Paperchase has opened a new shop in Manchester, and Mancs have said they could ‘weep for joy’.
The popular stationery brand collapsed into administration in early 2021 saying that lockdown restrictions had put ‘unbearable strain’ on retail businesses.
A big chunk of the business was saved but 37 stores had to close, including the huge flagship shop in Manchester city centre.
But while the three-storey St Mary’s Gate property is still empty, Paperchase has finally made a return to the city centre.
The new Paperchase shop has taken over the old Thorntons site in Manchester Arndale / Credit: The Manc Group
A brand new shop has opened in the Arndale shopping centre, taking over the old Thorntons site.
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It’s a much smaller site than the old flagship, but shoppers are still delighted at its return.
One person tweeted: “PAPERCHASE IS COMING BACK TO MANCHESTER IM GOING TO CRY.”
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Another wrote: “Paperchase is back in Manchester (Arndale) and I could weep for joy.”
Paperchase maintained a presence in the city with its concession inside Next.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
City Centre
A restaurant dedicated to garlic bread has opened in Manchester city centre
Georgina Pellant
A new restaurant dedicated to garlic bread has opened in Manchester, and it’s the stuff that dreams are made of.
A new arrival located in Shudehill, the eatery comes from the same team behind Swan Street pizzeria Ciaooo.
The team, famed for their fluffed-up sourdough crusts and burrata-topped pies, has spent the past five years wowing Manchester diners with its pizza, not to mention the likes of fun starters like deep-fried lasagne and carbonara.
Now they’re getting ready to do it all over again with loaded garlic bread – this time operating out of a unit in Shudehill, formerly home to Manchester’s X-rated d*ck waffle cafe Mr. D*cks.
Open from 12-6pm daily with a focus on the lunch rush, at the team’s new loaded garlic bread shop classic options include ‘plain’ with garlic butter and ‘cheese’ with butter, mozzarella and parmesan, priced between £5 and £5.50.
Inside Ciaooo’s new garlic bread shop. / Image: The Manc Eats
A gorgeous pesto and burrata topped garlice bread (foreground). / Image: The Manc Eats
From here, it gets even more exciting with the likes of ‘Cacio E Pepe’, ‘Pesto’, ‘Marinara’ and ‘Truffle’ loaded garlic bread all on offer.
We’re talking Ciaooo’s signature fluffy base, with a choice of added tomato, garlic, oregano, truffle, burrata, housemade pesto, parmesan, black pepper and more, with the most expensive loaded garlic bread priced at £6.50.
Elsewhere, you’ll find 10″ pizzettes – smaller versions of Ciaooo’s ever-popular pizzas – available from just £5-7.
Choices here include classics like Margherita and not one but two styles of Marinara, plus a Toscana (parma ham, truffle oil, parmesan), Chorizo (salami, chorizo, mozzarella), Calabrese (n’duja sausage and burrata) and The Smoked (smoked pepperoni, crispy onion and burrata).
Elsewhere, you can get your hands on hot slices of deep-fried lasagne, as well as Oreo milkshakes, hot coffees and cold fizzy cans of coke, San Pellegrino and more.
N’duja and Honey garlic bread (back) and Calabrese pizza. / Image: The Manc Eats
The Toscana Pizette loaded with parma ham, tomato, mozzarella, truffle oil, parmesan). / Image: The Manc Eats
Head chef Stefano Mordecchi comes with a strong pizza pedigree, having earned his crust at Double Zero in Chorlton before going on to open his own restaurants alongside Lory Grigore.
Previous successful ventures opened under the Ciaoo name include its popular but shortlived pasta stall inside Manchester Arndale Market.
Featured image – The Manc Eats
City Centre
Luxury Manchester hotel named one of the ‘best places to stay in the world’
Georgina Pellant
A luxury Manchester hotel has been named one of the best places to stay in the world after TripAdvisor revealed its 2023 list of top-rated hotel destinations.
Dakota Manchester on Ducie Street – which boasts a dedicated Champagne room, brandy and cigar garden, elegant private dining areas, and a stunning waterside brasserie – has been crowned the sixth-best hotel in the UK.
Appearing on a list of ‘the best places to stay in the world’, Dakota is representing the north west as the only hotel from the region to make the cut. It is also one of only three hotels in the top 10 not based in London.
Of Dakota Manchester’s 1,700 reviews, 1,557 are categorised as ‘excellent’ – with guests commenting on the hotel as being ‘outstanding’, ‘the best in Manchester’, and ‘absolutely unreal’.
Reviews also note the hotel’s stylish decor, comfortable beds and excellent service.
Dakota boasts a range of luxurious bedrooms, and also lays claim to the title of Manchester’s largest and most extravagant suite: the ‘Grand Deluxe’.
Image: Dakota
Image: Dakota
With 137 luxury bedrooms and 20 different luxury suits to choose from, it offers the largest range of premium bedrooms of any hotel in the city, as well as boasting its own glitzy cocktail bar, restaurant and waterside terrace.
Speaking on the award win, Matt Townley, Regional Operations Director at Dakota, commented: “It’s a real honour to have been recognised as one of the UK’s best hotels.
“This accolade is testament to the hard work of our exceptional team, who deliver memorable experiences for every guest.
“Our people are our passion, and we are incredibly grateful for all the glowing feedback they receive from our valued guests.”
“To be the sole property in the North West named in the Top 10 is an incredible honour – we are delighted to fly the flag for outstanding service in the region!”
Daisy Jackson -
10th November 2021 
