Greggs has launched its long-awaited 2023 Christmas menu today, and the Festive Bake is back again in all its glory.
After teasing the arrival on social media all this week, the UK’s most-popular high street bakery chain has officially unveiled its festive food and drink offering for the 2023 season, and there’s a few brand-new goodies joining the return of some undeniable fan-favourites.
And of course, nothing spells Christmas at Greggs quite like the Festive Bake, right?
The chain’s classic crumb-coated pastry filled with chicken, sage and onion stuffing, and sweetcure bacon in a creamy sage and cranberry sauce goes down an absolute treat each year, and is a serious fan-favourite, so it’s no surprise it’s made a comeback for 2023.
Other returning Greggs festive favourites this year include the Christmas Lunch Baguette, which is a freshly-baked baguette “jam-packed full of festive flavours”, and the accompanying Christmas Lunch Soup, which combines “all the best bits of Christmas in a light lunch”.
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Unfortunately for vegans, or anyone looking to cut back on their meat consumption, the Vegan Festive Bake sadly doesn’t look to have made a comeback this year.
But a brand-new plant-based pastry has joined the party instead.
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Greggs has unveiled its Christmas food and drink menu for 2023 / Credit: Greggs
The new vegan offering comes in the form of the Spicy Veg Curry Bake, which is packed with a mix of chickpeas, onions, sweetcorn, pepper, parsnip, and rice, all mixed up in a curry sauce with added chillies infused for extra spice.
A Vegan Turkey-Free Baguette, which is the “classic Boxing Day turkey sandwich but made vegan”, has also made its way onto this year’s menu.
When it comes to sweet treats, the fan-favourite Christmas classic Mince Pies are back, as is to always be expected, but that’s not all that’s on offer to satisfy those seasonal sugar cravings, as there’s also a new Chocolate Orange Muffin this year too.
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Just as it sounds, this is a rich chocolate orange-flavour muffin filled with orange pieces and a chocolate orange saucy centre, and topped off with a chocolate orange segment.
There’s Festive Bakes, vegan ‘Boxing Day baguettes’, and so much more / Credit: Greggs
And then the hot drinks offering this year includes an Orange Mocha and Orange Hot Chocolate to compliment that muffin, among other new and expected returning favourites such as the Mint Mocha and Mint Hot Chocolate, and the popular Salted Caramel Latte.
All drinks are topped with whipped cream, and come with a range of festive sauces and toppings.
The full 2023 Greggs Christmas menu is now available to tuck into from any of the bakery’s 2,406 branches all across the UK.
Featured Image – Greggs
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The smash-hit daytime rave where you can still be in bed early is returning to Manchester
Clementine Hall
That’s right: Day Fever, the daytime rave designed to still get you tucked in at a reasonable hour, is coming back to Manchester city centre this year.
Following their biggest raft of shows across the UK and Ireland in 2025, the smash-hit night out that is very much aimed at those of us 30 and over – but fellow sleepy heads are obviously more than welcome – Day Fever are targeting big things in 2026.
Launched in early 2024 by actress Vicky McClure and Reverend & The Makers frontman, Jon McClure, Day Fever has become a cultural sensation.
From its debut in Sheffield to a tour that sees thousands of ravers hitting the dance floor each month, the message is clear: people want to dance and let loose, but still be in bed before 9pm – and let’s be honest, who can blame them?
The founders (L-R): Jon McClure, James O’Hara, Jonny Owen, Vicky and Chris McClure. (supplied)
Running from 3-8pm, Day Fever provides a proper night out that doesn’t completely write you off for the entire weekend.
“It started as a WhatsApp idea”, says Jon McClure. “Jonny just said, ‘A daytime disco, how good would that be?’ We’re all a bit nuts, so we just said, ‘Come on then!’”
“It feels like a massive house party at your nan’s,” laughs Vicky. “No drama, no egos, just people acting daft, getting dressed up, and having the best time.”
From here in 0161 and our mates over in Leeds, to Newcastle, Glasgow and many more, each Day Fever event has its own unique flavour.
There’ll be local DJs who know their crowds keep the energy high with a nostalgic mix of Northern Soul, disco, indie, and 90s classics. “Manchester goes mad for Oasis,” says Jon, “and if Vicky’s there, we have to play Whitney, it’s non-negotiable!”
For starters, just look at the turnout they got over Christmas:
Salford RLFC finally confirm new head and assistant coaches
Danny Jones
Salford RLFC have finally announced their new head and assistant coach picks as the new rugby league season fast approaches.
The Salfordian phoenix club had already confirmed they’d reached provisional pre-contract agreements with a new boss and several players following the news of the consortium bid that kept the sporting institution alive, but now they officially have a new leadership team to get behind.
Following Salford Red Devils’ resurrection by the aforementioned investment group – though it still remains unclear whether this will eventually include a full rebranding – familiar face Mike Grady and his assistant Dave Hewitt are now in place.
They replace ex-boss Paul Rowley, now at St Helens, and his assistant, Kurt Haggerty, who both left in October and September of last year, respectively.
Sharing the news in an official statement on their new Instagram account amid a major overhaul of their online presence, the local side wrote: “We are proud to announce Mike as the new Head Coach of Salford RLFC, joined by Dave Hewitt as Assistant Coach.
“Mike brings over 12 years of coaching experience across club and international rugby, most recently leading the Salford Women’s team and previously coaching at Widnes.
“His appointment marks another big step forward in our rebuild, combining experience, passion and a deep understanding of what Salford rugby league stands for: hard work, resilience and exciting rugby.
“Joining him, Dave Hewitt, former St Helens and England Academy player, will focus on developing our attacking play and nurturing new talent.”
Hewitt also played for Oldham RLFC across three spells, as well as Rochdale Hornets.
As for the board, they sign off by adding: “Together, Mike and Dave represent the energy and belief driving this new era for Salford RLFC.”
With several ‘key announcements’ soon to be made, we can expect a better idea of what the new and hopefully improved Salford will look like in time for their opener against the Roughyeds in the Championship on Friday, 16 January.
It is worth noting that the club have yet to reveal any actual squad signings.
As for co-owner Caton-Brown, who knows all about the club and the community from his several years playing in the area, we have the pleasure of chatting with him first-hand about the vision for their future.
Emily Sergeant -
9th November 2023 
