Eats

Archie’s will open on Christmas Day to feed the homeless in Manchester

The takeaway will be performing a noble service - opening the doors of its city centre store on 25 December to provide food for people in need.

The Manc The Manc - 23rd December 2020

Manchester’s wildly popular burger and shakes diner Archie’s has revealed it will be opening its doors on Christmas Day to help feed homeless people in the city.

A distinctive presence in the city for its head-turning, bright-pink branding, the takeaway has become a real cult favourite among locals and celebs alike over the past few years.

Many famous faces have been known to mingle among the packed seating areas from time to time – including Floyd Mayweather, Kevin Hart and The Game.

Despite the restrictions imposed on the hospitality sector in 2020, Archie’s has continued to enjoy a strong year – adding new branches in Piccadilly and the Trafford Centre to its existing restaurants on Oxford Road.

But this Christmas, the diner will be performing a noble service – opening the doors of its city centre store on 25 December to provide food for people in need.

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Archie’s will be serving grub from its 72 Oxford Road venue between 1pm and 4pm – including burgers, fries and drinks.

Imran Rafiq, a director at Archie’s, said: “After the hard year we’ve had, we wanted to give back by opening our doors on Christmas day for people who may not be able to have a meal.

“In past, we’ve worked with homeless charities before through the Archie’s foundation.”

Eats

Salon Madre – A new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester

A new tequila bar and pool hall is set to open in Manchester in a couple of weeks, from the same team behind Madre.

The huge new space, Salon Madre, will be serving up the tacos and burritos that have made the Mexican restaurant at Kampus so well-loved.

And all that’s alongside a drinks menu that centres around tequila, including frozen, classic and flavoured margaritas and palomas.

Can’t stomach tequila? There’ll also be wines on draft, Corona and local beers.

The food menu will show off signature dishes like al pastor tacos, with daily rotating specials, plus Gringas, nachos and Madre’s huge burritos.

Salon Madre has taken over a spot just off Kampus’s lush garden that was previously home to a Seven Brothers taproom, right next door to Madre itself.

Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

As well as all the Mexican food and drink goodness, the bar will have four pool tables and will be screening Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) and American sports.

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The dream is to bring the fun and liveliness of a Mexican pool hall to the heart of Manchester, in this beautiful spot right near Piccadilly and Canal Street.

Salon Madre will open on 6 December at Kampus, with bookings for Christmas groups and parties now available.

Follow @Salon.Madre for more info. 

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Featured image: Supplied

Eats

First look at Stow as beautiful new open-fire restaurant opens in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Inside Stow, a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

A brand-new restaurant is set to open in Manchester this week, from the same team behind the Northern Quarter’s well-established Trof.

Stow is opening on Bridge Street this Friday, bringing live fire cooking and a seasonal menu, plus plenty of local beers to the mosaic-clad spot in the city centre.

The new Stow site has, at various points over the last few years, been a Grindsmith coffee shop, Thai BBQ Neon Tiger, and Juicebox wine bar.

We’ve had a sneak peek inside today ahead of its official launch later this week, and the Stow team have transformed this place into a cosy, relaxed restaurant space.

There are low pendant lights, white brick walls, and a beautiful tiled bar, in an understated and neutral interior.

As for the food, the entire Stow menu will be cooked over a custom-built grill from Firemade in Somerset, fuelled by wood and charcoal, with a concise menu of meet and fish plus veg-centric sides and snacks sourced from the ‘best produce they can get their hands on’.

Stow will be owned and operated by Matt Nellant and Jamie Pickles from Trof, who want to celebrate the ‘simplicity of great ingredients cooked over open fire with very little faff’.

The wine list will be exclusively French but the beer list will show off local breweries, and cocktails will feature classics with a twist like a Cremant Cocktail.

Inside Stow, a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Stow, a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Stow, a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

Jame and Matt both come with a proper hospitality pedigree.

Jamie left restaurant management in 2018 to return to his hometown in the Peak District, working in The Devonshire Arms pub in Pilsley before holding a kitchen residency at Saint Francis Provisions in Kinsale, Ireland.

Once back in Manchester, he’s been developing dishes and writing menus for various restaurants, including Trof.

Dishes at Stow are seasonal and cooked over open fire. Credit: The Manc Group
Dishes at Stow are seasonal and cooked over open fire. Credit: The Manc Group
Stow is a new restaurant from the team at Trof. Credit: The Manc Group
Stow is a new restaurant from the team at Trof. Credit: The Manc Group

Matt took over as general manager of Trof and eventually acquired the business from Mission Mars in 2020.

His career started in cocktail bartending but includes management roles for large groups like Living Ventures and Revolution.

Stow will open to the public on 22 November on Bridge Street in Manchester.

You can make a booking HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

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