In a day and age where even the most bog-standard of takeaway coffees costs more than £3, and where you have to think very carefully about if you can afford to stick your radiator on, the Bearded Feeder at Piccadilly Gardens is a rare beast.
A staple of the Piccadilly Street Food Markets, this stall is somewhere you can still get a filling lunch for a fiver – and you’ll get some pretty solid Star Wars puns on the side.
The Bearded Feeder has a solid reputation amongst Mancs, thanks in no small party to its quality meaty burgers (100% beef, 100% pork, 100% Sith, they say. Told you they liked a Star Wards pun).
The family-run business has a mouth-watering menu that includes pulled pork, ‘Force-pushed’ burgers, and chicken wings, with prices for mains starting at a mere £5.
Pound-for-pound, there aren’t many places matching that value and quality.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite so many huge players in Manchester’s burger scene – Burgerism, Almost Famous, Slap & Pickle, Hawksmoor, to name a few – The Bearded Feeder is a name that pops up every time we ask people for their burger recommendations.
It’s founded and operated by Scott Andrew, a man who is quite literally a bearded feeder, and who has kept his prices affordable despite the insane costs of operating any sort of business in 2023.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Exogarth platter from The Bearded Feeder burger stall at Piccadilly Gardens in ManchesterThe Bearded Feeder at Piccadilly GardensThe Bearded Feeder’s Wookiee burger at Piccadilly Gardens
His dishes include the Vader hot dog, the Chosen One burger, and the Wampa loaded mac and cheese.
The Wookiee burger features a smashed beef burger patty with cheese, topped with pulled pork and barbecue sauce, and it’s a burger about the size of the Death Star itself. It’s also only £7, or £10 as a meal deal.
The Exogorth is bigger still, a tray heaped with all of the Bearded Feeder’s best bits.
ADVERTISEMENT
There’s pulled pork, belly bites, mac and cheese, and two chicken wings, topped with jalapenos and crispy onions.
It’s one of the top-rated burger joints in the entire city, with people reviewing it as ‘the best burger I have ever eaten’ and ‘heaven’.
You’ll be Skywalkering on air after you’ve eaten this one…
Popular ramen spot and karaoke bar House of Fu quietly closes in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s coolest ramen spots has quietly closed its doors last weekend, saying the site just ‘doesn’t click’.
House of Fu opened just two and a half years ago on Portland Street, following major success across in Leeds.
Their Manchester restaurant was kitted out with details like a neon piece of art in the shape of multi-storey noodles, and a bright orange, blue and white colour scheme against classic exposed brick.
On the menu, it was a comprehensive list of ramen bowls, rice bowls, and small plates, plus great cocktails.
But despite such a solid offering, House of Fu has shared its heartbreaking closure, with its final service last Saturday.
They wrote: “Manchester PSA! We’re heartbroken to announce that we’ll be closing House of Fu on Portland Street this Saturday, 28th February and this will be our last weekend serving the good people of Manchester.
“It’s been a wild two and a half years. To say the economic landscape has been challenging would be a bit of an understatement, but sometimes a site just doesn’t click. You live and hopefully learn.
“We want to say a massive thank you to all our staff. They’ve worked incredibly hard to make sure our customers have had amazing experiences since day one and closing is absolutely no reflection on them. We also want to say thanks to you, our patrons, for choosing to spend your time and money with us.
“We’d also like to thank our landlords, Bruntwood, who’ve been incredibly helpful since we opened, 10/10, would rent again.
“Hopefully we’ll see some of you again soon and please remember to support your local independent hospitality businesses. From the House of Fu Team.”
Manchester reveals FREE programme of events to mark International Women’s Day 2026
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to mark International Women’s Day this weekend with a packed programme of free events.
In case you didn’t know, this Sunday (8 March) is International Women’s Day, with cities worldwide will be marking the important day in a series of different ways – and Manchester is no different.
Just as it chose to last year, the city has once again decided not to host its popular and once-annual ‘Walk For Women’ event, that used to see hundreds parade through the city centre in the name of equality, and instead organise a programme of events that both honour the importance of the event globally and this year’s theme.
Each year, International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, whilst also marking a call-to-action for accelerating gender equality.
Join us on Saturday 7 March at Central Library to celebrate International Women’s Day. 💜
Expect storytelling, performances, creative workshops, women’s history exhibitions, a keynote speech and more.
This year in Manchester, Manchester City Council is encouraging everyone to join for a community celebration co‑designed by local women, offering a space to appreciate women’s contributions, meet new people committed to lifting each other up, learn something new, get creative, and ultimately, find inspiration for the future.
Some of the events organised throughout the day – which will all take place at Manchester Central Library the day before IWD 2026 on Saturday 7 March – include a storytelling activity for women to share their personal stories, a special spoken word piece performed by a member of the IWD Co-design group, choirs and poetry performances, and even fireside ‘chats’ among other things.
There’ll also be a range of different events designed especially for mums and children, like the ‘Mums Matter’ wellbeing workshops, offering time to focus on your emotional wellbeing and mental health, and children’s drop-in sessions.
Manchester Central Library is hosting a wide range of IWD 2026 events this weekend / Credit: The Manc Group
You can also expect a selection of stalls by commissioned services and partner organisations promoting different services, and a period product donation point to tackle period poverty across Greater Manchester.
Everybody is invited to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manchester, not just women, and even children are able to attend some of the events too, as people of all ages are welcome.
Manchester’s International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations are taking place throughout the day on Saturday 7 March, and you can find out more and book here.
Daisy Jackson -
13th October 2023 
