Karen’s Diner, the restaurant chain where customers pay for staff to insult them, has confirmed the future of its UK sites after shutting down three of its original restaurants this week.
Karen’s Diners in Surfers Paradise, Perth, and Melbourne have all shut their doors after being placed into voluntary liquidation, with the company writing on Facebook: “Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and Karen can’t stay forever! Today marks the closing of some of our Australian pop-up stores.”
The closure of the original sites down under has left some wondering about the fate of the UK restaurants, including Manchester’s closest – Karen’s Diner over in Prestwich, Bury.
Speaking to The Manc, bosses behind the UK and European Operations Team confirmed that the UK sites were unaffected by the Australian closures.
A representative from the UK and European Operations Team said that the company managing the recently-closed Australian sites is just one of nine subsidiaries within the Viral Ventures Holdings Group in Australia.
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“We understand that these short term leases were due to expire and poor management within this company led to this inevitable conclusion,” they said.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
“We accept that Karen haters and Zelus worshippers will look to jump on an opportunity to question the longevity of dinings most outrageous brand. They will be disappointed.”
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The principal group in Australia continues to be rude to all in Sydney’s capital city and the never ending demand globally is ensuring that growth worldwide continues, they added.
“It’s hard to understand the problems that have needed to be dealt with on the other side of the world”, said Paul Levin, part of the UK and European Operations Team.
“However, our UK businesses operate autonomously and despite challenging conditions, we are delighted to report continuous steady growth.”
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The UK and European Operations Team also revealed that they have got their sights set on some new openings here, with a Brighton opening planned for August followed by expansion into Ireland and the Netherlands.
“On Sunday 13th August our next restaurant will be opening on the promenade in Brighton’s Marina. Our next mission then is to be rude to the whole of Ireland and our ‘Experience’ will be landing in both Northern and the Republic of Ireland during October.
“Karens On Tour continues to visit numerous cities in The UK and we open in The Netherlands this Autumn.
“Our millions of social media followers can rest assured that our mission to serve great food whilst being rude to the whole world ,remains firmly on track”.
Featured image – The Manc Eats
Eats
New pie shop with Indian-inspired fillings opens at Greater Manchester train station
Emily Sergeant
At long last, Patel’s Pies – the proper pie shop with Indian-inspired fillings – has got its very own site, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
The business is already a familiar name (to the blue half of the city, of course) thanks to its matchday spot outside the Etihad Stadium, but now, Patel’s Pies will be serving its delicious savoury bakes to the people of the Heatons too – with its brand-new pie shop now opene at Heaton Chapel train station.
Here you’ll find their legendary curry pies with homemade pastry – filled with the likes of keema, butter chicken, and beef madras.
You can grab hot and cold pies to take away, all setting you back an affordable £5.95 each.
Patel’s Pies is now open at Heaton Chapel train station / Credit: The Manc Group
From 11am-2pm, you can also get your hands on the lunch deal, which is any pie, masala mash, spiced mushy peas, and gunpowder gravy.
Patel’s Pies has teamed up with Manc legends Gooey, so you can grab the bakery’s famous cookies and doughnuts here too.
There’ll also be local beers and canned drinks up for grabs.
All pies will set you back an affordable £5.95 each / Credit: The Manc Group
Inside, the shop keeps things traditional, complete with classic pie warmers on the counter and hand-painted signage by Cactus Sign Painting, giving the space the feel of a proper old-school pie shop with a modern twist.
Announcing the new venture, Steve, the owner of Patel’s Pies has said: “We’d love for you to come down, say hello, and support our new venture. It’s our very first day, so please bear with us as we get settled in, we can’t wait to serve you all.”
Patel’s Pies is open now at Heaton Chapel Train Station on Tatton Road South.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Eats
Trendy Ancoats wine bar Blossom Street Social to close after six years
Emily Sergeant
Trendy neighbourhood wine bar Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after nearly seven years serving the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social first opened its doors back in 2019, just months before the country – and the res of the world – was plunged into the COVID-19 lockdowns, but despite all the challenges during the early days, this wine bar went on to become a true staple of Ancoats life – hosting events, exhibitions, wine tastings, and everything in between.
But now, the owners have had to make the heartbreaking decision to close, saying they’ve ‘danced our last dance, played our last record, and poured our last glass of wine in Ancoats.’
Announcing the news in a statement to social media this week, Blossom Street Social said: “Blossom Street Social closes its doors after six and a half years at the heart of the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after six years / Credit: The Manc Group
“When we opened in 2019, just months before the world changed forever, we couldn’t possibly have imagined the journey ahead. Through lockdowns, uncertainty and everything that followed, we somehow managed to build something that became far more than a wine bar.
“Wine was always at the heart of what we did, but so were the conversations, the music, the art and the community that grew around it.
“We’ve hosted tastings, exhibitions, launches, celebrations, social sessions and countless memorable nights. We’ve introduced people to wines they’d never tried before, watched friendships form and shared in some truly special moments.
“We’ve watched first dates become engagements, engagements become marriages, and couples return with babies in tow. We’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, new homes and countless milestones alongside you. We’ve shared conversations, laughter, music and moments that mattered from our little corner of Ancoats. We will never forget them.”
The team then went on to thank ‘every customer, artist, DJ, supplier, collaborator and friend’ who became part of their story.
The owners also gave a special thank you to the staff members who stayed ‘to the very end’ and ‘showed up when it was hard’, admitting that they couldn’t have done it without them all.
Georgina Pellant -
14th July 2023 
