A popular local business, famed for its huge sandwiches and for serving some of the best burgers in Manchester, has been forced to close after its rent rocketed in price.
Super Happy has been based at the counter at Ducie Street Warehouse since September, brought to life by the team behind Batard.
Since they’ve been there, they’ve also branched out into the smashed burger world, launching Now That’s A Burger from the same site.
But now Super Happy has announced that it has just a few days of trading left after its rent ‘essentially doubled’.
The team said they’ve been trying to ‘find a way (any way) to make it work’ but the ‘numbers just don’t add up’.
They’ll now close before Christmas and will be taking a break while they try and find a new home for the business.
Super Happy and Now That’s A Burger in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSuper Happy and Now That’s A Burger in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSuper Happy and Now That’s A Burger in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
They wrote in an Instagram post titled ‘Bye for now’: “Bit of naff news but this week will be our last for a while. Pretty gutted tbh.
“Last week we were informed by our landlord that our rent will essentially be doubling starting on the 31st of this month. We’ve tried to find a way (any way) to make it work here but it just doesn’t seem that’s possible right now.
“The numbers just don’t add up unfortunately. On such short notice, after a rebrand and only just settling in at a new unit we just aren’t able to adjust and continue trading going in to January. Soooo we are wrapping up here for Xmas a bit prematurely.
“We’ve been lucky to build a truly incredible and talented team. So we don’t plan on stopping for good (but who knows) hopefully just taking a little break whilst we sort out a space we can call home.
“So for this week come say hello/goodbye. Grab a sandwich, a bake or a burger and see us off in style.”
Super Happy bake all their bread daily, from house-made hoagie rolls to potato brioche buns, as well as making the own pickles, burger ‘super sauce’ and buttermilk-fried chicken.
Their sweet bakes are also the stuff of legend, including a fudgy chocolate cake and choux pastry crullers.
Since they shared the news, Super Happy has been bombarded with comments from fellow business-owners and customers.
They wrote: “ONLY FOUR DAYS LEFT TO GRAB A FRESHLY BAKED HOAGIE AND SOME TOP FILLINGS FROM US.
“We have had such an amazing response to our other post so we think there’s a high chance we’ll be back in the new year, but we can’t guarantee when. May even have a found a permanent spot for us and @nowthatsaburger – but we might need your help to make it happen…
“In the meantime, come enjoy this menu with us and say an early farewell to 2022. It’s been a trip.”
The Manc has approached Ducie Street Warehouse for comment.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Northern Quarter favourite The Pen and Pencil announces massive 10th birthday party and huge offers
Daisy Jackson
The Pen and Pencil, an absolute staple for brunches and drinks in the Northern Quarter, is celebrating a major milestone this month with a huge party and some unbeatable deals.
The bar and restaurant will be marking 10 years on Tariff Street in September – and it’s only right that we all pile in to celebrate with them.
This spot is one of the city’s original bottomless brunch venues and is similarly famed for its happy hour offerings, and opened in 2015 to bring a taste of Manhattan to Manchester.
Pen and Pencil took its name from the infamous New York City bar that was seen in Mad Men.
And now as it turns 10 years old, it’ll be throwing one big party on Saturday 27 September, featuring 10 hours of DJs, free pints of Red Stripe at 10pm, and a special bottomless brunch offering.
Those DJing on the day will include Drag Race UK’s Banksie, as well as Les Croasdaile, Mark Hogg, Danny Ward and A Deeper Groove.
Pen & Pencil has amazing deals for its 10th birthdayPen & Pencil is a Northern Quarter OG
The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party will kick off from 2pm and run until late – but if you can’t make that one, there’ll be celebrations all week (and, indeed, month) long.
On Tuesday 23 September, you’ll be able to play for double prize money in The Pen and Pencil quiz, as well as enjoying happy hour drinks all night.
Then on Friday 26 September, it’ll be an all-night happy hour, with free tequila shots at 10pm and music from DJs Nev Johnson and Gareth James from 7pm.
All September long, there’ll be 50% off food every Monday, two-for-£10 cocktails every Wednesday, £10 burgers every Thursday, happy hour all night on Fridays, 10 dishes for £10 and two bloody Marys for £10 on Sundays, plus DJs on Fridays and Saturdays.
There’s a new colourful art installation outside the venue inspired by the bar’s New York roots.
Owner Kevin Connor said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating being part of the Manchester community for ten years!
“New York’s Pen and Pencil was a classic steak and cocktail joint, and we’re proud to have created our very own iconic Northern Quarter hangout. We hope everyone will join us in celebrating ten years on Tariff Street.”
Walk-ins are welcome for The Pen and Pencil 10th birthday party on Saturday 27 September, but booking is encouraged – book your spot HERE.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Manchester restaurant to give out FREE katsu curries to people called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’
Emily Sergeant
In what is a small stroke of genius, a restaurant chain has decided to give out free katsu curries to anyone called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’.
Throughout September, award-winning restaurant chain Banana Tree – which has a Greater Manchester site down at Salford Quays – is shining the spotlight on its popular katsu creations, and as a clever way of celebrating National Katsu Day on 27 September has announced a pretty unique giveaway.
That’s right – the restaurant will be serving up katsu dishes to people called Kat, Sue, and every delicious variation of the names in between.
Anyone named Kat, Katie, Katherine, Sue, Suzy, Susan, Suzanne – or close enough to qualify, the list goes on – can head to their local Banana Tree restaurant, and all they’ll need to do is show proof of name and they can enjoy a free katsu dish of their choice, worth up to £16.75.
The chain’s kastu lineup includes three star dishes.
First there’s the much-loved Katsu Curry, as well as the all-new Katsu Burger, which is made from either a crispy chicken or veggie fillet, spicy mayo, puffed noodle crunch, and a drizzle of Katsu sauce tucked into a soft Shokupan bun with a side of salt n pepper chilli chips.
Then there’s also the intriguing newcomer, the Katsu Carbonara – which is described as being a daring East-meets-West mash-up and ‘unapologetically’ Banana Tree.
Banana Tree is giving away free katsu curries to people called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’ / Credit: Banana Tree
With each of these dishes usually priced around the £16 mark, the giveaway isn’t just a way of marking National Katsu Day, but it’s also a way to sample the some of the restaurant’s biggest crowd-pleasers entirely free of charge.
To avoid any confusion on who makes the cut, Banana Tree will reveal the full qualifying list of name variations on Instagram soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
“Our Katsu range is one of our proudest creations, so National Katsu Day felt like the perfect moment to have some fun with our fans,” a Banana Tree spokesperson said ahead of the giveaway.
The free katsu offer is available for four days only from Monday 22 to Thursday 25 September, and you just need to head to the Banana Tree website to sign up to the Big Flavour Club here.
Daisy Jackson -
15th December 2022 
