A new ice cream shop is opening in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, bringing sweet, cold and creamy treats to Stevenson Square in time for summer.
Called Sweet!, it is set to open in the city centre later this month serving up ice creams, milkshakes, slushies and more – with a huge giveaway planned for its launch date.
Brought to Manchester by the team behind The Quarter House, Hula and The Fitzgerald, the new dessert shop will take over a suntrap patch next door to their popular Stevenson Square boozers.
Serving up locally-sourced ice creams and other goodies to hungry Mancs this summer, those heading down can expect to find fresh dairy-farmed ice cream straight from a farm on the Ribble Valley.
Image: Mrs Dawson’s
Image: Mrs Dawson’s
Based in Blackburn, Lancashire, Mrs Dowson’s award-winning ice cream comes from a third-generation dairy farm and boasts ‘honest, quality ingredients’.
The all-natural, farm-made dairy ice cream uses full cream milk fresh from their dairy herd and local ingredients.
As well as serving up Mrs Downson’s popular classic flavours like strawberry, mint choc chip, chocolate and vanilla, ice cream fans can expect to find some surprises alongside vegan-friendly sorbets for those of the plant-powered persuasion.
There will be seating stretching out into the square for those wanting to enjoy an al fresco treat on site, as well as tubs and cones for those who’d prefer to take their ice cream away.
With an opening date set for Wednesday 26 April, from 12pm Sweet! will be giving away 200 free ice creams to the first customers through its door.
Located at 9 Stevenson Square, next door to The Quarter House, make sure to get down from 12pm if you want to get your hands on a freebie.
With an opening date set for Wednesday 26 April, from 12pm Sweet! will be giving away 200 free ice creams to the first customers through its door.
Located at 9 Stevenson Square, next door to The Quarter House, make sure to get down from 12pm if you want to get your hands on a freebie.
Featured image – Google Maps
Eats
Historic Manchester pub issues apology for ’embarrassing’ toilets and asks for support
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most iconic pubs, Mr Thomas’s Chop House, is finally undergoing a major upgrade after admitting its building has become an ’embarrassment’.
The historic Cross Street boozer has shared a public apology for the ‘deteriorating’ state of its stunning building.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is now pleading for support from punters as it undergoes the weeks-long scheme of improvements.
Visitors will find a reduced menu while renovations are taking place.
The pub said that it’s aware that the Grade II-listed pub has been in need of improvement for a while, but explained these works have been hampered by leasing issues.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House explained that it’s been ‘existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord’.
It’s left them unable to invest into the building – until now.
The pub will be adding brand-new toilets downstairs (they said the old ones were ‘an embarrassment’), as well as improving the kitchens and adding a new beer cellar.
In their statement, Mr Thomas’s Chop House said: “First of all, we owe you, our loyal customers, an apology.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is undergoing a refurb
“Over the past few years bits of our stunning building have deteriorated. The toilets have become a bit of an embarrassment. We are sorry.
“The fact is, we (The Victorian Chop House Company) have been existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord.
“As a result of this uncertainty we haven’t been able to invest into the fabric of the building.
“But now the wait is finally over. And together with our landlords we are finally beginning a scheme of renovations which will return Tom’s to the state it should be in!”
Work began last week and is expected to last for around three weeks.
They also wrote: “Things will be slightly different but we are so excited. Please help us stay afloat while we work to restore Tom’s.”
The brilliant Persian cafe in disguise as a greasy spoon that’s just had a star turn on TV
Daisy Jackson
A family-run, often-overlooked restaurant in Chorlton had a star turn on TV last night, when The Hotel Inspector paid a visit to the Chorlton Metro Cafe.
From the outside, this place looks very much like your run-of-the-mill greasy spoon, and it sort of is, with fry-ups and breakfast sandwiches up for grabs.
But beyond that, this is the spot to come for an authentic, hearty, home-cooked Persian food.
And it’s this strange dual identity that has caught the attention of Channel 5 this year, and given the business a full episode of The Hotel Inspector.
Alex Polizzi and her crew headed to Chorlton earlier this year to assist husband and wife Majid and Zahra in a rebrand to become The Persian Stop (the sign still hasn’t changed, but bear with them here).
During the episode, The Hotel Inspector tackled everything from a menu overhaul to a spruce-up of the restaurant’s frontage, and ran a cost evaluation, hoping to help Majid and Zahra to increase custom.
A full spread of the new Persian dishesMajid at Chorlton Metro Cafe with his new pancake dishFantastic pancakes at Chorlton Metro Cafe
And there were other familiar faces involved too – Channel 5 called on social media experts The Manc (oh wait, that’s us!) to help Majid understand the power of social media.
The couple moved to the UK from Iran more than 20 years ago, and Majid ran a successful construction business – until the financial crisis of 2008.
The pair then poured their life savings into the Metro Cafe, a greasy spoon just across the road from Chorlton tram stop.
Behind the scenes of The Hotel Inspector
They kept the full builder’s breakfasts and mugs of tea, but added a new string of Persian stews and fragrant rice dishes to the menu.
Now, with the help of The Hotel Inspector, the menu puts these ancient dishes front and centre.
Expect slices of syrupy baklava for only £2.80, and traditional stews like khoresh bademjan (slow-cooked aubergines with split peas and lamb) and khoresh fesenjan (saffron, ground walnut and pomegranate chicken).
This is a small business, run by a fantastic local couple, and one of those hidden gems that deserves to be a little less hidden.
Georgina Pellant -
20th April 2023 
