Five Greater Manchester street food markets have been named amongst the best in the UK, it has been revealed.
Yes, the top spot may have gone to Kommune in Sheffield but there are plenty of Greater Manchester places included in the list – including Bury Market and Northern Quarter favourite Mackie Mayor.
Other local food halls featured include Trafford’s Altrincham Market, Oxford Road’s Hatch, Piccadilly’s Freight Island, and the ever-iconic Bury Market.
Ranking at number three underneath Sheffield’s Kommune and Belfast’s St George’s Market is Mackie Mayor, which was praised for its rare breed steaks, fried chicken burgers, and flavoursome tacos, not to mention its location within a restored Grade II-listed building.
Elsewhere, Altrincham Market – run by the same team as Mackie Mayor – ranked at number 6 on the list whilst Hatch, Freight Island and Bury Market ranked at numbers 7, 8 and 9 respectively.
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Bury Market
Bury Seafoods
Image: The Manc Eats
The findings have come from new research commissioned by South Western Railway (SWR), which analysed each against their Google rating, number of Google reviews, Google search volume between Jan 2022 and May 2023, number of Instagram hashtags, and TikTok views.
The number one spot on the list, Kommune, is described as follows: “Kommune street food market can be found in a Grade II listed building in the city centre.
“It’s home to eight independent food traders including Fat Hippo which serves up stacked burgers and waffle fries, The Monkey Jar for a spicy fix of various Indian curries, and Edo Sushi which serves up sushi, sashimi, katsu curry, and other classic Japanese cuisine.
“Aside from the kitchens, there’s two bars, one beer stall and one coffee stall. Kommune accommodates vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diners.
“It also hosts a quiz night every Thursday at 7pm, salsa classes every Wednesday evening, and yoga and brunch the first Sunday of each month.”
Also featured at number 4 on the list is Sheffield’s Cutlery Works, which comes from the same operators behind Liverpool’s The GPO and Salford’s Kargo Mkt, which is set to open in Media City this month and is one of the most hotly anticipated new arrivals of the summer.
This Manchester bar serves a bottomless cheese fondue with endless beer and wine
Georgina Pellant
There’s a bar in Manchester serving a bottomless cheese fondue with endless wine and beer, and it honestly sounds like the perfect treat.
While it might scream cosy winter night in, with a huge outdoor terrace, The Mews is also a firm favourite during the summer months.
Add in a board of melt-in-the-mouth charcuterie, springy pieces of garlic sourdough and a host of crunchy cheese biscuits, and you’ve got yourself the ideal afternoon if you ask us.
But there’s more. Alongside all that cheese and meat and bread, included in the price of The Mews’ bottomless fondue, cheese lovers can also enjoy 90 minutes of non-stop drinks.
Bottomless cheese fondue at The Mews on Deansgate in Manchester. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Costing £37.50 each, included in the deal is a huge pot of melted Italian Fontina cheese served with homemade garlic croutons, sourdough crackers, and slices of British charcuterie.
You’ll also get to enjoy an hour and a half of endless pints of house pilsner and carafes of red or white wine to enjoy alongside.
Serving up to six people, the bottomless cheese fondue is available only when you pre-book, so make sure to get in touch ahead of your visit to let The Mews know that you’re coming.
If you’re not on the sauce, you can opt for the cheese fondue alone. Without the booze, it’s quite a bit cheaper at £25 for one, and £2.50 on top for any additional people who want to get stuck in.
Housed up on Deansgate Mews, just behind the main hustle and bustle of Deansgate, there’s plenty of space inside as well as a large, secluded terrace that is quite the suntrap (when the Manchester sun is shining).
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Georgina Pellant -
2nd August 2023 
