Spudbros have announced plans for new sites and they’re bringing their TikTok famous jacket potatoes to Manchester for the first time ever.
The streets of Manchester are about to get a whole lot carbier as the much-acclaimed and well-loved Spudbros have just revealed the location of their latest site, right here in our town centre.
Already admired by thousands every day who queue up in Preston town centre, now the capital of the North is set to be the next venture for a Spudbros’ hot potato truck.
It’s more than guaranteed that this branch in our bustling city centre is destined to be a smash as street food is practically our middle name.
There’s also some big expectations to fill as online, you can see masses of people waiting in line to get a taste of their famed potato offerings. If you can get us weather-complaining Northerners standing outside, you must be good.
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Jacob Nelson, who is one half of the viral potato loving Spudbros, revealed on Instagram back in January: “This is the first time that you guys are going to hear it but the Spudbros are franchising out”.
He explained: “We have got a few stores opening up around the UK, Manchester is one of them in the North West area.”
Initially, this news came off the back of the closure of Manchester foodie staple Almost Famous, as the Preston potato van co-owner offered his condolences and jobs to those who worked for the burger chain.
In a TikTok video posted just yesterday, the pair can be seen sneaking around their new site in Manchester which looks like the Bloc building just off Market Street, possibly the old and much-loved Philpotts cafe site.
Spudbros are loved by millions online with more than three million followers and this isn’t their first rodeo branching outside of their home comforts in Preston.
Jacob and Harley Nelson, the masterminds and real life brothers behind Spudbros, also have a location in Soho, London, under the name ‘Spudbros Express’, which launched last month in December.
The Preston duo are switching up their tried and trusted potato van method for a unit just off Market Street and with a location so central to the city centre, it will certainly go down a treat.
A date for the opening of the latest Spudbros location is yet to be revealed but rest assured Mancs will definitely be walking around town with some carby goodness in the next few months.
It’s almost like you can get a whiff of their gorgeous cheese and bean jackets already…
Inside Voyeur, a mysterious new post-punk 80s-inspired cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
A brand new cocktail bar is set to open in Manchester this week, with dark and mysterious interiors, 80s inspiration, and a raunchy theme.
Voyeur is opening in the heart of the Northern Quarter, and here it’s all about modern drinks in a post-punk 80s setting.
The walls are decorated with beautiful voyeurism photography from the 80s, including artists like David Hockney, Nick Taggart, and Malerie Marder.
Even the menus celebrate the artistic side of voyeurism, with drinks presented within a book of photography.
Those drinks include creative twists on drinks dating back more than a century, from the Kaleidescope of Lies (a two-in one cocktail inspired by a pina colada, with a strawberry daiquiri foam top) to The Voyeur (made with coriander-infused tequila for a savoury punch).
There’ll be monthly themed specials, kicking off with The Breakfast Club, where seasonal drinks take inspiration from Lucky Charms cereal, chai latte and an acai bowl.
Cocktails inspired by The Breakfast Club at VoyeurCocktails at Voyeur in the Northern QuarterInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barInside Voyeur, a new Manchester cocktail barVoyeur on Oldham StreetThe cocktail menu is presented as a photography book
The dark space is lit by marble table lamps and a glittering green disco ball (and not much else), perfect for an evening spent sipping cocktails into the early hours.
Between Thursdays and Sundays, Voyeur will have DJs spinning vinyls.
Voyeur is opening this week on Oldham Street and will be open from 5pm to 2am between Tuesday and Sunday.
A brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop in a former Manc food spot
Thomas Melia
Sweet lovers and dessert connoisseurs alike, a brand-new dessert, ice-cream and doughnut shop is opening in Manchester city centre this month.
Titled ‘Baby Mayhem’, this sweet-filled shop has been teasing its arrival for the past month with videos showcasing everything from new instalments to their graffiti-style logo.
This brand-new opening will be located on Radium Street, not too far away from Chinese superstar Wing Yip and fellow sweet treat specialists, Flat Baker, right in the heart of Ancoats.
The interior has been given a very nice and bright facelift too, going from an all white four-walled site to a bold and distinctive baby pink-covered site.
Manchester seems to have quite the sweet tooth at the moment, as it was only last month that our Northern Quarter was christened by cake gods, Get Baked.
As for this new dessert shop, they’re starting from scratch, with a temporary wooden window frame with their branding spray-painted onto it fitted ahead of their soft launch later this week.
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the much-loved Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria shop, and it really is out with the old, in with the new, as the familiar neon ‘No Lasagne’ sign has been traded for a sweeter read of ‘Fresh Donuts’.
It may be Yank spelling, but this still feels Manc through and through.
Case and point: all their signage, stamps and stencils have been done by local laser cutting service and neighbours, Drawn By The Light – also on Radium Street.
Enough salt, let’s have a serious amount of sugar. (Credit: Baby Mayhem via Instagram)
Baby Mayhem are taking sweet treats to the complete extreme, serving up everyone’s beloved combo of coffees and cakes, while also creating our soon-to-be-favourite indulgence: doughnut sandwiches. 10/10, no notes – genius.
There really are no complaints here; what’s not to love?
Baby Mayhem is taking up residence in the former Lazy Tony’s site, 23 Radium Street in Ancoats, and will be serving up their sweet treats for all to try from this Saturday, 26 April.
Thomas Melia -
28th January 2025 
