Manchester’s smashed burger takeaway sensation Burgerism is teaming up with Leeds’ dessert favourites Get Baked to offer some ridiculously good desserts to diners.
In what promises to be a marriage of pure, unadulterated deliciousness, the news was teased out on Instagram by Leeds-based dessert favourites Get Baked earlier this month – and we couldn’t be more excited.
Announcing that a collaboration between the two brands would be coming son. Get Baked’s owner has told Manchester followers to: “hold onto your f*cking Oasis album or what ever it is you use for comfort over there. It’s gonna be special this one.”
Burgerism has recently launched a takeaway kitchen in Leeds, where Get Baked is based. / Image: Supplied
The ‘Bruce’ cake is one of Get Baked’s most famous desserts. / Image: Get Baked
The post continued: “Keep your eyes peeled as well because obviously that’s important. Alright, all the best. GB x @burgerism”
Speaking to The Manc a representative for Burgerism confirmed that a long-term collaboration was in the pipeline, but that the details were “still fairly under wraps for now.”
They added: “We love everything about Get Baked – their desserts are mega – and can’t wait to announce more in due course” before revealing that the plan is to offer Get Baked’s super indulgent brownies as part of the Burgerism menu.
“The plan will be to offer Get Baked brownies as a part of the Burgerism menu – so yes it’s a Burgerism X Get Baked collab – but we see it more as a long term thing, or a partnership, rather than a one-off.
Soon diners will be able to get Get Baked goodies in their Burgerism orders here in Manchester. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
It’s not the first time that Burgerism has collaborated with a dessert brand, releasing cookies with Manchester bakery Gooey for Halloween. / Image: Burgerism
“We’ve never had a fixed dessert offering at Burgerism and it’s something fans have requested over the years; but at Burgerism we really only believe in the best – so that’s where the idea to speak with Rich and the team at Get Baked came from. We wouldn’t want dessert to be some sort of after-thought.”
“We’ll reveal more soon – and more than likely fans will be able to order Get Baked from Burgerism in the very near future!”
For foodies who’ve been scranning in Manchester for some time, Get Baked won’t be a new name – having first launched here in Manchester over a decade ago as a munchies delivery service popular with local students.
The dessert business was first founded from a Leeds kitchen in 2011, quickly growing a cult following as word spread out into neighbouring cities including Manchester.
The one and only Bruce cake, a signature at Get Baked. / Image: Get Baked
Burgerism has confirmed that Get Baked’s brownies will be available on the menu soon, but more details are being kept under wraps. / Image: Get Baked / @ellisparrinder
It quickly amassed more than 50,000 followers across social media, with people eager to keep up to date with their humorous content and mouth-watering food pictures.
Then, in the midst of its success, it shut down following what has been described as an “unsuccessful” venture into the restaurant business with The Joint in Leeds city centre.
The bakery returned in June last year, with the help of backing from new investors and has since gone viral once again – with its owner even being interviewed on American TV thanks to the phenomena now known as ‘sprinklegate’, which saw the business reported for using ‘illegal’ sprinkles.
Known for producing a range of indulgent treats including itsgiant Matilda-inspired ‘Bruce’ chocolate cakes, delivery is already available UK wide but the option to enjoy treats as part of a Burgerism order have certainly got us excited in The Manc office.
Watch this space, we expect a fresh update will be coming from the team soon. For now, we wait.
Feature image – Burgerism
Manchester
Pizza Pilgrims – why Manchester’s newest pizza joint isn’t ‘just another pizzeria’
Daisy Jackson
Pizza Pilgrims has finally opened its very first restaurant in Manchester, and its 26th in the UK.
It is another pizza joint for a city packed with pizzerias, but it’s not ‘just another pizza joint’ – it’s got a lot of heart and story behind it.
Pizza Pilgrims was co-founded in 2011 by brothers James and Thom Elliot, who took a trip to Italy on a pilgrimage… of pizza.
They picked up a three-wheel Piaggio Ape van, drove thousands of kilometres, immersing themselves in all things pizza along the way, falling in love with the traditional, floppy-bottomed style of Napoli.
To this day, Pizza Pilgrims has strived to remain committed to the authentic Neapolitan style.
That means both sourcing the very best ingredients from this Italian region, as well as trying to bottle the frenetic, lively spirit of Naples itself.
When The Manc headed over to Naples with James and Pizza Pilgrims, they gave us a lot of insight into the inspiration behind this popular pizzeria, from the San Marzano tomatoes harvested at the foot of Mount Vesuvius to the world-class 00 Caputo flour used in the bases.
Completing the ‘holy trinity’ of ingredients that goes into a Neapolitan pizza is the Campanian Fior di Latte mozzarella they use too.
The brothers want your dinner at Pizza Pilgrims to replicate a holiday to Naples in just one hour – though hopefully without a moped almost running over your foot.
Inside their first Manchester restaurant, they’ve called upon artist ad Mancunian legend Stanley Chow, who has immortalised those three producers in his signature style, their portraits proudly displayed inside.
He’s also immortalised Napoli footballing legend Diego Maradona, whose likeness is plastered all over Naples city.
Pizzas here include classics like a margherita that shows off those beautiful imported ingredients, a salsiccia e friarielle topped with Italian sausage and wild broccoli, and a mushroom and truffle pizza with a white ricotta base.
Inside Pizza Pilgrims in Manchester
You’ve Got Maiale and a CarbonaraCacio e pepe bitesInside Pizza Pilgrims ManchesterThe retro Fiat Panda barNeapolitan pizzas at Pizza PilgrimsColourful interiorsPizza Pilgrims opens on Deansgate in Manchester next weekA Nutella ring with ricottaPizza Pilgrims opens on Deansgate in Manchester next weekClassic margerita with chilli oilFiat Panda seats in a boothColourful interiors at Pizza Pilgrims ManchesterThe Pizza Pilgrims workshop spaceA Maradona margarita The retro Fiat Panda bar
Then there are Pizza Pilgrims favourites like the carbonara, with crispy guanciale bacon, black pepper, and even spaghetti; and The 8 Cheese, with eight. different. cheeses.
The interiors of the new Manchester Pizza Pilgrims are extravagant, colourful and playful, including a retro Fiat Panda turned into a cocktail bar and mismatched laundry hanging overhead like bunting.
You’ll dine beneath vines studded with lemons, while a slushy machine churns up a Maradona margarita at your side.
So pull up a seat at a checkered tablecloth, count all the Maradonas on the wall, and prepare to feel like you’ve spent an hour in Naples.
Pizza Pilgrims Manchester officially opens on Monday 18 August, but there’ll be a free slice giveaway from 12pm on Wednesday 13 August.
Private tutor with ‘sordid sexual agenda’ jailed after sexually assaulting five young girls
Emily Sergeant
A private tutor with a ‘sordid sexual agenda’ has been jailed after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a number of young girls.
Umair Iqbal, from the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester, served as a private Quran and maths tutor in the Greater Manchester area, but over a 10-year period between 2010 and 2020, he would regularly attended the homes of the young women and girls to conduct his scheduled lessons and proceed to sexually assault several of them.
Primary inquiries into the 37-year-old began in October 2020 when the first account of sexual abuse was reported to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) by a victim – who was just 15 years old at the time.
After years of believing the abuse was a fault of her own, the victim found the courage to inform her family and then the police, and a subsequent investigation into Mr Iqbal’s actions was launched by Rochdale’s multi-agency safeguarding team, known then as the sunrise team.
The investigation soon revealed the extent of Mr Iqbal’s abusive behaviour, and went on to unearth a further four victims – including a victim who had been abused from the age of eight years old.
#JAILED | Private tutor sentenced to 14 years for sexual assault of five women and girls
Umair Iqbal (28/11/1987), of Lecester Road, Cheetham Hill, was found guilty of 29 out of 30 counts of sexual assault against five children and adults aged eight-18 years of age. pic.twitter.com/VEwP2OYquk
“All five victims were young Muslim girls from good families, abused by a person in a position of trust and silenced through fear of getting in trouble or being blamed for the abuse,” explained Rochdale’s Detective Constable Alex Dodd, who lead the case said.
“Iqbal befriended families and used the good reputation of a community to hide behind his sordid sexual agenda.”
Following a four-week trial, Mr Iqbal was found guilty of 29 out of 30 counts of sexual assault against five children and adults, between the ages of eight and 18.
He appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday last week (7 August 2025), where he was subsequently sentenced to 14 years – 11 of those being in prison, of which he must serve two-thirds, with a further three on extended license.
He is also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining orders for all victims and their families.
“I would like to recognise and thank all five victims and their families for their determination during the lengthy investigation and four-week trial, which was a distressing process for them,” DC Alex Dodd concluded.
GMP encourages anyone who feels they may have been subjected to Mr Iqbal’s behaviour to come forward and report it on 101, quoting ‘Operation Ganister.’
Georgina Pellant -
23rd November 2022 
