The Real Greek is opening its first northern restaurant in Manchester
Popular for its souvlaki wraps, halloumi fries and massive mezze selection, The Real Greek will take over the former Wahaca unit in Manchester's Corn Exchange
Popular greek restaurant The Real Greek is opening a new restaurant in Manchester, it has been revealed.
Part of the same restaurant chain as Franco Manca, it will take over the former Wahaca unit inside The Corn Exchange after choosing Manchester as its location for the group’s first restaurant in the north.
Incredibly popular down south, the restaurant is known for its amazing souvlaki wraps which come stuffed with a choice of Loukaniko sausage pork belly, pork skewer, halloumi, chicken, lamb meatballs, falafel with tahini or jackfruit, alongside chips, homemade tzatziki, and salad.
It also offers a huge selection of hot and cold mezze, including a grill section featuring the likes of grilled octopus with fava beans, chicken Monastiraki, beef and pork sausage skewers, aubergine, and vegan meatballs served in a tomato and cumin Soutzoukakia sauce.
Elsewhere, you’ll find crowd-pleasing favourites like halloumi fries, stuffed vine leaves, battered salt cod and Greek moussaka, plus spinach tiropitakia – handmade filo parcels stuffed with creamy leek, spinach and feta – and jackfruit stifado.
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The Real Greek Manchester will also offer a set dinner menu, Filoxenia, priced at £13.95 for a selection of four dishes. This will give you a choice of flatbread or crudites, a hot mezze, a cold mezze, three sides or salads – all for less than £15.
Further set menus listed include Tonia’s Selection, priced at £36 for two to share, and the slightly more expensive Santorini (£40), also designed for two to share.
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Image: The Real GreekImage: The Real Greek
As for desserts, think homemade baklava (crisp filo pastry drenched in honey and walnuts), Greek filo custard pie (a traditional dessert from Sérres, North Greece, known as Bougatsa), and a Grecian caramel, pecan and vanilla cheesecake.
On the wine list, you’ll find a good selection of Greek wines including a selection of delicious full-bodied reds produced on the slopes of Mount Vermion – one of the first AOC regions to be registered in Greece.
You’ll also find Ouzo on the list here – the popular dry anise-flavoured aperitif for which Greece is well known amongst holidaymakers.
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Image: The Real Greek
The new opening is part of a planned group expansion across the UK, which will also see The Real Greek open a second new site down in Kent.
Speaking on the new opening David Page, chairman of Fulham Shore, said: “Fulham Shore continues to experience growing sales across both our businesses. Many of our restaurants throughout the UK continue to break trading records on a regular basis.
“We are accelerating our growth in the UK and abroad. We continue to trade ahead of our own expectations and have a strong pipeline of exciting new locations.”
The opening date for the new site is still under wraps for now but make sure to follow them on Instagram for further updates.
Man jailed after killing three-year-old girl in crash between van and tram in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after killing a three-year-old little girl in a crash between a van and a tram in Manchester city centre.
It comes after emergency services responded to reports of a road traffic collision involving a tram and a van in Mosley Street in Manchester city centre at around 10am on Saturday (22 February), where it was found that the Mercedes van collided with the tram, forcing the van onto the pavement where it collided with a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a three-year-old girl, was rushed to hospital shortly after, but despite the best efforts of all involved, sadly passed away from her injuries.
She was later named as Louisa (Lulu) Palmisano.
The driver – who was later named as Rawal Rehman, of Lambton Road in Manchester – left his vehicle and fled the scene in a taxi, but was subsequently arrested in a restaurant two days after the incident (24 February) after officers traced him through documents found in his van.
He was arrested for causing death by dangerous driving, and chose to plead guilty to the charge at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday 22 April, before his sentencing took place today (27 May).
A man has been jailed after killing a three-year-old girl in crash between a van and a tram / Credit: The Manc Group | GMP
Rehman has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, as was also disqualified for 13 years and eight months until he passes a further test.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the tragedy was ‘completely avoidable’ and that Rehman’s ‘callous actions’ on that fatal day have changed a family’s lives forever, so he must now ‘face the consequences’ of his actions.
Lulu’s family also shared a powerful victim impact statement.
“Lulu was our only child and the centre of our world,” the statement reads. “Her joyful spirit, vivid imagination, and kind heart touched everyone who knew her. At just three years old, she brought more light and love than we ever thought possible. Her life was full of promise, and her loss is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.
“No parent should ever have to witness the death of their child. The impact of that single, devastating moment has rippled through every part of our existence, emotionally, physically, and financially.
“Our lives have changed beyond recognition.”
#JAILED | Rawal Rehman (28/11/1988) was sentenced to 12 years at Manchester Crown Court today for causing the death by dangerous driving of three-year-old Louisa (Lulu) Palmisano.
Rehman was arrested by officers two days after the fled the scene.
“Lulu’s memory lives on in us – in every act of kindness, in every moment of courage, and in every step we take forward. We will continue to speak her name, to celebrate who she was, and to ensure that her light is never forgotten.”
Featured Image – GMP
City Centre
A premium car brand is opening up its first-ever UK city garage in Manchester
Danny Jones
Premium performance car brand, CUPRA, is set to open its first-ever UK city centre garage right here in Manchester next month.
It’s just their 12th British branch and will be one of their most impressive yet.
CUPRA, which primarily makes its models in Spain, is one of the fastest-growing manufacturers in Europe, especially in the performance market, and has recently launched in the likes of Mexico City and Sydney too.
Now set to open their latest location here in England this June, the new CUPRA space is set to be more than just your average garage/car showroom.
Due to open up on St. Ann Street (Manchester M2 7LP) next to the city centre square of the same name, the premium dealer is promising more than just a space to show off their cars.
As per an official statement, it will be “a bold new destination that blends Mediterranean attitude with Manchester’s disruptive spirit.”
Detailing that they chose our home due to its “unrivalled cultural impact and creative energy”, they went on to describe Greater Manchester as a “high-impact cultural hub rooted in music, design, wellness, food, and electrifying performance, it’s designed to connect people, ideas, and communities.”
The press release goes on to explain that at the core of CUPRA’s Manchester launch will be their new ‘Counter Culture‘ calendar of immersive experiences and events, with this new venue looking to innovate when it comes to programming and collaborations with Manchester independents and more.
CUPRA have steadily been announcing their arrival in town via various special activations, but come 26 June, they’ll be here full-time.
The CUPRA Dark Rebel landed on UK shores recently at Diecast Manchester!
Speaking about the launch, Marcus Gossen, CUPRA UK Brand Director, said: “Manchester was the natural destination for the latest CUPRA City Garage. The desire to continually evolve and transform is something we share with this great city, as well as its disruptive spirit.”
Having surpassed 800,000 cars sold worldwide and boasting big sponsorship deals with famous athletes like FC Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas, not to mention being a leading partner of the rising Baller League competition, their presence in the UK is growing, and fast.
To mark the occasion here in 0161, a special launch event with live music, entertainment, as well as food and drink, will be taking place; the lineup is still yet to be announced.
Once again, CUPRA Manchester – their first UK city garage and showroom – opens in 2–14 St. Ann Street on Thursday, 26 June.
Georgina Pellant -
10th November 2021 
