Just on the outskirts of Greater Manchester and spilling over into the North West countryside lays Millington Hall: a stunning farmhouse and 27-acre plot of land situated barely a 20-minute drive from Manchester which is hosting some wonderful culinary events from this summeronwards.
Specialising in local dining and hospitality experiences that strive to showcase the farm-to-table food and drink journey, tasting events, cookery courses and more, the charming Cheshire venue plays hosts to droves of foodies every year.
Moreover, they strive to be as low-carbon as possible, making them one of the most sustainable places offering these kinds of packages in the region, After a year of hugely successful events, they’re hoping to welcome even more Mancs and beyond to their quaint little corner for 2024.
What’s happening at Millington Hall Farmhouse in 2024?
The Big Cheshire Bake Off
First up on our calendar, at least, there’s no better place to start than with the aptly named Big Cheshire Bake Off this September. Having had a go at it for ourselves, we can’t vouch for it enough.
Get ready to unleash your inner baker with this three-hour experience where you take on a trio of challenges including a guided bake, a challenge round and a test of your decorating skills which will then be examined by the judges – just like on the show. We can’t say which one for copyright reasons…
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But seriously, from the welcome glass of fizz, canapé snacks, tea and coffee, there are all the ingredients you’ll need for the competition and for a great day out.
Naturally, you’ll get to dig into all the bakes you make on the day (or box them up if you can resist the urge) and once again, the farm sources as many ingredients as sustainable as they can from a maximum of a 20-mile radius from the Altrincham farm – so you’re helping support the local area too.
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Oh, did we mention there’s an on-site bar open throughout the day too? Honestly, what’s better than bubbles and cake? Taking place from 13-29 September, the Bake Off is open to all experience levels and makes for a great gift too. It’s already selling out quickly, so book your place now if you’re interested.
The Wild Grill Experience
Credit: Supplied
Next up is one for all you carnivores and foodies who genuinely do want to see how the sausage gets made. The Wild Grill Experience is all about discovering the art of butchery, grilling high-quality meat sourced from the region and, of course, eating.
Running for approximately four hours, if you’re someone barbecuing or simply making the most of local produce, the hope is that you’ll get as much educational value out of it as you will pure enjoyment.
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Promising a truly hands-on experience whether you’re a seasoned grill master or a curious beginner, you’ll be welcomed into the ‘Wild Meadow’ by expert butchers/chefs for a jam-packed session featuring everything from pig butchery, meat seasoning, sausage-making and, of course, best cooking methods.
Last but not least, not only will you receive a welcome beer upon arrival as well as charcuterie snacks throughout, but you will get to sit down in the cosy ‘Nordic Tipi’ to dine on your perfectly prepared delectations with your coursemates and teachers as part of the final feast.
Available between 4-20 October, given that Spring sessions sold out so quickly, we’d recommend signing up sooner rather than later. You can book tickets online.
Farm-to-table, tasting events and so much more
Honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Millington Hall Farm as these guys are offering up everything from various other culinary classes, tasting evenings for various local food and drink suppliers, and even gin-based glamping weekends.
They also do special Murder Mystery nights where you eat a three-course dinner whilst trying to figure out a vintage ‘whodunnit’, which genuinely sounds like the best game of Cluedo you’ll ever play.
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The 2024 Murder Mystery night has already sold out but you can sign up now to be the first to hear about the 2025 season.
You can find their full list of events taking place in 2024HERE.
Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display
Daisy Jackson
Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it.
The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure.
Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap.
And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.
Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub.
As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots.
There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet.
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pubDelicious spring drinksInside The Tavern at The Black Friar
A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals.
Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta.
And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut.
Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce.
“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar.
“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather!
“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”
To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE.
You can get a mobile massage treatment in your office – just like us
Thomas Melia
We’d like to introduce you to the pioneering personalised service offering massage treatments on the move at practically any location including direct from your office– including to those of us here in Manchester.
In a world where you can get practically anything delivered straight to your door, it wasn’t going to be long until some genius invented a way to get a massage from the comfort of your own office.
Named ‘London’s first digital beauty concierge’, Ruuby have been pampering the nation’s capital for almost a decade before branching out to further locations.
The gorgeous set up provided by RuubyLook at that lovely branding on the towels.They did wonders with our otherwise plain downstairs office space. (Credit: The Manc Group)
In October 2024, the company expanded beyond its domestic reach in the likes of the capital, the Cotswolds and Surrey into Europe, making its first mark Switzerland: the perfect country for both luxury and essential beauty treatments with a tailored experience.
The month following saw the group moving up North and all the way to Manchester, where people can now book professional treatments best suited to them, right on their doorstep.
If you’re feeling scepticalstill, you can take it from us here at The Manc; we couldn’t tell you how relaxing and comforting these massages are.
There are a range of treatments available and we opted for two bespoke massages, a sports massage and a deep tissue massage.
Each experience is suited to your personal needs meaning each massage therapist will be able to fine-tune their relaxation abilities to what benefits you best.
After choosing the bespoke massage that I felt would work best for me, I went into this with no prior massage experience and I came out feeling taller, broader and more refreshed. Highly recommend.
Mid-day office massage? Yes, please.How relaxing. What a shame you have to go back to work after!Credit: The Manc Group
My masseuse guided me throughout the whole process and we soon discovered that I was able to tolerate much harder pressure than I thought which helped release tension I didn’t even know I had!
The same applies to how firm you’d like your session to be, as the masseuse can help with a brief overview of your time together, but the amount of pressure you like is down to personal preference.
It’s not just massages either: there’s everything from waxing, nails and hair to physio and IV drips; how about getting Marbella ready in less than an hour with a spray tan service set up wherever you are?
As Ruuby is a mobile and remote work environment, there are a number of at any time up and down the country, meaning your next beauty slot could be as little as an hour away, find out more HERE.
Danny Jones -
15th August 2024 
