Food & Drink

Michelin-recommended pub Hyssop forced to close after it is gutted by devastating fire

Owners have now launched a Crowdfunder to help get them trading again - and it's already raised £5,000 in a day

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 16th September 2022

Hyssop, the Michelin-recommended Glossop pub loved by local foodies, has been forced to close its doors following a devastating fire that destroyed its entire top floor.

The fire was started by a tumble drier on Wednesday night and has completely decimated the restaurant, leading owners to describe the ordeal as ‘quite easily the worst day of our lives’.

Whilst no one was harmed and the staff all managed to escape unscathed, its owners were understandably heartbroken as they took to Instagram to explain that they would be closed for the forseaable future.

Sharing the news of the devastating fire on Hyssop’s social media channels, owners wrote: “We can’t figure out a way to start this post as it’s not something we ever thought we’d have to write.

“Yesterday was quite easily the worst day of our lives. Our whole top floor of the restaurant went up in flames and we’ve lost the lot.

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Video: High Peak TV

“Thankfully Paul and all of the staff managed to escape unharmed. No lives were lost and that is the most important thing.

“We are trying our best to contact all of our bookings and we are obviously trying to figure out the next stages.

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” Please bare with us, we are still trying to process what’s happened and along with trying to keep our business afloat financially, it’s going to be a long road ahead.

“Thank you for all of your kind messages. We have to get through this. Lots of love x”

Owners have now launched a Crowdfunder to help get them trading again, and thanks to the generosity of the pub’s foodie fans it’s already raised £5,000 at the time of writing.

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A picture of the pub before the devastating fire. / Image: Hysopp
A picture uploaded by owners to show the damage done to the inside by the fire. / Image: Hyssop

The appeal reads: “We are trying to raise some funds to enable us to make part of our space functionable in order to trade in some way, shape or form, in order to keep things ticking. 

“We are so grateful for everybody’s kind words and offerings, we are completely overwhelmed. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Read more: Inside Bouzouki By Night, Manchester’s hidden underground Greek taverna

If you would like to support Hyssop and donate to its Crowdfunder you can do so here.

Feature image – High Peak TV Youtube

Food & Drink

Rochdale’s newest restaurant The Martlet receives rave review in The Guardian

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Martlet in Rochdale has received a glowing review in The Guardian. Credit: The Manc Group

The Martlet, the new restaurant that’s recently opened its doors within the magnificent Rochdale Town Hall, has been given a glowing review in The Guardian this weekend.

Restaurant critic Jay Rayner paid a visit to the grand new space and summarised it as ‘Civic pride meets glorious cooking at a remarkably fair price’.

The Marlet opened in the heart of Rochdale town centre a few months ago, led by award-winning chef Darren Parkinson, who grew up locally in Heywood, and Great British Menu star Tristan Welch.

Their menu is packed with classic northern dishes like Jackson’s rag pudding, and bacon chop with Bury Black Pudding and Denshaw egg – and we here at The Manc love it.

But now it’s also caught the eye of the nation’s biggest food critic, who praised The Martlet’s easy but refined all-day approach to feeding its customers, describing it as ‘smart, witty and generous’.

Jay Rayner’s Guardian review said: “[Rochdale Town Hall] could have installed a modish and frankly annoying pan-European small plates bistro that nobody wanted. Or it could have been a bog-standard coffee and cake job…

“But it is so much more. It’s a broad offering drawing on the heritage of Greater Manchester in a smart, witty and generous way, and all at the sort of prices that will make those used to shaking down their bank accounts for a bit of lunch, sigh deeply.”

Jay Rayner praised the Scotch egg at The Martlet in his The Guardian review
Jay Rayner praised the Scotch egg at The Martlet in his The Guardian review
Inside The Martlet at Rochdale Town Hall. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside The Martlet at Rochdale Town Hall. Credit: The Manc Group

Of the many locally-flavoured items on the menu, he singled out the Bury black pudding Scotch egg (‘a class piece of work’); the traditional rag pudding (with ‘gravy so glossy you could check your hair and make up in the reflection’); and the pork chop (with ‘a seared ribbon of fat at its back, guaranteed to sustain you through a Rochdale winter’).

He also wrote: “You may find portion size challenging. In these parts that’s quite as it should be.”

Rayner also praised the Rochdale Town Hall itself (how could you not set foot in this building and not immediately fall in love?), saying ‘Whatever you do, make time to drift slack-jawed through these chambers’.

The Marlet has said it’s ‘over the moon’ with its review in The Guardian.

What a shining endorsement for this Greater Manchester town.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

The best Sunday roasts in Greater Manchester according to the Good Food Guide 2024

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The Good Food Guide has named the best Sunday roasts in the UK and there’ve been a few nods for Greater Manchester (naturally).

After 18,000 public nominations, the guide and its team of inspectors have pulled together a list of the very best roasts around the country.

While the overall top spot went to The Abbey Inn in North Yorkshire, there were plenty of shouts for roasts in the North West.

Shrub in Chester took home Best Vegan, with judges saying ‘You miss nothing and gain everything’ with its brilliant trimmings.

And although it’s one of the London branches that was technically listed, Blacklock nabbed the title of having the best Sunday roast for group dining.

Blacklock recently opened its first restaurant here in Manchester, serving traditional chop house food with a modern twist.

The Good Food Guide said: “Unrivalled if you’re with a group of friends, this Canary Wharf chophouse (part of a small London group, with a Manchester outpost), is considered a ‘Sunday wonderland’ by its many fans.

Blacklock has been listed in the Good Food Guide's Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied
Blacklock has been listed in the Good Food Guide’s Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied

“With ‘super-accommodating staff’ and roasts that are ‘almost as good as mum’s’ (their words), it’s a star turn. Order the ‘all in’ sharing feast, which comprises a trio of ‘succulent’ dry-aged beef rump, lamb and pork loin with gigantic yorkies, duck-fat roast potatoes and limitless gravy.”

Another cosy spot in Marple Bridge in Stockport also made the Good Food Guide’s Sunday roast list, hailed for its fire-roasting.

The guide said: “‘Sophisticated yet comforting’ is the verdict on the elevated Sunday deal at this bottle shop and bistro in one of Stockport’s more comely corners.

“Fire-roasting is Fold’s USP, and the flames lick around everything from aged beef bavettes with ‘Yorkie bits’ and smoked salt to porchetta with Manchester ale, fennel and Pink Lady apple. Each plate comes with a wagyu-fat potato slice, but it’s worth ordering some extras (perhaps roast sandy carrots in lamb fat). Great for kids.”

Outside the Pack Horse in Hayfield
Outside the Pack Horse in Hayfield
Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group

The Pack Horse in Hayfield – which recently caught our eye with its brilliant breakfasts – has rightly been praised for its post-hike atmosphere and its ‘stylishly rustic and warmly welcoming interior’.

The guide said: “All the Sunday roast trimmings come as standard, whether you’re ordering the melting beef sirloin, the braised lamb shoulder, the venison loin or even the veggie option (carrot, tenderstem broccoli and Tunworth tart, say).

“Everything is thoughtfully prepared, full of flavour and of the highest quality, and the kitchen runs proudly with the seasons.”

Hawksmoor has been listed in the Good Food Guide's Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied
Hawksmoor has been listed in the Good Food Guide's Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied
Hawksmoor has been listed in the Good Food Guide’s Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied

And finally, to absolutely no one’s surprise, Hawksmoor also placed comfortably on the top 50 Sunday roasts list.

‘The quality of the meat is unrivalled,’ observed one fan, and there were also rave reviews for the crispy beef-dripping roasties and ‘bottomless’ bone-marrow gravy.

Where’s your favourite roast in Greater Manchester?

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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The full breakfast at The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group

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