New ‘Anglo-Saxon’ pizzeria Dokes Pizza is opening in Prestwich from the team behind esteemed Ancoats restaurant Elnecot.
Called Dokes, the pizzeria has already made a name for itself in the city centre – serving its hearty, heritage grain pizzas out of one of the hatch kitchens at the new Manchester food and drink hall Society.
Now, it seems the concept will soon have a new home all of its own over in the trendy north Manchester suburb of Prestwich, as planning documents reveal Dokes pizza will be moving into the former Basil + Lily unit on Bury New Road.
Image: Dokes Pizzeria
Here, bosses have hinted that the menu will expand beyond pizzas to include lunch and brunch offerings too – leading to some speculation that popular dishes at Elnecot may make their way over to Prestwich.
Dokes pizzas use as many British ingredients as possible, right down to the flour, mozzarella and tomatoes (when they are in season), and there are plenty of strong options for veggies as well as meat eaters.
This isn’t just pizza. This is, arguably, post-Brexit pizza, made with as much English produce as its chefs can get their hands on. A clever way to get around those pesky supply issues.
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Image: Dokes Pizzeria
Image: Dokes Pizzeria
Image: Dokes Pizzeria
First opening inside Society last July, the concept is the brainchild of Micheal Clay and Wesley Downham. Building upon the relationships that they have built with suppliers over the years at Elnecot, the pair are using Dokes to showcase some top-notch British produce.
Maintaining a similar style and standard of ingredient sourcing to the Ancoats’ restaurant, you’ll find pizzas loaded with dreamy toppings like truffles from Wiltshire, air-dried duck breast from Trealy Farm in Wales, Cumbrian Curthwaite Goat’s Curd and British burrata.
Favourites include the alluringly-named ‘Sexy greens’ with charred broccoli, savoy, crispy chilli, confit garlic cream, caper vierge; Medieval literature-inspired ‘Beowulf’ with deli farm chorizo, nduja, British burrata, gremolata; and the ‘Cheese behemoth’ with Owd yonner, Chepyn blue, Grace’s goat, Scottish Connage, mozzarella fior di latte, British burrata and apple chutney.
The kitchen is also making its own globally-inspired dips, a crucial pizza addition that’s not to be sniffed at. Think tangy chepyn blue ranch, spicy Korean gochujang bbq, Wiltshire truffle and confit garlic and herb. Perfect for dunking your crust in.
Sure to be a great new addition to Prestwich, Dokes pizza is pegged for a spring opening in April this year. To keep up with further updates on the new site make sure to follow them on Instagram.
Police appeal for information after pedestrian killed on Mancunian Way followed earlier welfare concern reports
Emily Sergeant
Police are continuing to appeal for information after a pedestrian was killed on Mancunian Way during the early hours.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that the shocking incident occurred at approximately 12:50am on Friday 31 October when it was reported that a Volkswagen Passat had collided with a man in his 20s.
Sadly, the collision was fatal and the pedestrian died at the scene.
The driver of the Volkswagen, a man in his 40s, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Following the incident, subsequent police enquiries have established that a call was made to the force shortly after midnight which reported concern for a man walking on the carriageway, and GMP says it believes the man in that report was the man who was involved in the fatal collision.
Officers were sent out as ‘high priority’ to carry out an extensive search of the surrounding area after the report was made, but it was said that they couldn’t locate him.
#UPDATE | Officers are continuing to appeal for information following the fatal collision on Mancunian Way this morning.
We have referred ourselves to the IPOC after reports that the victim was possibly spotted on the carriageway earlier that morning.
— Manchester City Centre Police (GMP) (@GMPCityCentre) October 31, 2025
Due to this earlier report, GMP has confirmed that it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to look into its response to the search.
The victim’s family is aware, have been updated, and they are being supported by specialist officers at this time.
GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit is still appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward, and are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have CCTV footage, dashcam, or mobile phone footage from the area in the moments leading up to the incident.
“This is a tragic incident for all involved and we express our deepest condolences to the family of the man who has lost his life, and whom we are doing our utmost to support at this time,” commented Sergeant Andrew Page.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 4741, quoting log number 111 of the 31/10/25, or by using the ‘report tool’ or LiveChat function on the GMP website – www.gmp.police.uk
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Geograph
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Stockport paedophile who abused teen girls in early 2000s handed five extra years in prison
Emily Sergeant
A prolific paedophile who ‘groomed, exploited, and coerced’ teenage girls in the early 2000s has had his sentenced extended.
It was reported on back in June that Christopher Oates, from Stockport, was brought to justice after he subjected vulnerable girls to what Greater Manchester Police (GMP) referred to as a ‘campaign’ of violence and sexual abuse 20 years ago.
Oates was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, three counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 years old, and two counts causing / inciting a child aged 13-17 years to prostitution.
He was originally sentenced to 13 years in prison for all his crimes.
But now, following a successful appeal by GMP, working with the survivors and the Crown Prosecution Service, to take the ‘unduly lenient’ sentence to the Court of Appeal, Oates has now been handed an extra five years in prison.
Paedophile who abused teenage girls twenty years ago has sentenced extended by five years after successful appeal
We’ve worked with the survivors and the CPS to take Christopher Oates’ unduly lenient sentence to the Court of Appeal. pic.twitter.com/4yfgjpWxCN
His sentencing increase comes after the 45-year-old groomed one of the survivors from when she was just 14 years old, by providing her with a false sense of security, paying her compliments, and pretending to be her boyfriend, all before he proceeded to ply her with drugs, gifts, and affection, and using the trust and control he gained to persuade her to start sex work on the streets of Manchester.
When the teenage victim began to doubt his intentions and asked to go home, Oates dragged her down an alleyway, violently attacked her, and threatened her with a gun, stating: ‘You do as I say, you’re mine now,’ commanding her to go to her ‘spot’.
It was this incident that prompted the teenager to confide in her mother and support services, and from here, found the strength to move forward with her life, while still courageously supporting the police investigation.
From this investigation, detectives were then able to identify a second teenage victim, a 17-year-old, who Oates also coerced into sex work.
Speaking on Oates’ sentencing increase, DI Eleanor Humphreys, who was a senior investigating officer for this case, said: “We join both victims in expressing our relief and delight that the Court of Appeal has reviewed Oates’ lenient sentence and increased it by five years.
“Oates will now rightly serve consecutive sentences for both victims, meaning that his time behind bars reflects the totality of his offending against both women – whose lives he has so badly impacted.
“We will not relent in ensuring child sex offenders are brought to justice and face the full consequences for their horrific crimes.”
Georgina Pellant -
18th February 2022 
