Herbivorous’s first-ever twist on a lamb kebab, the Tandoori ‘Lamb’ Kofta Flatbread, which has made a special return to the menu in honour of the new opening.
You can live in a Greater Manchester manor house from the 1700s
Thomas Melia
There’s a manor house which dates back to the 1700s that’s just gone on the market in Greater Manchester.
Now, obviously, we know Manchester is the best place on Earth and, naturally, people have been wanting to live here since the 18th century (and even earlier).
Westerhill House in Ashton is a property that dates back to 1764, and now you could be the next lucky owner to live in this five-bedroom property, which really is a piece of living history.
The legacy of this property spans more than just this country house site, as the previous tenants – who inhabited the house until 1964 – actually provided the rivets for the Eiffel Tower on behalf of their company, Park Bridge Ironworks.
The grand entrance to this 1700’s manor house in Ashton.The hamlet in which this Greater Manchester property resides.Credit: On The Market
One particular room in this manor house features the work of a well-known Mancunian architect, Donald Reeve Buttress, who spent more than a decade at Westminster Abbey until his departure in 1999.
On the estate agent’s website, each room is described as being individually detailed with its specific role in the house, and if you think you don’t have enough space for all your stuff, think again.
This 1700s character manor house has a room for just about anything you could possibly think of, including a billiard room (posh word for pool) and a wine cellar – I know which room I’ll be accidentally getting myself locked in once a week…
This Ashton historical property spans three floors, with the downstairs being the smallest in size with only one room, while the ground floor boasts 10 and the first floor has eight designated rooms.
As you enter the living space, there is an entrance hall that leads to a bigger hall and a staircase; meanwhile, there is a breakout room immediately on the right side leading to a toilet and a dedicated boot room. Handy.
On your left-hand side as you step through the front door, there is another bigger breakout room which hosts the impressive billiard room and seating area, which is a considerably large space.
The conservatory designed by architect from Westminster Abbey.The main hall which leads to various rooms in this 1700s Ashton manor house.Credit: Supplied
Step through to the main hall and you’ll find doors leading to the dining room, kitchen space and a lounge which has an adjoining conservatory.
It’s this very conservatory that was designed by none other than Buttress himself, who worked at Westminster Abbey for 11 years as the ‘Surveyor of the Fabric’.
Any loyal Ashtonians will also be impressed with the stained glass window in the inner hallway, which also happens to contain a depiction of the ‘Black Knight of Ashton-Under-Lyne‘.
Moving upstairs, you find a wide landing which leads to all four bedrooms and three bathrooms, two of which are en-suites.
This 1700s manor house is currently listed for offers in the region of £750,000, and although it may be historic in age and interior, in terms of broadband, the property apparently has super-fast broadband.
The billiard room with adjoining seating area.Curved seating area overlooking the stunning garden space.
Ever get bored of looking around this magnificent and interesting mansion’s four walls? This house is situated in a lovely hamlet located close to Daisy Nook Country Park.
Of course, we understand that a lot of us reading certainly can’t afford a property of this nature, but when the manor house is rooted in this much history, it would be rude not to have a snoop on the official site.
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough browsing for you, there’s a three-bed coach house up for sale in this same exact Ashton hamlet, also dating back to the 1700s. Cool, right?
The viral factory in Oldham that sells £2 Colin the Caterpillar cakes
Thomas Melia
A factory in Oldham has gone viral online after sweet fiends discover they sell ‘Colin the Caterpillar’ cakes for less than half price.
There are some things that just go hand in hand: a brew and a biscuit, peanut butter and jelly and Brits and their crazy obsession with a character chocolate cake from M&S called Colin the Caterpillar.
Since hitting the shelves in 1990, more than 15 million Colin the Caterpillars have made their way from supermarket shop floor to our sweet-treat-awaiting plates.
Who would’ve ever guessed that the home to this cheeky chappy, who M&S have made their unofficial mascot (after Percy Pig, of course), has been crafted and created right here in Oldham?
The utterly delicious Colin the Caterpillar cake which you can get for £2 at Park Cakes.The shelves at Park Cakes are stacked with Colins and Connies.Credit: The Manc Eats
Established in 1937, The Park Cake Bakeries – or just Park Cakes, colloquially – has been serving up this critter-inspired cake for over 30 years, and savvy shoppers have flocked to their factory shop to get their hands on some very sweet savings.
There’s a whole range of cakes on offer at this Oldham dessert factory shop, including slabs, sponges, loaves and even sweet pies too.
Whether you’re a firm believer that the birthday person deserves all of Colin’s white-choc face or you precisely cut it up so everyone gets some, Park Cakes has the solution, selling bags of the character’s chocolatey face so you can have one all to yourself.
The cake isn’t the only thing that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth, as the prices will too. Colin the Caterpillar, who normally retails for just under a tenner, is sold for around £2 at this Oldham factory shop.
It’s always the ones that look unassuming, isn’t it?
Alongside producing one of the most adored cakes in the UK, they’re also responsible for lots more of your favourite supermarket sweet treats, and we’re definitely not complaining.
You can let your sweet tooth go wild in this factory shop as they sell everything from rainbow birthday cakes to sticky toffee puddings.
There’s so much on offer too, how about a giant bag packed to the brim with misshapen golden flapjacks that’ll last you over a week and cost you less than a fiver? Sounds like a plan to me.
If you haven’t had enough of your Easter chocolate fix, why not trek over to Oldham and stock up on even more chocolate and sweet treats? Trust us, there’s plenty to choose from.
Park Cakes factory shop can be found on Ashton Road in Oldham and is open from 10am-4pm, so go and grab yourself a seriously sweet deal before everyone else beats you to it.
Mini Colins, small in size but still packed with all that chocolatey goodness.Flapjacks and cookie dough bites are just some of the wonderful treats you might be able to get hold of.Credit: The Manc
Georgina Pellant -
25th October 2021 
