Ad Maiora, the sandwich business that started life in a Northern Quarter flat, is opening its first proper sandwich shop in town.
The beloved butty business – a firm favourite with Erling Haaland and the rest of the Man City team – has finally opened the doors to its own place for the first time.
Ad Maiora started life just a couple of years ago when owners, Sardinian couple Daniela Steri and Enrico Pinna, quit their jobs to dedicate their lives to sandwiches.
Since then, they’ve gone on to open up in Kargo Market in Salford Quays and have had half of Manchester obsessing over their authentic sandwiches.
Made with freshly-baked schiacciata – a Tuscan flatbread – and top-quality Italian ingredients, Ad Maiora is comfortably one of the city’s best sandwich spots.
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Daniela and Enrico are now ready to open up in the Northern Quarter, where they’ll join the likes of Siop Shop and Butcher’s Quarter over on Tib Street.
In their cosy new location, there are cabinets packed with fresh produce, window seats overlooking the busy street outside, and stacks of that freshly-made bread ready for cutting, heating and filling.
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Ad Maiora is opening its first sandwich shop in ManchesterInside Ad Maiora in Manchester
You’ll also find plenty of the shop’s biggest achievements proudly displayed, from photographs with Man City players to print-outs of news articles (including, yes, this piece by yours truly).
There’s a new meal deal in store too, where you can get one of these huge sandwiches with an Italian soft drink for £10.90, Monday to Thursday.
Ad Maiora is sticking to its tried-and-tested menu of Italian sandwiches, including Haaland’s (Parma ham, burrata, pesto, truffle oil, sundried tomatoes, pistachio and rocket), named after the Man City striker’s favourite.
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From the vegan-friendly La Nonna (red tapenade, artichokes, peppers, chilli oil and rocket) to a huge array of different cheesy and meaty delights, fillings include Mortadella, fennel salami, ‘nduja, burrata, truffle sauce, pistachios and loads more.
Ad Maiora officially opens its doors on Wednesday 26 February on Tib Street in the Northern Quarter, Manchester.
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Insomnia Cookies is giving away FREE cookies to anyone with these two names
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s late-night sweet treat spot Insomnia Cookies is dishing out freebies this week… but there’s a catch.
You have to be called one of two specific names to get one.
With the long bank holiday weekend upon us, those in-the-know will also have noticed that this Sunday isn’t just Easter Sunday, it also happens to be 4/20… and that means Insomnia Cookies is back with its ‘blazing’ £4.20 deal, giving you the chance to bag a box of four warm cookies while saving nearly £7 at the same time.
But even better still, if you happen to have either the first or middle name ‘Mary’ or ‘Jane’, then you can also get yourself a warm tasty cookie for free.
To mark both 4/20, and celebrate the launch of its newest strain of mouthwatering cookie, the Mary Jane, anyone called Mary or Jane can pop into either of Insomnia Cookies’ two Manchester city centre sites – Cross Street and University Green – show their valid ID with their name on, and walk alway with a cookie free of charge.
If you want to try the new Mary Jane cookie, then this limited-edition special is made up of a cookies n cream dough base, packed with rainbow sprinkles.
The freebie deal has been running all week, and you have up until 3am on Monday 21 April to take advantage of it.
Customers will be limited to one free cookie per day.
Insomnia Cookies is giving away free cookies to anyone with these two names / Credit: Insomnia Cookies UK
If you aren’t lucky enough to be called one of those two names though, then thankfully you can still make some great savings on a classic four-pack of cookies over the spring bank holiday weekend, and for every four-pack sold, £1 will be donated to Groundwork – a charity helping make Manchester greener for nature and for local people.
“We’re calling for Marys and Janes to join us to live the high life with free cookies all week,” commented Millie Ralston, Head of Marketing at Insomnia Cookies.
Daisy Jackson -
25th February 2025 
