Manchester’s favourite naughty dessert cafe has reopened its doors this week with a brand new pancake menu.
Not content with celebrating on just one day, the team is stretching Shrove Tuesday out into the whole week, serving up delightful late-night pancake stacks loaded with the likes of blueberry crumble, maple syrup, Kinderella cream and hot fudge from 4pm.
After that, they’ll be launching a new birthday-themed menu from 7 March to celebrate the cafe’s 7th anniversary with plans to introduce more cakes, cookies, gelato and brownies as the weeks go on.
Image: The Manc Eats
Black Milk loyalists will be happy to know that the famous milkshakes are staying, and pancakes will become a regular feature of the menu going forward too.
The brand is also working on a special new flavour of its lauded cream spreads, due to be released this spring.
Bosses have used the closure to give the site an overhaul: refreshing the interior with new ‘chocolate bar’ tiling, replacing the patterned wallpaper with fresh, neutral pale pink walls and installing a brand new kitchen for their new head baker, Kendra Groves.
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An award-winning pastry chef, Kendra has recently moved to Manchester from Queensland, Australia to take on the role, having previously run her own bespoke cake business Wild Child Cakes back home.
As Wild Child Cakes, she has baked up some crazily Instagrammable and colourful creations, decorated with everything from ‘drunken Barbies’ clutching miniature bottles of Absolut vodka, to festive dragons and gnomes – so we’re very excited to see what she’s going to create for them here in Manchester.
She tells us that for Black Milk’s birthday week, she’s planning on creating a huge “five-tier extravaganza” combining “lots of colour, sprinkles, and things like that.”
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Old school flavours will be the order of the day, with the buttery, vanilla birthday favourite that is funfetti due to make an appearance – perhaps crossed in some way with every Mancunian sweet tooth’s other obsession, Lotus Biscoff.
This week, the cafe will only be open during the evenings as they get settled back in with their new team.
Doors will open 4pm until 8pm from now until Friday, then on the weekend a soft launch for the site will see opening hours run from 12-8pm.
Feature image – The Manc Eats
News
Kyle Walker announces retirement from international football with England at 35
Danny Jones
Former Manchester City star and England defender has announced his retirement from international football at 35 years old.
He calls it a day for his country with nearly a century of appearances.
Kyle Walker, who has won six Premier Leagues, four Carabao trophies, a pair of FA Cups and a Champions League title with Man City, made his national team debut back in 2011.
Now, nearly a full decade and a half later, he is hanging up his boots on the biggest stage, retiring as England’s most capped right back in history.
As you can see, he confirmed the news in a highlight video looking back on her best moments with the Three Lions.
Sharing a lengthy and emotional statement in the caption, the Yorkshireman wrote: “After more than a decade representing my country, I have decided to retire from international football. Playing for England has always been the biggest honour of my career and something I will always be proud of.
“Thank you to every teammate, coach, manager, the 12th man, and everyone behind the scenes who has been part of the journey. Every roar from the fans pushed the team along, and I’m looking forward to joining them to support the lads in the World Cup.”
His last appearance in an England shirt came in June against Senegal, since dropping out of manager Thomas Tuchel’s first-choice team and future plans, with both form and age no doubt being factored into that decision.
Walker added: “The memories in an England shirt will stay with me forever.”
96 caps 🧢 Five major tournaments 🏴 A #ThreeLions legend ⭐
He went on to sign off by saying, “I also want to thank my family for their support every step of the way. They have made this journey even more special, and I will always be grateful to have shared it with them.”
The Sheffield-born fullback left Manchester last year following a loan spell at AC Milan, before joining fellow Premier League side Burnley FC permanently this past July.
Meanwhile, the Clarets are staring down relegation back to the Championship; however, this step will no doubt help Walker prolong his club career, whether or not he stays in Lancashire.
Where does Walker rank among the all-time England defenders in your mind?
Featured Images — Oleg Bkhambri (via Wikimedia Commons)/England (screenshot via YouTube)
News
New proposals to transform one of Manchester’s busiest roads revealed
Emily Sergeant
New proposals which could transform one of Manchester’s busiest roads have been unveiled.
Oldham Road is one the key routes into the city centre, and sees upwards of 26,000 journeys a day via a combination of car, bike, and public transport, according to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), but these new plans are set to improve journey times, safer crossings, protected cycleways, better connections, and boost sustainability.
“We know that things can be better,” TfGM said in a statement unveiling the proposals this week, adding that change is needed.
In the last five years alone, there have been 36 collisions on Oldham Road between Great Ancoats Street and Queens Road, with seven serious injuries caused as a result, which is why Council believes, with a number of targeted improvements, the road can be made better for everyone.
New proposals to transform one of Manchester’s busiest roads have been revealed / Credit: TfGM
When asked during the last consultation, hundreds of locals said what they wanted buses to come more often and be more reliable, safer places to cross the road, wider pavements for walking, and better-protected cycle lanes.
As part of the unveiled plans – which are currently out for consultation too – TfGM and the Council is proposing adding more bus lanes so buses don’t get stuck in traffic, as well making bus stops nicer with better places to wait, and building more cycle lanes that are separate from cars.
Proposals also include changing traffic lights to help people cross the road, and fixing busy junctions so they’re easier and safer to cross.
Proposals are aiming to make the road safer, better-connected, and more sustainable / Credit: TfGM
“Improving everyday journeys is a priority, and the proposals for Oldham Road are central to this,” commented Alison Chew, who is TfGM’s Interim Director of Bus.
“Through the Bee Network, we’re creating a joined-up, safer and more affordable transport system for Greater Manchester, reducing congestion for everyone and connecting people with places and opportunities.
“These plans aim to make bus stops safer and easier to use, improve the speed and reliability of bus services, and provide better walking and cycling routes with upgraded crossings and footpaths.
“As Manchester city centre continues to grow, improving the way people can move easily around the city is a major driver for change. We know that things can be better.”
You can have your say on the proposals on the Council website here.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd March 2022 
