Award-winning Manchester pie shop Ate Days A Week has closed
"I took a risk, I took a shot and sometimes these things don’t work out and that’s life sadly. Would I change anything? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Right now, I’m saying no"
Five-time British Pie Awards winner Ate Days A Week has closed its Manchester city centre pie shop for good after less than a year.
Having first opened in a former chip shop in Stockport, the music-themed pie shop quickly rose to dizzying heights – winning numerous awards and becoming the stuff of legend in Stockport.
As a result, post-pandemic the team decided to close their Vernon Street shop and up-sticks into Manchester city centre.
They took over the former Porky Pig unit by Manchester Town Hall in spring 2022 and received rave reviews from local foodies for their mouthwatering pies, roasts and breakfasts. But sadly, that chapter has now come to an end.
Sharing the news in a long, heart-rending Facebook post on Saturday night, chef-owner Andy James said that he had taken a risk opening the musical-themed pie shop, reflecting that ‘sometimes these things don’t work out’.
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Image: Ate Days A Week
Image: Ate Days A Week
In large part he blamed the cost of living crisis, saying that food and drink costs were ‘rising rapidly’ and ‘utilities are absolutely out of control’, before adding that ‘the landscape of our economy is so obscured it’s frightening.’
The post also spoke of the toll the situation had taken on Andy personally, referring to ‘many sleepless nights’ spent ‘worrying, stressing and searching for ways this could be avoided.’
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And of course, being a musical-themed restaurant, there were a few cheeky song lyrics worked in to ensure Ate Days A Week’s goodbye post was on brand: opening with lyrics Leonard Cohen’s Closing Time and closing with words from Taylor Hawkins’ favourite Foo Fighters track, Aurora.
Despite the sad news, however, Andy insisted that it wasn’t all doom and gloom: reassuring fans that there had been no job losses as they had been able to create roles for the full team at their other venues.
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He added that he will be reopening the newly-refurbished Notion next weekend and has plans to bring Ate Days A Week’s Award Winning Pies to delivery platforms throughout Stockport and surrounding areas ‘soon’.
The ‘McPie’ at Ate Days A Week. / Image: Ate Days A Week
The ‘McPie’ at Ate Days A Week. / Image: Ate Days A Week
Commenting that ‘there’s no time to sit around moping’, he also confirmed that Ate Days A Week Pies will be available at venues including Stockport Country football ground, Blinker Bar, Bask, Lawing Deli and more.
Since sharing the post on Saturday evening, it has been liked over 200 times on Facebook alone with people quick to comment with their commiserations.
Badly’s PIes wrote: “Keep your head held high mate.. As you know we are in the same position & having to down size. To me I don’t see failure.. I see a failed government that hasn’t tried to prevent this. Every day I look online places are shutting. It’s a real shame but if we get through this… Which we will, things will be amazing going forward. Here if you need a chat anytime buddy Alex”
Vicky Sweeney-West wrote: “Sorry to hear this … But very happy to see you still have links at County. Treated ourselves to your lamb pie last time out. Mum said best pie she’s ever had … She’s 75 and has eaten many pies!! Keep going mate… Everything works out in the end.”
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Gail Hilton added: “So sorry Andrew, in the time you were there, you made a lot of people very happy with your food, which was exceptional, the economic climate is harsh right now, you poured your heart and soul into your business and understandably the decision you made was crippling, but it’s the right one. Good luck with your new venture, take care.”
As well as holding a number of awards for its pies, Ate Days A Week had recently been named one of the top ten roast dinners in the UK by Rate Good Roasts. Its pies will continue to be available at other outlets across Greater Manchester, despite the closure of the city centre shop.
Feature image – The Manc Group
Eats
Inside Popeyes as fried chicken restaurant opens its first Manchester drive-thru
Daisy Jackson
Popeyes is ready to open its first-ever Greater Manchester drive-thru restaurant, where you can pick up its legendary Louisiana-style fried chicken and shakes.
To celebrate its launch, Popeyes will be giving away free chicken sandwiches for a year to the first people in the queue – and when it launched at Piccadilly Gardens, someone waited outside for 16 hours.
People really love this chicken…
In the blink of an eye, the colourful orange and blue building has taken shape on Bury New Road, where hungry diners can pick up meals in the drive-thru or order ahead for curbside collection.
Customers dining in can order through a QR code or touch-screens, before sitting down at one of the many orange booths to tuck into trays piled high with sandwiches, tenders, mac and cheese, and more.
There are 72 indoors plus an outside dining area, dual-ordering lanes, and designated bays for pre-orders.
Popeyes is famed for its viral ‘shatter crunch’-coated fried chicken, its Southern US biscuits and gravy, and its brekkie menu where British classics are given a New Orleans twist.
Inside Greater Manchester’s new Popeyes drive-thru
The doors and lanes to the new chicken shop will officially open on Friday 26 April at 11am.
The first three people queueing both on foot and in cars will win free chicken sandwiches for a year, and the first 25 in both queues will get a free chicken sandwich and exclusive merch.
This new Popeyes marks the brand’s 11th opening in 2024, and 47th since launching in the UK in 2021.
You’ll find it at 288-292 unit Bury New Rd, M7 2YJ, right next to the McDonald’s and Tim Horton’s on the border of Prestwich.
Skof, Manchester’s most hotly-anticipated restaurant, confirms opening date and menu prices
Daisy Jackson
A restaurant with a serious Michelin pedigree is set to open in Manchester very soon, as chef Tom Barnes readies to launch Skof and gives a glimpse into its menu.
Tom’s impressive CV includes time spent at L’Enclume, the three-Michelin star Lake District restaurant widely considered one of the best in the world, and he’ll bring that same farm-to-table ethos to the city centre with his debut restaurant.
Skof will be taking over a historic building in the NOMA neighbourhood, right by Manchester Victoria, with an official opening date now locked in.
Skof is set to launch on Wednesday 29 May, with bookings going live today and tables available all the way through to 14 September (and likely to fill up fast).
Tom Barnes has also teased what’s to come on his menu, with two different tasting menus available.
Skof will have a 12-course tasting menu priced at £120, and a 15-course menu for £165 – plus a £50, four-course lunch offering.
The restaurant will be owned and operated by Tom but falls under Simon Rogan’s UMBEL Restaurants group, and he’ll be weaving in new suppliers as well as using daily deliveries of produce grown specifically for him from Simon Rogan’s Our Farm in the Cartmel Valley.
He’ll be using small-scale suppliers such as Cinderwood Market Garden in Nantwich and Lake District Farmers to fill his exciting menu of home-grown dishes.
The first set of menus will include dishes like roasted Sladesdown duck, peach leaf, Ibis celeriac, and wholemeal bread; Berkswell cheese sable biscuit, crushed broad beans, whipped roe, and bronze fennel; and a lightly set custard, served with Hen-of-the-Woods mushrooms, truffle, and mushroom dashi.
Tom Barnes with the team outside Skof, a new restaurant opening in Manchester in May which has confirmed its launch date and menu prices. Credit: Supplied
There’ll be a lot of thought that goes in to the drinks pairings too, working with restaurant manager Sean Oakford and assistant restaurant manager Max Lawrence (both ex-L’Enclume), on a range of drinks options to include alcohol-free or mixed-alcohol pairings, or matching wines to go with the menu.
Tom has also collaborated with Manchester brewery, Track to create Sidney, a light and refreshing beer intended as an alternative to kick off the meal.
Tom Barnes said: “It’s been a long time coming, so I’m excited to be able to finally release our reservations. I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on and to return some of the incredible hospitality I’ve received from the people of Manchester.
“With Skof, my purpose is to create an incredible experience that focuses on great quality ingredients but above all, puts a smile on peoples faces.”
Skof will open in Manchester’s NOMA district on Wednesday 29 May.
Georgina Pellant -
23rd January 2023 
