Iconic Manchester-born burger and shake bar Archie’s has announced it will finally be opening in the Trafford Centre next week after a what has been a turbulent year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
But a series of unfortunate hold-ups as a result of the ongoing pandemic have meant the opening of the new restaurant – which was initially slated to take place in April – was postponed on a number of occasions, with legions of hungry fans just awaiting a confirmed date.
And, after over 10 months, it’s finally been confirmed that doors will open on Tuesday 8th December inside the mall’s The Orient food court.
What’s more is that this new branch will be Archie’s flagship and biggest store in the UK too.
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Speaking on the new Trafford Centre restaurant – which will “taken to the next level” – back in January, Imran Shezad – CEO at Archie’s – said: “The Trafford Centre restaurant is going to be the flagship store, it will be really cool – very Instagrammable.
“We’ve got a room with pink banana swings and a ball pit just for that.”
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The new location was also set to include a pink room with a ball pit, and will also have swings which will provide “playful posing opportunities”, however it’s believed some of these facilities will be out of action for the time being due to COVID-safety precautions.
It’s safe to say the well-known fast food brand is a Mancunian icon at this point, famous not just for its creative and wide-ranging menu of burgers, shakes, waffles and more, but also for its amazing-award winning bright pink Instagrammable interiors, which has made it prone to regular celebrity visits.
People flock from all over for the Archie’s experience.
The beloved brand started out 10 years ago on Oxford Road in the city centre, and has gone from strength to strength ever since, now with four branches in Manchester and one each in Liverpool and Birmingham.
Two other restaurants are also planned to open in Manchester Airport and Leeds in 2021.
The constant innovation of the menu and brand has continued to keep Archie’s relevant, and its massive expansion over the past few years is testament to the group’s extremely hard work.
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Archie’s Manchester The Trafford Centre will open on Tuesday 8th December 2020.
Unit R7A, 132-134, The Orient, Trafford Centre, Manchester.
You can find more information about Archie’s, as well as menus, takeout/delivery options, and COVID-safety precautions via its website here.
Eats
Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as naughty
Danny Jones
A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked that finally landed in Manchester this month – or, more accurately, the massive lines that followed.
Well, what if we told you were about to do the same all over again very soon?
We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…
Credit: Get Baked (via Instagram)
Yes—scratch that; HELL YES! Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.
Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?
Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar’, people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.
With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.
Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”
In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:
Our friends over at The Hoot weren’t lying when they said this place was going to make a big splash when it landed in 0161 – and no, we won’t be telling you how much we’ve spent there already.
As for the Pistachio Bertha, Get Baked has confirmed that although there will only be a limited amount of portions up for grabs, it will be available both in person and to order online.
Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”
We’re also glad to hear she is on the mend following a recent health scare; we hope she eats as many slices of Pistachio Bertha as possible to celebrate. Big love and stay healthy – The Manc x
Featured Images — Get Baked (via Instagram)/The Manc Group
Eats
Cult burger brand Burger & Beyond announced as second trader for new Manchester food hall
Daisy Jackson
House of Social, a new two-storey food hall being built in Manchester, has just announced its second trader as Burger & Beyond.
The huge new development, part of Vita’s new student accommodation tower, had already confirmed that Curry Mile legends Mughli will be moving in when it launches.
And now it’s been announced that cult burger brand Burger & Beyond will be opening its first location outside London here in Manchester.
Set to open this summer in the First Street area, House of Social will bring together independent food offerings from around the UK.
It’s all being created by Jake Atkinson, the former operations manager of the widely popular Mackie Mayor, Altrincham Market and Macclesfield’s Picturedrome – all of which serve as the blueprint for a successful food hall.
Jake said: “We are incredibly excited to have Burger & Beyond join us at House of Social. Their reputation for quality and consistency is second to none, and they’ve been on my list for a very long time!
“We know they’ll be a huge hit with our community of students and food lovers in the city. This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to bring them to Manchester this summer.”
Burger & Beyond started life as a food truck a decade ago, popping up at street food markets and enterprises like Street Feast and KERB, now argued by many to be the best burgers in London, served alongside a menu of milkshakes and sides like fried chicken bites.
Burger & Beyond is coming to Manchester. Credit: Lateef PhotographyFried chicken bites from Burger & Beyond
They’ve also collaborated with the likes of social sensation Laurent Dagenais, Flat Iron, Richard Turner and Smokestak.
Burger & Beyond founders Tom Stock and Craig Povoas went on to open their first permanent restaurant in Shoreditch in 2018, expanding further to Borough Yards and Soho.
And now it’s Manchester’s turn to see what all the Burger & Beyond fuss is about.
A signature dish heading up north to House of Social will be the bacon butter burger – dry aged beef patty, double American cheese, crispy pancetta, burnt butter mayo and onion.
Tom Stock, Co-Founder of Burger & Beyond, commented: “After years of dreaming about bringing Burger & Beyond to new cities, we’re thrilled to finally be making our Manchester debut at House of Social.
“The city has such a vibrant food scene, and we’re looking forward to sharing our burgers with a whole new audience. It’s going to be a fantastic summer!”
Burger and Beyond will open at House of Social, First Street in Summer 2025.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd December 2020 
