A new all-pink cake cafe with branches around the globe is set to open its first north west site at Manchester’s Trafford Centre this year.
EL&N (which stands for Eat, Live, and Nourish) is as famous for its elaborate interiors as it is for its intricately beautiful cakes, already boasting successful sites around the world in locations like Milan, Dubai, London, Paris, Doha and Edinburgh.
Now, it’s been revealed that the brand coming to Manchester with pictures in the Manchester Evening News showing construction already underway at Trafford Palazzo.
Images show huge pink archways and sparkly signs, with a clear pink roof emblazoned with the brand’s name as well as a second sign that reads: ‘Love Coffee,’,
Sitting opposite Primark, it is expected to open inside Trafford Palazzo in time for Easter 2023.
First founded in Mayfair, London in 2017, EL&N quickly established itself as a go-to for cake lovers – drawing in an Instagram-minded crowd with its flower walls, hot pink interiors and mouthwatering cake, coffee and mocktail menu.
It has eleven sites in the UK as well as six international locations, all serving up the likes of gorgeous afternoon teas alongside drinks such as speciality hot chocolates, flowering and iced teas, hot coffee and cold brew cans.
Elsewhere on its menu, diners will find brunch staples including avocado toast, eggs benedict, shakshuka and Turkish eggs, plus mouthwatering loaded French toast, sandwiches and chapatis.
As for cakes, think giant slices of cake in flavours like pistachio, carrot, honey, red velvet, strawberry and chocolate ganache, plus further treats like tiramisu, raspberry cheesecake and dulce mille feuille.
And there’s more. From classic flavours of gelato to a range of different dulce de leche, plus giant cookies and brownies, the list of desserts on offer seems never-ending.
EL&N Honey Cake. / Image: EL&N
Mark Whittaker, Executive Director – Property Investment & Management at Peel L&P, said: “This is an extremely exciting announcement and will elevate the offering even further at Trafford Palazzo.
“EL&N is exactly the type of operator we are looking to attract, a forward thinking, unique brand that will complement the centre and add to the experience we are fostering within the space.”
Alexandra Miller, Founder of EL&N, said: “We are thrilled to announce our very first opening in Manchester at Trafford Palazzo.
“This location in particular is iconic, and we can’t wait to bring our unique offering to the diners of Manchester.
“The store design ties in all the classic EL&N interior elements along with some fresh new Instagram moments that we’ve never done before, Manchester, you’re in for a real treat!”
Eats
Manchester favourite Nell’s to open new site for New York-style pizza, karaoke and shuffleboard
Daisy Jackson
Much-loved New York-style pizza joint Nell’s has announced big plans for a brand new location – they’re heading to MediaCity.
Nell’s are stepping things up a notch with the move, adding in private karaoke booths, shuffleboard tables, and a huge outdoor terrace in their new site.
Nell’s MediaCity is set to open this autumn, promising 22-inch New York-style pizza (also served in gigantic slices), frozen margs, and ice cream sandwiches.
There are already several spots around Manchester where you can get a slice of Nell’s, including their restaurants at Kampus and in Altrincham, the OG Northern Quarter site in Common, and at The Beagle in Chorlton.
And now it’s Salford’s turn, with plans unveiled for the team to expand over to MediaCity’s quayside Orange Building.
Nell’s co-founder Jonny Heyes said: “We’ve been thinking about MediaCity for a long time, it’s such a great area and we’ve seen what brilliant operators like Kargo have achieved so when this space came up, we jumped on it!
“The venue is huge which has given us the chance to really play with the experience.
“This idea of karaoke and shuffleboard accompanying our made-for-sharing pizzas and great cocktails feels like a natural next step for us as a brand.”
Nell’s have also partnered with Deliveroo and Slerp to send 14-inch and 22-inch pizzas far and wide.
The new opening is expected to create more than 35 new jobs, and as Common & Co has twice been named in the Times 100 Best Places To Work list, you might want to check those out HERE.
These viral sensations are a plush toy created by Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised designer Kasing Lung, who drew inspiration from his love of fairytales to create a character with bunny-like ears, large eyes and big smiles.
They’re swinging off handbags all over the UK at the minute and people are queueing for hours for the latest Labubu drops.
At Sweet Dreams, they’re making edible chocolate Labubus using a special mould flown in from Japan.
Each one has a pistachio kunafa filling and is painstakingly painted by hand.
And that brings us neatly to the next viral craze at play here – Dubai pistachio chocolate.
An army of pistachio chocolate LabubuInside a chocolate pistachio Labubu
Kunafa is a staple in Middle Eastern bakes and pastries but hit the global mainstream last year when thick chocolate pistachio bars stuffed with it went viral online, spawning countless dupes and inspired specials.
And finally, chocolate covered strawberries – hardly a new invention, but this simple dessert has rocketed in popularity especially in food hotspots like Borough Market in London.
Head into Sweet Dreams and you can build your treat from the base up – choose white or milk melted chocolate for your strawberries, layer on pistachio kunafa, then top with either a milk or white chocolate Labubu.
A slightly daft novelty? Yes. But that doesn’t stop them being delicious.
This is the only place in the UK currently selling Dubai pistachio chocolate Labubus.
Georgina Pellant -
10th March 2023 
