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Eats

Greater Manchester’s quaint canal boat cafe with floating flat whites and unbelievable bakes

Make that quaint, clever and immensely cute.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 4th October 2024
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There are a lot of good cafes in and around Greater Manchester but you won’t find many that serve up straight out of a canal boat.

Meet Libby and the ‘Cast No Shadow’ canal boat that is now the foremost river-based coffee and cake shop in our region, and with so many waterways around the 10 boroughs and beyond, you’ve got plenty of opportunity to meet both.

Currently moored up over on a picturesque corner of the Bridgewater Canal in Castlefield, just between the distinct white suspension bridge and The Wharf, this narrowboat cafe has only been up and running since May but has already earned queues of regulars who line up every weekend.

It also just might be one of the most wholesome things we’ve stumbled across in a long time.

Local legend Libby has had this pretty little vessel for three years and the cafe life is still pretty new to her as well, but she’s already nailed a really lovely niche.

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You’ll find her serving up coffees freshly roasted right here in Manchester, snacks and soft drinks for the hotter days, as well as plenty of specials depending on the season or stuff going on around her.

Back when Sound of the City 2024 was still going on, we even saw her serving up handy little pots of mac and cheese to gig-goers on the way to Castlefield Bowl to fuel up before a long night of dancing and drinking.

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Now that’s just legendary behaviour, if you ask us.

But aside from stunning pistachio lattes, colourful iced coffees and pure cosy vibes being served up right out of her small hatch, you can’t order from this canal boat cafe without grabbing one of the many delicious homemade loafs, cupcakes, cookies and more straight from fellow native The Vakery MCR.

With an ever-rotasting selection of sweat treats and regular favourites that sell-out almost immediately, almost everything baked is vegan, flawless and genuinely so good we couldn’t even tell the difference.

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Complete with her little sausage-shaped companion and sea-furring captain/very laid-back guard dog Bob, and a small terminal so you can still pay buy card like any other shop, we love everything about this little slice of canal and coffee-fuelled life.

She’s previously been spotted in other spots like Altrincham, Macclesfield and various other spots around Greater Manchester and Cheshire, and may very well be moving on to the likes of Ancoats soon, but at the minute she’s found a perfect home and regular customer base in Castlefield.

To sum it all up, Libby is one of the friendlist people you’ll ever meet, the boat is a solar-powered little stunner that’s a welcome addition to the city, everything is reasonably priced and we love that she’s also helping support other local indie businesses like The Vakery.

So, if you’re in the area or are looking for the perfect stop-off on your next Sunday stroll, make sure to swing by to say hello and enjoy the cutest canal boat cafe in the country – we don’t care if there are others, this one’s ours.

The definition of service with a smile.
The real star of the show (sorry, Lib x)
Credit: Canal Life UK (via Instagram)/The Manc Group

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Canal Life UK

Eats

Zouk’s brilliant bottomless deal is back for National Curry Week

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bottomless curry deals in Manchester Zouk
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One of the best-loved Indians in Manchester has relaunched its bottomless curry offering and is chucking in free rice, samosas, naans and beer to boot.

Yes, to celebrate National Curry Week in the best way possible, Zouk has brought back its endless curry, rice and naan deal to their Manc restaurant and it’s genuinely one of the best in the city.

Costing just £25 a head, you can feast until your heart’s content on the tea bar and grill’s award-winning, authentic curries, showcasing dishes from all over the Indian subcontinent.

From 12pm until midnight between Monday, 2 October and Friday, 6 October, you can choose from a bottomless helping of four different curries (two meat and one vegetarian) each day. 

What exactly can you get on Zouk’s bottomless curry offer?

As mentioned, each booking also includes unlimited rice, naan and samosas to go with your curry of choice and better still, the first 120 people through the door each day will receive a free bottle of Cobra or a soft drink. Jobs a good’en.

Tables are for 90 minutes per booking, giving guests plenty of time to take on the increasingly popular bottomless curry challenge.

With an ever-rotating selection of curries inspired by various distinct regions and speciality cuisines, you’re not short on variety either. You can Zouk’s current bottomless curry menu in full down below:

Monday

  • Chicken Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender pieces of chicken cooking in a sizzling wok over hot flames with tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger and garlic.
  • Lamb and Potatoes – Tender chunks of lamb cooked with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
  • Mutter Paneer (V) – Indian Paneer cheese with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
  • Chole Masala (VG) – From Delhi to Punjab, this authentic channa masala is a tasty street food classic.

Tuesday

  • Chicken Jalfrezi – Chicken fillet cooked with capsicum, onions & eggs in a thick spicy sauce.
  • Lamb and Spinach Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender pieces of lamb cooking in a sizzling wok over hot flames with spinach, tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger and garlic.
  • Tarka Dall (V) – Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce.
  • Gobi Manchurian (VG) – Spicy cauliflower pakoras sauteed in a spicy sauce with peppers and onions.

Wednesday

  • Chicken and spinach curry – A beautifully flavoured dish with chicken pieces cooked in spinach, fenugreek, ginger and fresh cream.
  • Lamb Rogan Josh – A speciality from Jammu and Kashmir, with chillies and juicy tomatoes.
  • Tarka Dall (V) – Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce.
  • Mili Juli Sabzi (VG) -Fresh vegetables fused together with herbs and spices.
zouk manchester
bottomless curry menu zouk
Over the halfway hump, room for more? (Credit: The Manc Group)

Thursday

  • Chicken Tikka Masala – A simple classic chicken tikka masala. Chicken pieces marinated in yoghurt tossed inside a balti of garlic and ginger.
  • Keema and Peas – Minced lamb curry with peas in a spicy tomato masala.
  • Dall Makhani (V) – Black lentils in a smooth and creamy sauce.
  • Palak Aloo (VG) – Spinach leaf and fenugreek cooked with new potatoes and coriander.

Friday

  • Chicken Handi – Punjabi-style chicken curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onions, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala.
  • Lamb Handi – Punjabi-style lamb curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onions, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala.
  • Bengan Masala (V) – Aubergine cooked to perfection in a masala of aromatic mixed herbs.
  • Bindi (VG) – Traditional Punjabi dish of Okra cooked with onions, tomatoes and spices.

And now we’re stuffed…

Zouk's bottomless curry deal includes three different curries each day
Zouk is celebrating National Curry Week with bottomless curries. Credit: The Manc Group
If you’re looking for somewhere to get bottomless curry in Manchester, this is the place for you. (Credit: The Manc Group)

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Zouk has become one of Manchester’s leading restaurants since it opened in 2009, even drawing in famous fans like Rihanna, Drake, Manchester United stars and, of course, many a Mancs each and every day – because there’s never a bad time for a curry.

Available all throughout National Curry Week (Monday, October 7-Friday, October 11), you can make the most of this incredible bottomless deal like we do every year and trust us, Manchester it genuinely NEVER disappoints.

You can find more information, including all terms and conditions on the website and book your visit HERE or over the phone on 0161 2331 090.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Eats

The Footage pub has officially been bought and is set for a £1 million transformation

Danny Jones Danny Jones
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Not long after quietly closing its doors and being put on the market, beloved student pub and Manc institution The Footage has officially been bought and is now set for a truly transformative £1 million makeover – and a new name.

Well, sort of. Technically set to return to its old moniker, The Grosvenor, the bustling pub that sustained university students for years, previously served as a bingo hall and was once the largest cinema outside of London decades before that, the place is going back to its ‘Picture Palace’ roots, at least in namesake.

The Grade II-listed building which was first opened back in 1915 was listed on Rightmove for just £1 last month (no, not a typo) and has now been snapped by an independent local operator on the cheap, but is now set to have huge investment pumped into as they prepare to turn it into something entirely new.

Promising to become a cutting-edge hybrid between hospitality and social space, the aim is to create “the ultimate adult escapism experience in central Manchester.”

the footage pub becoming the grosvenor oxford road manchester
The Footage may be no more but The Grosvenor is being reborn. (Credit: Supplied)

Complete with the huge sports screens that were always a staple for the regular Footage crowd, as well as some outrageous new interiors and even a slide to transport punters from the cinema’s original balcony, the vision is very different from just reopening as another newly refurbished pub.

The spacious drinking and dining spot will feature 30 beer taps and a wide selection of sharing-focused food like buckets of wings, loaded pizzas, platters and big burgers, but will also serve as an entertainment hub, with pool tables, beer pong, darts and much more.

Scheduled to reopen this November and stay open from noon until midnight (make that 2am on Fridays and Saturdays), the idea is you can spend all day here and even capture all your memories in the photo booth at the end of the night.

Be it a bottomless brunch, simple after-work drinks with friends, private events or just somewhere to watch the game, the space will offer something for everyone. 

Better yet, they’re making sure to carry on The Footage dynasty and keep the aspects people loved so much intact, starting with those student deals and even offering the most eager of punters some early discounts, offers and even a freebie by signing up to the new website.

Back to the original, as it were. (Credit: Supplied)

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Chris Tulloch, Managing Director and founder of Blind Tiger Inns – the company behind the transformation and existing Greater Manchester venues like The Station Hotel in Altrincham and The White Horse in Irlam, is understandably buzzing about the project.

“The Grosvenor is in the midst of an incredible transformation, and we’re creating something truly special for Manchester. Our vision is to blend the best aspects of a sports bar, social venue, and nightclub into one vibrant, unforgettable space where memories are made.

“As we breathe new life into this iconic building, we’re excited to continue its legacy as a cornerstone of Manchester’s entertainment, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone in to eat, drink and have fun in the adult playground.”

Located on the corner of Oxford Road and Grosvenor St, The Grosvenor is striving to achieve the ‘ultimate hybrid hospitality and entertainment experience’ and provide an unrivalled experience on Manchester’s ever-evolving hospitality scene.

Although there’s no concrete launch date yet, we’re very much looking forward to enjoying The Footage like never before and seeing what goes into £1m transformation when The Grosvenor opens sometime this November.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied

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