A new street food offering has opened in Manchester, serving some of the city’s most outrageous loaded fries and hot dogs.
Diamond Dogs is hidden away in the courtyard of Green Arches – itself a hidden taproom – situated inside a graffiti-covered van.
There’s a surprisingly lengthy menu for a business who have carved a niche out of the humble hot dog, with various toppings, sides and fries on offer.
One of the biggest selling points is that every hot dog on the menu can be made totally vegan, from the classic Porky New Yorky to the fancier offerings.
So what exactly can you expect from Diamond Dogs?
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How do deep-fried black pudding bits, drizzled in curry ketchup and a dusting of curry powder, sound?
Das Deutsch – venison and pork bratwurst, sauerkraut, sweet German mustard and pretzels. Credit: The Manc GroupCurried black pudding bites. Credit: The Manc GroupCurrywurst from Diamond Dogs. Credit: The Manc Group
What about piping hot fries glued together with a double cheese blend, topped with crispy onions, blitzed beans, salsa, and chilli hot sauce?
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Or you could take it full Berlin street food-style, with proper currywurst and sauerkraut piled on top of skin-on fries.
Diamond Dogs have gone to the effort of making almost all the sauces on the menu from scratch, leading to one of the best dip-and-drizzle experiences in the city.
There’s the Pineapple Power hot sauce, which is slathered on the Shaka Aloha hot dog – a particular sandwich so messy, they have to serve it tightly-wrapped in foil to stop cheese running down your arms. Fans of a Hawaiian pizza will want to order this one.
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Fire fries at Diamond Dogs. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Green Arches. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Diamond Dogs van. Credit: The Manc Group
Another house sauce star is the House Kebabby Tomatah sauce, usually found drizzled over a lamb and beef kofta hot dog with fresh salsa.
On the side of every hot dog you’ll find a little pot of accessories, from salted pretzels to pork scratchings to pickles.
Diamond Dogs has parked itself proudly behind Green Arches, a relatively new addition to the city’s brilliant craft brewery and taproom scene.
The brewery taproom itself is nearly placed beneath one of the railway arches of the Green Quarter, and takes its green credentials seriously – the bar is almost entirely decorated in white and wood, but is covered in plants.
There are potted plants that are taller than most people and vines crawling up the curved walls.
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The green-tiled bar serves a brilliant range of flagship ales.
Diamond Dogs is open from 5.30pm to 9pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and until 10pm on Fridays. On the weekends it opens at 10.30am, closing at 10pm on Saturdays and 6pm on Sundays.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Glitzy Spinningfields bar famed for its bottomless deals shuts down
Daisy Jackson
Popular cocktail bar group Banyan has suddenly closed its glitzy bar in the heart of Spinningfields.
The restaurant and bar, which is part of the Arc Inspirations group that also operates Manahatta and Box, has shut down with immediate effect.
A sign has been posted in the window of the Spinningfields site of Banyan confirming its closure.
Banyan opened in 2018 and was the second site for the brand, which has been operating out of the Corn Exchange since 2015.
Inside, the huge 7,000sq ft space was split into spaces for drinking, dining and dancing, including a large mezzanine and a huge white marble bar.
Banyan is famed for its bottomless deals, whether that’s a classic bottomless brunch or their bottomless Sunday roast (endless Yorkshire puddings, gravy, wine, and roast potatoes).
It also offered two-for-one cocktails, all day every day.
The bar stands on the side of Spinningfields, directly opposite The Ivy and alongside The Alchemist.
Banyan in Spinningfields has shut downThe note in the window of Banyan
But now it has permanently closed its doors, thanking people for their custom over its almost-decade in Manchester.
The sign on the door says: “Banyan Spinningfields is now permanently closed.
“Thank you so much for your custom over the years, we’ve loved being part of this wonderful city and have made so many friends.
“Don’t be a stranger, we’d love to continue to welcome you to our Banyan bar in the Corn Exchange. Team Banyan.”
Bangkok Diners Club moves out of Ancoats just months after Michelin Guide win
Daisy Jackson
Bangkok Diners Club, the critically-acclaimed restaurant above the Edinburgh Castle pub, has closed its restaurant space.
The Thai restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide last October, not long after taking over the upstairs of the popular pub.
It also received a rave review in The Guardian from restaurant critic Grace Dent, who said it would be ‘one of Manchester’s hottest dining tickets’.
But now Bangkok Diners Club has decided its time in Ancoats is up, and has closed its beautiful restaurant space with immediate effect.
In an email sent to customers with reservations, they wrote that Bangkok Diners Club ‘sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle’.
Owners and husband-and-wife team Ben and Bo Humpheys aren’t leaving things there though, announcing plans to move into the Exhibition food hall on Peter Street.
Co-owner Ben Humphreys outside Bangkok Diners Club. Credit: The Manc GroupThe food earned them a place in the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
They’ll be joining MoreJoy and pasta concept Anatra in the space, but bidding farewell to their own dedicated restaurant for now.
The email sent to customers reads: “We have just noticed that the system has allowed you to make a reservation during a time that we are closed. We apologise that this has happened.
“Ben and Bo are cooking at Exhibition during 2026 and Bangkok Diners Club sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle.
“Sincerest apologies for all the inconvenience caused.”
Daisy Jackson -
17th February 2023 
