A new Mexican restaurant specialising in tacos, ceviche, mezcal and tequila cocktails is opening in Manchester.
Called Madre, it’s born out of a collaboration between the founders of London’s popular Breddos Tacos and the team behind Liverpool favourites Belzan and Filter + Fox, with a menu that features birria-style tacos dunked in gravy (well consomme, but this is Manchester so we’re calling it gravy).
Foodies who’ve spent any time at Escape To Freight Island will likely already know the brand and its excellent tacos from its residency there. Those who don’t are in for a treat.
Image: Madre
Now, owners are moving on up – taking on bigger premises of their own as they venture out to open their first full bar and restaurant in Manchester for the first time.
A proper mezcaleria and taqueria, it’s not going to be all hangover gravy tacos here – there will be some fresher, zesty dishes to get stuck into too.
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Diners can expect to find more classic tacos loaded with the likes of Baja fish, fried chicken, halloumi and BBQ Yucatan pork, alongside small plates such as blistered peppers, salt-baked beetroot, nachos and roasted bone marrow.
Image: Madre
Image: Madre
As for drinks, think a solid margarita menu, mezcal cocktails like palomas and mezcal coladas, alongside red and rose sangria, a full wine list, bottled and draught beers and a decent selection of softs.
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Inspired by the foodie culture of Mexico City, the new restaurant will also put a focus on ceviche – offering a selection of super fresh, zesty plates of the Peruvian raw citrus-cured fish favourite when Madre opens its doors later this year.
Foodies who’ve spent any time at Escape To Freight Island will likely already know the brand and its excellent tacos from its residency there. The new Manchester restaurant follows on from the success of the first Madre joint, opened in 2019 at Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
Now, owners are moving on up – taking on bigger premises of their own as they venture out to open their first full bar and restaurant in Manchester.
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Located at garden rental neighbourhood Kampus, which borders the city’s famous Canal Street, the restaurant is pipped to open sometime this spring.
Madre at Kampus will open daily from 11am til late, evolving from a lunch spot and family-friendly destination to a buzzing bar with Mexican party vibes as the sun goes down.
Visitors can expect an interior inspired by the adobe houses of South America, with earthy, organic tones promising to create an intimate and warm space.
Image: Madre
Taking over a space in Minshull House, the restored Victorian warehouse, Madre will count brands including Cloudwater Brewery, Pollen bakery and Nell’s pizzeria amongst its neighbours.
Speaking on the new opening Chris Edwards, co-founder of Madre, said: “Madre is perfect for a party city like Manchester. Taquerias can be pretty raucous, social spaces but at the same time have a family feel, where people come together to share amazing food.
“We’ll be bringing that vibe to Kampus, with iconic favourites alongside a drinks menu stacked with margaritas, natural wine and local beer. Madre de-mystifies traditional Mexican food, serving up new plates made with top quality local produce and a love for authentic flavours.
“We knew we had to be part of Kampus, we love the heritage building and we’ll be in top company with the other independents signed up.”
Image: MadreImage: Madre
Manchester will be treated to a packed spring and summer as the neighbourhood comes to life, with pop-up events, exhibitions and operators opening their doors this year.
Adam Brady, of HBD, said: “Madre’s whole ethos is about social dining, an inviting space where friends and families can share stories as well as delicious food. They’re a perfect match for our growing family of independents.
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“With more people calling Kampus home and a stacked summer of events and openings, 2022 is already looking like an epic year for the neighbourhood.”
Feature image – Madre
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Beloved plant-based independent street food business Herbivorous is set to close imminently
Danny Jones
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We hate writing this, but we have news of yet another local hospitality closure as beloved Manchester-born and pioneering plant-based brand Herbivorous has confirmed they’ll soon be calling it a day.
If you can hear us sighing through the screen, apologies – we’re just getting really fed up of saying farewell to our favourites, so god knows how rubbish those involved feel.
As you can see, the team behind the multi-location vegan street food specialists began by writing: “It’s a long one so stay with me… It seems you can’t open social media at the moment without reading about another hospitality business closing down.
“Throughout 8 years of Herbivorous years we’ve come up against many challenges from Covid 5 years ago to watching all the big vegan brands from London and beyond come to Manchester and largely disappear again to the closure of Hatch our busiest site, but with continually increasing costs its becoming really difficult to maintain a thriving business.”
Herbivorous started out life back in 2016 as a cult hit at the old outdoor food, drink and entertainment hub centring around a ‘container village’, the first of its kind in the city and soon to reopen under new owners and a new name.
Since then, co-founders Robyn and Damian have gone on to expand not just to one permanent site over in Withington but with outposts in Sheffield and York, having gained a strong reputation with stalls and pop-ups all over.
Their hospitality story might not have the ending we personally would hope for, but it’s been a brilliant one for so many foodie fans – us lot included.
Nevertheless, they go on to add in the emotional statement that external pressures such as a recent bereavement and their own ever-growing family have also contributed to the decision which, despite being an understandably hard one, “feel like the right time.”
“We are so incredibly proud of how far we’ve come from spending long days slinging duck wraps from our green vintage horse box at festivals to three Herbi locations across the North of England”, they continue, “and with that we’ve also met so many fantastic people!”
“Whether you worked for us at a few festivals over [the] summer or for years at our restaurant, we just wanted to say and massive thank you! The memories will stay with us forever and, of course, how can we not mention our fabulous customers!
“Thank you all so much for choosing Herbivorous over the years. Those of you who had our food at Festivals and then found us at one of our permanent locations, those of you who came back week after week to Hatch, Spark, Withington and beyond.”
They signed off by detailing their final business days, with their Sheffield Kommune spot having already shut for refurbishment; meanwhile, their spot in SPARK York will be wrapping up on Saturday, 19 April.
As for their flagship brick-and-mortar venue here in Greater Manchester, Herbivorous Withington will be shutting on Friday, 25 April.
Once again, there’s nothing we can say other than thank you for years of delicious food, that we’re guttted to see you go, and that everyone at The Manc Group wishes you the best whatever comes next.
AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
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London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Georgina Pellant -
15th March 2022 
