Legendary burger restaurant Almost Famous has said it’s ‘so grateful’ after it received a huge outpouring of support from customers following a vulnerable post.
The restaurant had said that one of its most beautiful locations was ‘struggling’, and they feared they would have to say goodbye to it for good.
In a heartfelt statement shared online and addressed to people living in south Manchester suburbs, Almost Famous shared a ‘mini cry for help, not a beg’ to help its Withington restaurant keep the doors open.
And just one day later, the burger joint confirmed that the people of Withington ‘pulled through’.
Customers were waiting outside the restaurant before the doors were even open on Wednesday night.
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With just one incredibly honest post, Almost Famous went ‘from an empty restaurant to fully packed’.
They’ve since said that they are ‘so overwhelmed at the support, adding: “I’m not crying it’s the hay fever.”
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Inside Almost Famous in Withington. Credit: The Manc Group
Almost Famous also wrote: “OMG Manchester, this is what makes us special and beautiful, a city that takes care of its own and feels like a giant family. So overwhelmed at the support.
“We love you all so much and you know we are there for you like you are for us.”
Almost Famous opened last year inside a beautiful Grade II-listed building in Withington, which had previously (very briefly) been The Libertine pub.
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Inside, it serves the huge burgers the brand is famed for across the UK, and now also has pool tables, big screens for the Euros, and plenty of food and drink offers.
Their initial post said: “Calling all people of Withington, Chorlton, Fallowfield, Didsbury, South Manchester and beyond! This is a mini cry for help, not a beg. Almost Famous Withington is struggling, it’s the most beautiful of our sites, and we adore it. But we need your love and support to keep its doors open.
“Opening in the suburbs hasn’t been like anything we’ve done before, and while we’re rockin it on Deliveroo, there’s just not enough people coming through to experience the magic in the restaurant. We get it, times are tough for everyone, so we’ve been offering 50% off burgers all the time to give our baby a much-needed boost.
Burgers at Almost Famous in Withington. Credit: The Manc Group
“Withington is the coolest place with an incredible community vibe, and we’re proud to be part of it. It would be heartbreaking to say goodbye, so come down, show some love, grab a half-price burger and have a good time.”
Almost Famous later wrote: “Our hearts are full, we’re so grateful, OMG Manchester, this is what makes us special and beautiful, a city that takes care of its own and feels like a giant family.
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“So overwhelmed at the support. From an empty restaurant to fully packed tonight this is mental and amazing. We love you all so much and you know we are there for you like you are for us.
“We’ll be back at it from midday tomorrow with half price burgers all day. We’re also going to extend our half price birthday burger sale for another month, so you can get 50% off your favs all through June
“We know times are tough for everyone at the moment and we just want to make people happy and make burgers!! Thanks for letting us do this and spreading the word – let’s keep it going and save Withington.”
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Burger King is giving away free burgers to new drivers today
Emily Sergeant
Burger King will be giving away burgers to drivers who have recently passed their tests for free of charge today.
In case it wasn’t on your radar, tomorrow (Thursday 24 July) is actually National Drive-Thru Day, and in a bid to properly celebrate this unofficial holiday, Burger King has decided to hand out a bunch of freebies to newbies today.
The fast food chain is asking all new drivers to “buckle up”, head on down to their nearest Burger King drive-thru, and help themselves to a free burger.
All newly-qualified drivers will be able to take their pick from either the Whopper or Chicken Royale without parting ways with a penny, and all they’ll need to do the claim their freebie is simply show off their learner’s ‘L Plates’ to the staff at their local Burger King restaurant.
/ Credit: Burger King UK (via Instagram) | Supplied
Hundreds of Burger King drive-thrus across the UK are taking part in the one-day promotion – including several across in Greater Manchester.
Although it might seem a little too good to be true, there’s a reason Burger King has chosen to dish out the freebies, and that’s because the company says it knows that one of the first activities newly-qualified drivers like do once they’ve passed their test is make a pit stop at a drive-thru with their mates to show off their new wheels and skills.
Sometimes though, navigating a drive-thru for the first time can be tricky, and this leaves new drivers feeling a bit like a rabbit in the headlights.
Luckily with this one-day Burger King offer, new drivers’ first drive-thru trip couldn’t be any easier.
The offer is available nationwide today (Wednesday 24 July) at Burger King drive-thru lanes only, while stock lasts, and newly qualified drivers must verbally mention “BK Plates” at the drive-thru lane to unlock their free burger.