A new ‘comfort food’ canteen has opened its doors in Manchester, and everything on the menu costs less than a tenner.
Selling classic British favourites like fish and chips, pies and curries, it has tentatively been opened today for its soft launch at the former Granada Studios and Coronation Street studios site by workplace and hospitality company All Work & Social.
Called The Stables, the low-cost canteen has been specially designed to cater to reams of workers set to move into Manchester’s brand new Enterprise City development between Spinningfields and Deansgate.
However, it isn’t just for staff. The Stables will also open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays, meaning that locals can also pop in to enjoy some classic cooking at an affordable price.
All the food on offer here is cooked and served fresh from the kitchen, with lunch dishes priced at £5 and dinners costing no more than £8.
The Stables has opened inside the former Granada TV Studios in Spinningfields. / Image: Geograph
Lunches will be served from 12.30-2pm daily, with no bookings required and a free soft drink included with your meal, on the house, on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 August.
Diners will be treatd to classic chippy tea for £5, consisting of sausages, chips, gravy, cheese, curry sauce, barms and vegetarian options.
As for dinner, they can choose from two different curries or pies, depending on the day of their visit. Served from 4.30 to 6pm daily, these will be priced at £8 each – drinks not included.
The Stables’ soft launch phase runs from Wednesday 3 to Monday 8 August. Following that, it will open every Tuesday to Thursday to the public for lunch and dinner.
The casual canteen-style dining experience sees dishes served straight from the kitchen onto trays, whilst drinks on offer come from a well-stocked bar.
Speaking on the new opening, Phil Dove, All Work & Social food and beverage director, said: “We set out to create a casual, canteen-style dining experience and we have truly delivered that with The Stables.
“With all food served on your tray fresh from the kitchen, accompanied by a well-stocked bar, it is the ideal spot for team mates to meet throughout the day to relax and unwind.
“We pride ourselves on our bespoke catering team who are passionate about hospitality and creating an elevated experience.
“We take care to source all our produce locally and we are always sure to recognise the city of Manchester through our menu.”
Feature image – Supplied
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Rochdale man, 20, found guilty of assaulting police officers and the public at Manchester Airport
Emily Sergeant
A man from Rochdale has been found guilty of assaulting a man and two female police officers at Manchester Airport last year.
20-year-old Mohammed Fahir Amaaz has been convicted of common assault and two counts of actual bodily harm following a four-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court in relation to a high-profile incident that took place at Manchester Airport on 23 July 2024.
The first attack on the member of public – of which extensive footage of was shared with the court over the course of the trail – took place in a largely public area of the Airport, but despite claims made to the contrary, Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) investigation found no evidence of any ‘prior threatening’ or ‘unacceptable behaviour’ by the victim aimed towards Amaaz or his family.
Three GMP officers – one male and two female – responded to the initial assault, and as they proceeded to detain and arrest Amaaz at the Terminal 2 car park pay station for assault, they suffered a number of injuries – such as concussion, a broken nose, and bruising and swelling.
CCTV played to the jury during the trail showed Amaaz throwing 10 punches, two ‘elbow strikes’, and one kick in what was described as a ‘prolonged and violent’ attack.
This conviction follows a thorough investigation of all available footage to understand the full context to the incident.
Our officers have been supported throughout and continue to be supported.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) July 30, 2025
An investigation, led by a team from GMP’s Serious Crime Division, was subsequently launched following the incident.
Police were said to have worked ‘diligently and expediently’ through all the moving footage, including CCTV and body worn camera recordings, complemented by the testimonies of witnesses to the incident, which allowed them to present a clear and accurate picture of the facts of the events to the jury.
A jury convicted Amaaz of assaults on the two female officers, but a decision is still inconclusive regarding the incident with the male police officer.
GMP now says it will be working with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in support of a re-trial for these inconclusive counts.
A CCTV image of the brawl in action / Credit: CPS
“Whilst assaults on police officers are sadly not uncommon, such attacks can never be justified,” commented Sir Stephen Watson, who is the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, following the trial.
“Our officers are decent people who routinely place themselves in harm’s way to protect the public, and they deserve our respect and support.
“I am particularly grateful to those many members of the public who have contacted the force in order to pass on their best wishes to the officers affected.”
Featured Image – GMP
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The NBA is coming to Manchester for just the second time ever
Danny Jones
In another major coup for Manchester, the NBA is coming to our shores for just the second time in history, having only been played in the UK on a relative handful of occasions.
This is nothing short of a massive milestone for the city.
Having last crossed the pond back in 2019, the NBA has only visited 0161 once before over a decade ago at the old AO Arena, and there’s only been a total of 19 transatlantic meetings up until now.
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, being confirmed as part of the NBA’s new European slate, Manchester is also set to be one of the first venues in the UK to ever host a regular-season game.
JUST ANNOUNCED: @NBA The NBA, Co-op Live and @ManchesterCityCouncil have today announced that the NBA will bring a regular-season game to Manchester for the first time ever in 2027, a monumental moment for the city, the venue, and UK sport. Read more here: https://t.co/6hR5g8XsxXpic.twitter.com/PRCCqb2Zaw
NBA Europe have managed to secure a three-year programme of matches that will feature as part of the league’s normal competitive season.
Kicking off next year and running until 2028 at the very least, the current deal will see the much-loved sport watched worldwide first land on the continent for a pair of games next year in Berlin and London, before heading to Paris and our very own Manchester in 2027.
Florida’s Orlando Magic and Tennessee’s Memphis Grizzlies have already been announced for the first two games, although Manchester’s match-up is yet to be confirmed at this early stage.
With Basketball England being officially headquartered within the wider Etihad Campus, there was no question that the Manchester NBA fixture was going to be held at Co-op Live.
As well as being not just the biggest indoor entertainment venue of its kind in England but all of Europe, the arena has also recently welcomed the likes of the UFC, WWE and multiple boxing matches, proving it can serve as the perfect host for premier live sporting action on a global scale.
Speaking in the wake of the seismic news, the Leader of Manchester City Council and representative for Burnage, Bev Craig, could only echo how big a deal this is for the region.
“Manchester once again has shown what a magnificent draw it is for major events, and we are thrilled to welcome the NBA back to our city”, she said. “This city is known for big names, big games and a reputation for showcasing world-class events on the biggest stage possible.
“With a growing basketball scene in Manchester, this event feels like the perfect fit and will give so many people in our city the chance to see what the best athletes in the sport can do on our home turf.
“When it comes to delivering world-class events, we know that Manchester is now firmly on the map. Now, working with our partners, we want to continue driving investment towards our city, creating new jobs, increasing growth and providing new opportunities and experiences for all of our residents.”
Once again, the exact date, timings and teams set to play at the Co-op are still yet to be decided, but having also sealed the BRIT Awards ceremony for 2026, it’s set to be a truly momentous couple of years for the arena and the city as a whole.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd August 2022 
