A brand-new modern steak house is openings its doors in Manchester next month, and Meatworks has chosen Circle Square as the perfect location for its flagship UK restaurant.
Famed and respected for being burger specialists, they’re also the same team behind the hugely successful smash burger Boo and Midlands butchery, Halal Editions.
The new 52-cover casual restaurant space will be offering traditional burger patties and smash burgers, merging them with some incredible and unique flavours.
That’s alongside delicious steaks, and if you weren’t hungry enough already, their signature small plates like cheeseburger dumplings and slow-cooked short rib pancakes.
Manchester’s newest steakhouse is bringing some extraordinary offers with them too as guests can grab ‘Lunchtime value specials’ which includes a smash burger and fries for just £10.
It’s going to become everyone’s go-to as not only does it cater to the fast-paced grab-and-go eating habits of the Manchester public, the evening brings a more relaxed dinner setting.
Meatworks will be an alcohol-free restaurant but the drink menu features mocktails like the kiwi mojito to the lychee and lemongrass mocktail.
The inside of Manchester’s newest steak joint ‘Meatworks’. Credit: Supplied
The landmark neighbourhood, from Bruntwood SciTech and Vita Group, is in the heart of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor and centred around the beautiful Symphony Park.
Meatworks joins this rapidly-growing neighbourhood alongside Onda Pasta Bar, North Tap Room, Federal Cafe Bar, Detroit Slims, Ambers and Doug’s, who all take up residence in this site.
Charlotte Wild, Head of Retail & Leisure for Bruntwood SciTech, shared: “Meatworks represents yet another fantastic new reason to visit Circle Square.
“After an extraordinary year of new openings in 2024 we’ve built a vibrant community of hospitality innovators here on the Oxford Road Corridor, and it’s great to kick off 2025 with another great addition to the community.
“This independent, quality steak house and eatery will fit perfectly into the destination and we can’t wait to welcome them.”
Meatworks are shouting out about their ‘Damn fine burgers’ at Circle Square. Credit: Supplied
Jake Atkinson, Head of Food & Beverage for Vita Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Meatworks to Circle Square. Known for their exceptional cuts, bold flavours, and attention to detail.
“Their arrival enhances the diverse dining scene at Circle Square, and we’re excited for Manchester to enjoy a new experience.”
Mohammed Suleman from Meatworks added: “We’re thrilled to be opening Meatworks and share our passion for great food with the people of Manchester. Burgers and high quality meats are in our DNA and we’re excited to bring our expertise to Circle Square and its growing community.
“The destination is the perfect location for our first opening in the city. We promise to offer bold flavours and innovative dishes and can’t wait to welcome our first customers.”
Meatworks is set to open on 5 February at Circle Square and will be open from Tuesday to Sunday between 12pm to 11pm every week with both walk-ins and bookings welcome.
Mother and daughter-run bakery selling nostalgic cakes issues plea for support
Daisy Jackson
A Bury bakery run by a mother and daughter has shared a heartfelt message asking for support as running costs continue to skyrocket.
Little Blonde Bakes in Unsworth has enjoyed great success with its colourful occasion cakes and its nostalgic puddings and desserts.
We’re talking old-school cake with sprinkles and custard, thick slabs of banana bread, and pancake stacks with Nutella and strawberries.
They’re also all over the latest sweet trends, like pistachio kunafa strawberries and even a Dubai chocolate-inspired cookie pie.
But despite putting in such graft and creating such beautiful bakes, Little Blonde Bakes has said it’s falling on tough times.
The family-operated bakery, fronted by mother and daughter Jayne and Fran Harrison, said that it’s struggling to balance the rising costs of ingredients, national insurance, rates, and taxes, as well as a fickle Instagram algorithm that sometimes leaves them with only a few likes on a photo.
In their heartfelt statement, they added that events like the huge concerts that have come to Greater Manchester this summer, the hot weather, and the school holidays are having a negative effect on the small local business.
They wrote: “It feels like we our putting ourselves out there by sharing this & feels a little scary. but we need your help and support to keep going.
Little Blonde Bakes sells treats like old school cake and custard
“We’ve been doing this for 10 years now, and although it may seem like we are doing well, behind the scenes we are now trading and working to pay the bills. This goes for lots of small, local & independent businesses. They need us!”
The post from Little Blonde Bakes continued: “So if your local, or want to visit us, please do, we strive to always use the best ingredients and put so much love into our baking.
“If your not local, we have a full postal menu each week online which delivers anywhere in the uk.
“If you can’t do any of that (i know the cost of living crisis is also affecting a lot of people and families) then please, turn on our notifications, like & share & comment on our posts where you can, or even leave a review. Any support means the world.
“We really want to be able to continue doing what we love, with our amazing team, but the future looks a little scary without the amazing support of our customers. We love you all.”
You can pay Little Blonde Bakes a visit at 62 Sunny Bank Road, Unsworth, BL9 8HJ and follow them on Instagram @littleblondebakes.
Palms Bakery opens beautiful little coffee shop in Manchester shipping container village
Daisy Jackson
Viral bakery Palms Bakery has opened its own coffee shop over in the shipping container village that is Pollard Yard.
The bakery rocketed to fame with its colourful shag cakes, where spikes of icing are used to make psychedelic baked show-stoppers.
Since then, founder Rachel Samuels has expanded to all sorts of playful retro-inspired bakes and set up shop at Pollard Yard alongside a whole host of other Manchester independent businesses.
Previously, the Palm Bakery masterpieces were only really been accessible when you ordered an entire cake.
But now she’s taken on an extra unit at Pollard Yard and launched Palms Coffee, a sunny little spot that’s keeping her neighbours well-caffeinated and well-fed.
Blueberry matcha at Palms CoffeeThe sunny terracePalms Bakery cakes and cookies are on the menuPalms Bakery cakes and cookies are on the menuPalms Coffee is open at Pollard YardPalms Bakery now does sandwiches at Palms Coffee
It means you can now tuck into bite-size, individual helpings of Rachel’s amazing bakes.
There are pretty, nostalgic cupcakes (sprinkles and glace cherries a must), gooey chocolate chip cookies, and miniature banana bread loafs too.
Customers can sit on the terrace surrounded by plants, tucking into flavoured matchas and iced coffees (best-sellers include maple cinnamon, pistachio, and blueberry).
It seems to have become the go-to lunch spot for those working in Pollard Yard and surrounds, but there’s enough here to tempt anyone out from nearby Ancoats too.
Think sandwiches made with house-made focaccia, filled with mortadella and mozzarella, and a whole menu of toasties, like Reubens, kimchi cheese, and Caprese.
Palms Coffee is open now at Pollard Yard near Holt Town tram stop.
Thomas Melia -
29th January 2025 
