Mayhap Coffee in Wigan is clearly doing something right – walk past on any given weekend and you’re likely to see a polite line up people waiting outside its doors.
They’re queueing up for what’s become one of Greater Manchester’s very best brunches and coffee spots.
Tucked down a quiet street in Tyldesley, Mayhap Coffee is a proper indie that’s become a firm favourite with the local community since opening two years ago.
Rain or shine (and it’s usually rain in Wigan), locals make the pilgrimage to Chapel Street for their fix of pancakes, coffees and brunch dishes.
As it’s walk-in only, you’ve got to really commit to get a seat in this cosy spot – but it is always, always worth the effort.
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Hero dishes here include their huge pancake stacks, which are always lauded as some of the best in Greater Manchester, and their tower French toasts, including the monthly specials.
As time’s gone on, the Mayhap Coffee French toast has taken the shape of tiramisu, apple pie, and even Easter egg.
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Mayhap Coffee in Wigan. Credit: The Manc GroupEpic cheesy beans on toast. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Mayhap Coffee. Credit: the Manc Group
But you know what never goes out of style? Banoffee fudge French toast, that’s what. This is a literal cube of delicious brioche wearing a wizard’s hat of mascarpone on top.
Another star of the show is the humble beans on toast, elevated here with their own baked beans recipe, lashings of two different cheeses, and a fried egg on top if that’s what you fancy.
There’s also an nduja scramble, where this spicy, melty sausage is cooked in with fluffy eggs before being loaded onto toasted farmhouse bread and topped with feta and spring onion.
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Queues at Mayhap. Credit: Instagram, @mayhapcoffeeBrunch dishes at Mayhap Coffee. Credit: The Manc Group
Mayhap takes its coffee seriously and really knows its stuff, with a team who are more than happy to explain exactly what and why is going into your morning brew.
Its charming exterior is all thanks to a designated High Street Heritage Action Zone, which has seen several shop fronts in the area brought back to their glory days.
The sash windows at Mayhap Coffee now look almost exactly as they would have in 1895.
Shame those Victorians never got to experience the delights of a Mini Egg pancake stack, though…
Manchester dessert hatch receives two-star review for ‘smiling too much’
Daisy Jackson
A dessert hatch in Manchester city centre has spoken out after receiving a two-star review – in which the main criticism was that they ‘smiled too much’.
Layr, a tiny tiramisu spot in Ancoats, has publicly addressed the review, which said the staff’s friendliness was ‘almost creepy’.
The reviewer wrote: “Came today, had alright tiramisu but the staff were smiling too much it was almost creepy. Also felt interrogated, just wanted to get my tiramisu and leave, don’t think ill be back.”
Layr – which was also the victim of ‘hostile hate messages’ earlier this year – has now shared a response to the new two-star review.
They’ve said that while they will always take feedback on board, they refuse to change ‘the warmth & smiles you’re greeted with’.
Layr posted: “We absolutely recognise, and know that every customer experience matters. We never want anyone to feel uncomfortable visiting us, and always take every bit of feedback on board.
“Smiling is just who we are. Layr was built to feel warm, welcoming, and to be a memorable part of your day, week or month. We all need that little pick-me-up no matter what.
“Our amazing team all work incredibly hard, GENUINELY enjoy meeting so many of you and hearing about your day.
“If being too friendly gets us two stars, we can live with that.
“We’ll always choose warmth, no matter what. Great tiramisu matters, so does good people and amazing energy.
“A message to our team. Please don’t stop smiling. Ever.”
Huge beer hall in ‘up-and-coming’ Manchester neighbourhood announces shock closure after two years
Daisy Jackson
A huge beer hall and rotisserie chicken restaurant that opened just two years ago in Manchester has announced its shock closure.
Trading Route was a joint venture between some of the city’s most established hospitality figures, including Trof, Manchester Union, and Wandering Palate.
The brilliant local business has described how difficult it has been to operate as the only independent business in St John’s, ‘an area that is still described as ‘up-and-coming”.
They said that not enough footfall has not come to the area to support what they were building, which – combined with rising costs in the industry – has made it too difficult to continue operating.
They added: “We’re proud of what we created at Trading Route and incredibly grateful to our customers and everyone who supported us over the past two years.
“To our team, we’re deeply sorry we couldn’t make it work for you. The friendships made over the past two years mean so much to us, and knowing the impact this closure has on you is especially hard.”
They then urged people to sign the petition to reduce VAT for hospitality, saying it could help to save your favourite places.
The Trading Route in Manchester has closed with immediate effectThe bar served great local beers and rotisserie chicken
Trading Route will close in Manchester with immediate effect.
Their full statement reads: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Trading Route with immediate effect.
“Rising costs and stagnant footfall have made the business increasingly difficult to sustain, with trading conditions particularly challenging over the previous three months.
“We spent our first 12 months operating amid ongoing construction in an area that is still described as “up-and-coming”. As the only independent business in the area, we needed footfall to grow to support what we were building. Unfortunately, that growth hasn’t materialised quickly enough.
“We’re proud of what we created at Trading Route and incredibly grateful to our customers and everyone who supported us over the past two years.
“To our team, we’re deeply sorry we couldn’t make it work for you. The friendships made over the past two years mean so much to us, and knowing the impact this closure has on you is especially hard.
“It’s too late for us, but you could help save your favourite places by signing the petition to reduce VAT for hospitality to 10%. Independent bars, restaurants and pubs need your support to keep their doors open.
Daisy Jackson -
20th September 2024 
