A new deli in Ancoats has opened its doors, with shelves stuffed with wine, cheeses, meats, and essentials (… though all of those things are essentials in our book).
Ancoats Deli is tucked away in the heart of the neighbourhood, on a quiet street behind the Royal Mills building.
The pretty green venue is serving up grab-and-go treats like focaccia sandwiches, salads and even takeout cheese and meat boxes to come soon.
The bread used in these impressive butties comes from much-loved bakery Companio, with fillings including the classic Jambon Beurre with or without mustard, Reuben with pastrami, and an Egg Sandwich of soft boiled eggs, jammy yolks, Dijonnaise and watercress.
It’s a bit of a hidden sun trap too, and there are bistro tables outside where you can sit and nurse a spritz, a glass of wine or a coffee.
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They’ll be crafting cheese and charcuterie boards too, with produce sourced from The Crafty Cheeseman and Yapp Bros. Boards will start from £16 and glasses of wine from just £5.20.
Ancoats Deli will also have a stocked pantry of essentials, where you can pick up milk, eggs, dinner ingredients and a bottle of wine to takeaway.
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The best bit though? The venue’s meal deal, where you can get a sandwich, coffee or a soft drink, plus crisps or a serving of olives for £10.
Inside Ancoats Deli. Credit: The Manc GroupSpritzes at Ancoats Deli. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Ancoats Deli meal deal. Credit: The Manc GroupAncoats Deli is also serving cheese and charcuterie boards. Credit: The Manc GroupSandwiches are made with bread from Companio. Credit: The Manc GroupAncoats Deli from the outside. Credit: The Manc Group
Co-founder India Morris said: “Lunch time in Ancoats can often be a little tricky, it’s a foodie destination packed full of amazing restaurants and bars, but we felt there was a gap for somewhere to pick up a really good, affordable sandwich or salad.
“We don’t want it to be fancy, we want Ancoats Deli to provide a place where residents and those working locally, can pick up a tasty sarnie deal, without breaking the bank.
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“Our evening offering reflects the same idea. We have spent countless hours listening to our friends talk about wanting charcuterie or snacks with their post work or Saturday afternoon drinks, so we decided to do it.
“Our wines are great, but affordable and our cocktail menus are simple and accessible. We wanted to create a space where everyone can come, feel comfortable and just have a lovely time with a pint. Fingers crossed the sunshine stays long enough.”
You’ll find Ancoats Deli just off Murray Street, in between Redhill Street and Jersey Street.
Huge bakery chain Gail’s confirms move to Prestwich – but spells village’s name wrong in signs
Daisy Jackson
After months of swirling rumours, bakery group Gail’s has finally confirmed it’s moving to Prestwich – but locals have spotted a glaring error at the first hurdle.
The popular artisan bakery will be moving onto Bury New Road, right in the heart of the suburb and directly opposite the new Rudy’s pizzeria.
Prestwich locals have been hearing whispers of a Gail’s arriving for a few months, and finally the London-founded cafe has stuck up signs to confirm it’s on the way.
But the sign contains one crucial mistake – it’s spelled Prestwich wrong.
The red window displays now read ‘Hello Preswich. We’ll be baking here soon’.
One local messaged Gail’s to point out the error and to say it’s ‘not a great first impression for the locals…’.
Gail’s has since confirmed it’s in the process of fixing the signs.
The arrival of both Gail’s and Rudy’s has already caused a stir in Prestwich, which has always been fiercely independent and has only a handful of chains within it (Greggs and Costa are perched by the tram stop).
In fact, one local business-owner shared a moving statement about his concerns for the future of local businesses just a few weeks ago.
Gail’s has confirmed it’s opening a bakery in Prestwich. Credit: The Manc Group
First formed in the early 1990s as a wholesale-only operation, Gail’s opened its first cafe on Hampstead High Street in 2005.
Today the brand has more than 100 sites spread across London, Oxford, Brighton and further afield, and is known more as a customer-facing cafe and bakery.
It’s famed for its freshly-baked loaves, cinnamon buns, ham and cheese croissants and coffees, and is likely to go down a storm in Prestwich.
But the signs have been causing a bit of a stir in the wrong way this weekend – in a local Facebook group, one person commented: “Not locals who own it then.”
Another described it as an ‘epic fail’.
And one person said: “Oh the DRAMA of it all.”
Someone else joked: “I cannot wait for Gais to come to Preswich.”
Hot Blobs – Retro drink makes return to Manchester Christmas Markets, but what is it?
Daisy Jackson
It’s funny how we all turn a blind eye to the temperature outside when it comes to the Christmas Markets.
At a time of year where should probably all be hibernating inside, droves of us instead head out to brave the elements all in the name of the festivities.
Of course, the Manchester Christmas Markets sell all sorts of wares to take the edge off, and we’re not just talking about the stalls selling woollen mittens everywhere.
Our favourite winter warmers tend to take the form of a tray of piping hot garlic potatoes, or a mug of hot chocolate, or another boozy beverage that’s massively underrated.
The drink in question is a Hot Blob, which is listed on the menu at the Piccadilly Gardens markets as ‘legendary’.
A bold claim, but a lot of long-time Manc residents will understand why.
The Hot Blob is a jaw-clenchingly sweet concoction served piping hot at the Manchester Christmas Market, similar to a hot toddy.
It’s made with Australian fortified white wine, lemon, sugar, and boiling water.
Hot Blobs – Retro drink makes return to Manchester Christmas Markets, but what is it? Credit: The Manc Group
The drink was first invented by Yates, that well-known pub chain, which started life as Yates’s Wine Lodge up the road in Oldham.
According to Pubs of Manchester, the Hot Blob has a tendency to ‘speed up drunkenness to a young drinker’.
These days, it’s pretty rare to come across one on a menu, but back in 1990s it was a staple in a few pubs around town.
There even used to be a ‘Blob Shop’ on High Street, run by local legend Ged Ford (now in charge of the equally legendary Millstone pub), which found itself in a state of utter carnage when the IRA bomb went off.
The long-lost institution specialised in ‘cheap wine, cheap beer, and plenty of blobs’.
The old Yates Blob Shop on High Street, Manchester. Credit: deltrems@flickr
Ged sold 6,000 a week.
And while the drink may have fallen out of favour since then, there are still healthy numbers being sold at this time of year, even if they are a damn sight more expensive than they were in the 1990s (£6 a pop, plus a glass deposit).
Anyway. If you’re sick to the back teeth of the endless gluhwein being peddled across the markets, make a beeline for Manchester Winter Ale House at Piccadilly Gardens, where you can find Hot Blobs as well as boozy Vimto and cask ales.
The Manchester Christmas Markets officially end on 22 December.
Daisy Jackson -
23rd July 2024 
