The team behind Manchester fried chicken heroes Kong’s Chicken Shop is opening a new sandwich spot at Hatch this weekend – and there will be crisp butties on the menu.
Moving into the Oxford Road food and drink shipping container village this Friday, Kong’s Sandwich Shop will serve up an NYC bodega and deli-inspired menu with a few cheeky northern twists.
Crisps, of course, have to play their part – with hand-cooked salt and vinegar bad boys making an appearance on Kong’s Italian BMT.
Comprised of prosciutto, salami, sliced ham, rocket in blue cheese dressing, tomato concasse, and salt and vinegar crisps on ciabatta, it already sounds like this will become our new lunchtime go-to.
Chicken caesar club sandwich.
Pastrami loaded fries at Kong’s at Hatch
Credit: The Manc Group
Elsewhere you’ll find pulled chicken caesar club bloomers, smoked mackerel and lemon oil seeded bagels, a grilled smoked applewood, provolone and mozzarella sandwich on maple-glazed sourdough (extra ham optional).
There’s also a pastrami Reuben with Russian dressing, and a Philly cheesesteak ciabatta on the menu – and, quite frankly, it all sounds amazing.
Veggies and vegans are not to be forgotten, either.
Kong’s at Hatch. Credit: The Manc Group
For those who choose to forgo meat, choose from a pulled chipotle oyster mushroom melt with salsa, jalapenos, smoked cheddar cheese and jalapeno mayo (this can be made vegan), or Kong’s Vegan sandwich with pickled beetroot, hummus, roquito pepper, vegan cheese, pumpkin seeds and rocket on ciabatta.
There is also a range of sides on offer including pulled chipotle oyster mushroom-loaded fries, plain fries, deli salad, marinated Gordal olives, and hummus plates with pumpkin seeds, flatbread, lemon oil and coriander.
As for drinks, frozen margaritas and bottles of Pacifico will both be on sale from Kong’s Sandwich Shop in the courtyard.
Having dabbled in sandwiches since its inception, first with its famous fried chicken sandwich and later through its Nashville barbeque scene-inspired Meat and Three concept, Kong’s is now having a bit of a switch-around.
Its new sandwich shop at Hatch will go the whole hog on the sandwich route, offering a mix of hot and cold sandwiches on thickly-sliced ciabatta, bagels, maple-glazed sourdough, or white bloomer.
Over at Northern Monk Refectory, meanwhile, its Meat and Three kitchen will take a backseat as it’s replaced by the original Kong’s Chicken Shop menu – meaning that Kong’s amazing chicken crackling sandwich will once again take pride of place here.
Featured image: The Manc Group
News
New National Highways campaign launched to prevent ‘intrusive’ act that 43% of drivers admit to doing
Emily Sergeant
A new campaign has been launched by National Highways to raise awareness of an ‘intrusive’ driving act that 43% of Brits admit to doing.
Whether intentional or not, tailgating – a term used for driving too closely behind another vehicle – is known to create tension and anxiety for drivers across the UK, and remains a serious safety issue for other road users, which is why National Highways has launched a campaign to tackle the issue.
Recent Government statistics have shown that tailgating leads to an average of 147 deaths or serious injuries every year on motorways and major A-roads, with 60% of drivers saying that being tailgated makes them feel uncomfortable.
But despite this, 43% of drivers admit to tailgating ‘at least sometimes’.
The National Highways’ new campaign, titled Make the Change: Two Seconds is all it Takes, is working to highlight how one person’s driving behaviour, even if unintentional, can cause real stress for others.
The agency said the simple message in the campaign’s name highlights that all drivers need to do is maintain this ‘suitable’ following distance.
“Small changes in driving behaviour can have a big impact on overall road safety and everyone’s wellbeing on the road,” the campaign reads.
A new National Highways campaign has been launched to prevent ‘intrusive’ tailgating on UK roads / Credit: pxfuel
“Keeping a safe following distance of at least two seconds is a simple yet vital habit. It significantly improves road safety while promoting a calmer, more respectful driving atmosphere for everyone.
“Following another vehicle too closely can make the driver ahead feel stressed and pressured. It’s much like someone standing too near to you in a queue – uncomfortable and intrusive.
“Respecting space matters just as much on the road as it does in everyday life.”
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As a way of maintaining the two-second gap, the National Highways encourages drivers to ‘pick a fixed point up ahead’, such as a road sign or lamppost, and as the car in front passes it, start counting: ‘one thousand one, one thousand two’.
If you reach that point before finishing the count, you’re too close and need to ease off the accelerator to allow more space.
Featured Image – Edward Lawrence (via Unsplash)
News
You can win tickets to sold-out Lewis Capaldi gigs at Greggs
Thomas Melia
Nationwide bakery chain Greggs has partnered with singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi for a chance to win tickets for his sold-out UK tour.
Now, if there’s one thing we love more than sausage rolls, it’s watching Glasgow solo star Lewis Capaldi perform his smash hit singles to crowds of roaring fans –and Glastonbury proved that.
The ‘Hold Me While You Wait’ singer recently announced his latest UK tour, and to no one’s surprise, it sold out within minutes, with extra dates added in each city.
Leave it to Greggs, one of the UK’s favourite savoury pick-me-up companies, and its new campaign with Capaldi, which offers lucky fans the chance to win tickets to one of these sold-out UK tour dates – How ‘Grace'(ful).
This new campaign, titled ‘Someone you look like?’ – inspired by the chart-topping anthem ‘Someone You Loved’ – encourages fans of the Scottish Beyoncé to dress up in an outrageous outfit inspired by one of Lewis’ many stylish looks.
Greggs and Lewis Capaldi are offering fans the chance to win tickets to his sellout tour across five of the bakery chain’s sites, including London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Glasgow and right here in Manchester.
The bond between Greggs and Capaldi isn’t new either, as the ‘Bruises’ penman worked a shift for the savoury suppliers back in 2019, having a blue plaque erected at this very Middlesbrough site professing his love for a tuna crunch butty.
This isn’t the only competition that UK bakery chain Greggs is currently running; it’s also teamed up with package holiday brand Jet2 to give away a holiday at the same price as their iconic sausage rolls.
Whilst you’re at it…
Greggs and Lewis Capaldi have 25 pairs of tickets to win per restaurant location and the nearest bakery spot running this promotion is theSalford site located at Media City, M50 2HF on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. All information can be found HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
29th April 2022 
