Eats

Aitch surprises Manchester fans as he’s spotted flipping McDonalds burgers

Not your average Tuesday afternoon burger trip.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 1st August 2023

Moston rapper Aitch surprised fans in Manchester city centre today after he was spotted flipping burgers for McDonald’s.

The Shake It star, 23, stepped away from the studio and instead spent Tuesday afternoon serving up McDonald’s new McCrispy Deluxe burgers to crowds from a pop-up burger van in Spinningfields.

Aitch, real name Harrison Armstrong, was dressed in a black t-shirt and cap as handed out boxes of burgers and fries alongside members of McDonald’s staff.

He was also seen chatting to customers as they came up to the van, saying: “here you go Sir, there you go Sir,” before pausing for a photograph with the McDonald’s team.

Asked what he thought of the new McCrispy Deluxe burgers he told a customer: “It’s nice. It really is though, I’m not just saying that.”

Image: The Manc Group
aitch mcdonalds
Image: The Manc Group

The appearance from Aitch was to promote McDonald’s new McCrispy burger, which is being released in the UK tomorrow and puts a summer twist on one of the fast food restaurant’s most popular menu items.

The new chicken burger features 100% chicken breast fillet in a crispy, crunchy coating with a tantalizing combination of hot and spicy mayo. The new McCrispy Deluxe is also topped with bacon to give customers ‘a new taste sensation.’

Read more: A cult American cookie chain that delivers until 3am is coming to Manchester

It’s not the first time that Aitch has surprised fans by popping up at a fast food shop, either.

In 2021, the Moston rapper shocked followers with a surprise secret gig inside Subway sandwiches on Manchester Piccadilly Approach before handing out sandwiches he had made himself to the crowd.

Evidently, he likes a good, quick, tasty scran – and who are we to argue?

Read more: Manchester rapper Aitch launches free train travel scheme for under-25s

McDonald’s McCrispy burger really feels like one of the most hyped fast food items of the summer, and after this appearance, we’re sure the Deluxe is going to be doing bits too.

Featured image – The Manc Group

Eats

Ancoats bar Sammy’s closes after ‘online smear campaign’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Ancoats bar Sammy's closes after 'online smear campaign'

A popular late-night bar in Ancoats has announced its official closure after several months of silence.

Sammy’s Bar, which was styled as a retro 70’s diner and stayed open into the early hours, has said the bar ‘is officially no longer’.

In a statement shared on the bar’s Instagram stories, founder Sammy Shonn said that there was been an ‘online smear campaign’ and has decided to sell the bar ‘for my own mental wellbeing’.

All posts on the Sammy’s Instagram feed have now been deleted.

The account, and the bar itself, will now be transferred to new owners.

Sammy’s opened in 2019 and was a popular, hidden-bar-style spot for late-night cocktails and DJs.

Their full statement reads: “It’s with regret that I inform you Sammy’s is officially no longer.

“Whilst I vehemently maintain my total innocence against all of the hurtful allegations made against me and my character in a recent online smear campaign, for my own mental wellbeing, I’ve made the difficult decision to sell the bar, along with all its associated assets, including this social media account.

“Thank you to everyone for your custom, your love and your support since 2019.

“Together we created something special. I am now transferring this account to the new owners, who I am sure will post something shortly regarding their plans.”

Read more

Featured image: Supplied

Eats

An indulgent trip to Northcote – Lancashire’s Michelin-starred gem doing fine dining the northern way | Review

Will Kendrick Will Kendrick

Some meals are just meals. Others stay with you, not just because the food is great, but because the whole experience feels special.

That’s exactly how I felt after spending an evening at the well-renowned Michelin Star restaurant, Northcote – tucked away in the beautiful Ribble Valley countryside.

The place itself is stunning. Northcote is a countryside manor that manages to feel grand without being stuffy, and not to mention the views are picture-perfect too. A pre-meal perch on the terrace outside with a glass of non-alcoholic elderflower spritz set me up for a perfect afternoon.

But of course, I wasn’t there just for the scenery. I was invited to dine in a private dining room with an open kitchen, where Great British Menu star and MasterChef: The Professionals judge, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, and her incredible team cooked right in front of us. Lisa recently returned to lead the kitchen after a brief time away, and so this meal felt like a celebration of her return. From the moment she stepped into the kitchen, it was clear she was exactly where she belonged.

Lisa Goodwin-Allen at Northcote
Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Chef Patron and Director at Northcote / Credit: Jonny Lake (Supplied)

The menu was thoughtful, seasonal, and beautifully put together. Every course felt carefully considered, with bold flavours but nothing fussy or overdone.

Words from Lisa herself endorse this, as she says: “This menu reflects everything the Northcote kitchen stands for – a deep respect for produce, a commitment to innovation and a passion for pushing culinary boundaries. It’s elegant, playful and full of flavour and more than that, it’s significant, because it marks the start of a new era.”

My favourite course was the chilled Isle of Wight tomato. I’m absolutely hooked on goats cheese at the moment and it paired so well with the fresh tomatoes. The bread meant you could just rip it apart and scoop everything up so the plate was well and truly spotless afterwards. 

An honourable mention has to go to the beautifully-simple way we ended the meal too. Having been watching Wimbledon all week, I was craving some strawberries and cream. The strawberries were full of flavour, the elderflower gave a gentle lift, and the clotted cream made it feel indulgent. 

‘Northcote is more than just a place to eat, it’s an experience’ / Credit: The Manc Group

I was driving, so wine was off the cards… or so I thought. The sommelier had a whole non-alcoholic wine pairing option. One non-alcoholic pairing really stood out. It was a tea served in a wine glass, not just for the look, but because it shared the same flavour-enhancing compound found in wine.

During our afternoon of indulgent food and drink, Managing Director Craig Bancroft offered us an exclusive look at some of the exciting developments on the horizon at Northcote. These include a full refurbishment of the hotel’s bedrooms, a refreshed restaurant design with an expanded private dining area, and the addition of a brand-new on-site spa.

Plans are also underway to relaunch Northcote’s outside catering arm, with a focus on high-end, small-scale events such as private dinner parties and boutique corporate gatherings – all delivered with the same signature quality the brand is known for.

Read more:

Northcote is more than just a place to eat. It’s somewhere that brings together setting, service, and food in a way that feels personal and memorable. Whether you’re there for a special occasion or just looking to treat yourself, it offers an experience that’s hard to forget.

With Lisa Goodwin-Allen back at the helm of the ship, Northcote feels grounded, inspired, and full of promise.

Featured Image – Supplied

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