Three Greater Manchester restaurants have made it onto a list of the top 10 Sunday roasts in the UK, and one city centre business came in first place – proving once and for all that no one does a gravy dinner quite like us.
The Bull and Bear in Manchester’s Stock Exchange Hotel was awarded the gong by reviewers Rate Good Roasts, topping the list of 10 and even beating London’s 12:51 restaurant – run by Great British Menu winner James Cochran – to the top spot.
Sharing the news to their social media pages over the weekend, the restaurant, which features a menu created by chef Tom Kerridge (the man behind the only pub in the UK with two Michelin stars), said they were feeling “pretty proud” and thanked the team behind the scenes that had helped make it happen.
Celebrity chef patron Tom Kerridge pictured inside The Bull and Bear
The dry-aged Hereford sirloin of beef roast dinner
Credit: The Bull and Bear
Tom Kerridge also took to his own personal Twitter to share his pride in Isobel, Connor and the team, adding that it was “great to see them getting recognition for all the incredible work they do.”
The restaurant’s set Sunday roast menu, priced at £39.50 for two courses or three for £46.50, currently features indulgent mains like salted aged pork belly, dry-aged Hereford sirloin of beef, and confit autumn mushroom tart.
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Each dish comes with its own selected sides, with additional add ons like crushed black pepper swede, buttered sprout tops, and cauliflower cheese all available for no extra cost.
Puddings, meanwhile, feature the likes of chocolate orange choux with hazelnut, Baileys ice cream and salted caramel sauce, “lemon meringue pie” with blackcurrant sorbet, and a cheese plate of truffled Baron Bigod, quince tart and truffle honey.
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So proud of Isobel, @connorgblack and the team at @bullandbearmcr for coming top of a new survey of the best Sunday roasts across the UK Raising hands
Two other Greater Manchester restaurants also made it into the top 10 list this year, with The Bank in Delph featured at number six and Ancoats’ Edinburgh Castle ranking just behind at number seven.
Further afield, the north west performed very well overall with further high performing local entries including The Wheatsheaf Inn in Brigsteer, Cumbria and Crosby’s Mustard and Co.
Ten different elements are considered when rating each restaurant, with that then converted into a percentage overall. As you can see, the Bull and Bear did extraordinarily well with a whopping 95% rating over all.
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The only thing that saw them marked down was the price of the roast, but as we know you get what you pay for. – and value is arguably subjective when it comes to eating good quality, well-sourced food.
To see the full Bull and Bear roast menu click here. When the news was shared the restaurant said they still had a few spaces left for this Sunday, but we expect you’ll want to move fast.
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
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All students in England to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE
Emily Sergeant
All students in England are soon to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE.
Said to be part of the UK’s ‘enduring support’ for the Ukrainian community and continued commitment to stand with Ukraine and its people, young people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to study for a new Ukrainian GCSE, the Government has announced.
While the qualification will be open to all students, it marks a ‘particularly significant’ milestone for Ukrainian children and young people living in the UK.
It’s hoped that the introduction of the new GCSE will help Ukrainians to preserve a vital connection to their language, culture, and identity.
It’s also hoped that it’ll open pathways to future education and employment for all pupils.
In line with the other modern foreign language GCSEs that are currently on offer, the qualification will assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, while also recognising the cultural and historical contexts that shape the Ukrainian language.
Examination board AQA will now begin the next phase of development, bringing together language and subject experts to design what will be a ‘high-quality’ qualification reflecting the richness of Ukrainian language and culture.
Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, commented: “As they build their lives here in the UK, it is right that Ukrainians and their children should have every opportunity to maintain that connection to their heritage and to be proud of who they are.
“This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine’s rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine.
“Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders.”
The Ukrainian GCSE is expected to be available for first teaching from September 2028 – with first assessments taking place in 2029.
Georgina Pellant -
4th January 2022 
