‘This chippy tea just isn’t quite big enough’, said no one ever – but Brewski’s gone and launched a new chippy-inspired platter anyway.
The much-loved Chorlton restaurant, famed for its outrageous boards and sharing platters, has now taken on the classic British takeaway favourite.
Enormous boards are piled high with battered fish, suet pudding, chip barms, mushy peas, scraps, and battered sausages – but all with a Brewski twist, naturally.
First up is the fish and chip staple, battered haddock. Here, it’s fried in a batter made with gin and Marmite, adding an umami flavour as well as a bit of colour.
And did you know that gin has a low boiling temperature, so it helps to get an even crispier batter platter.
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Next up on the £55 Batter Platter are the chip butties, supersized with buffalo chicken poutine and perfect skin-on salty fries.
Whatever sauce you go for on your chippy tea usually, Brewski has an elevated version.
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The chicken poutine chip butties on Brewski’s Batter PlatterHomemade katsu curry sauce
They’ve used a warming Katsu curry sauce and then made a gravy using the same base as their French onion soup, laced with brandy and port.
Another old-school staple is suet pudding – Brewski are serving theirs filled with beef shin and nduja ragu, which is steamed and brushed in garlic butter.
The battered sausage arrives with a coating of chipotle sour cream, bacon bits, and crispy onions, and the batter itself has tequila and nduja in it.
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And something you won’t see at most chippies, but which will have us running back to Chorlton at the drop of a hat, is the tacos made with mushy peas and scraps. Delicious.
The Batter Platter is available at Brewski in Chorlton now.
Brewski’s battered sausage on the Batter PlatterInside the delicious suet pudding. Credit: THe Manc Group
Glitzy Spinningfields bar famed for its bottomless deals shuts down
Daisy Jackson
Popular cocktail bar group Banyan has suddenly closed its glitzy bar in the heart of Spinningfields.
The restaurant and bar, which is part of the Arc Inspirations group that also operates Manahatta and Box, has shut down with immediate effect.
A sign has been posted in the window of the Spinningfields site of Banyan confirming its closure.
Banyan opened in 2018 and was the second site for the brand, which has been operating out of the Corn Exchange since 2015.
Inside, the huge 7,000sq ft space was split into spaces for drinking, dining and dancing, including a large mezzanine and a huge white marble bar.
Banyan is famed for its bottomless deals, whether that’s a classic bottomless brunch or their bottomless Sunday roast (endless Yorkshire puddings, gravy, wine, and roast potatoes).
It also offered two-for-one cocktails, all day every day.
The bar stands on the side of Spinningfields, directly opposite The Ivy and alongside The Alchemist.
Banyan in Spinningfields has shut downThe note in the window of Banyan
But now it has permanently closed its doors, thanking people for their custom over its almost-decade in Manchester.
The sign on the door says: “Banyan Spinningfields is now permanently closed.
“Thank you so much for your custom over the years, we’ve loved being part of this wonderful city and have made so many friends.
“Don’t be a stranger, we’d love to continue to welcome you to our Banyan bar in the Corn Exchange. Team Banyan.”
Bangkok Diners Club moves out of Ancoats just months after Michelin Guide win
Daisy Jackson
Bangkok Diners Club, the critically-acclaimed restaurant above the Edinburgh Castle pub, has closed its restaurant space.
The Thai restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide last October, not long after taking over the upstairs of the popular pub.
It also received a rave review in The Guardian from restaurant critic Grace Dent, who said it would be ‘one of Manchester’s hottest dining tickets’.
But now Bangkok Diners Club has decided its time in Ancoats is up, and has closed its beautiful restaurant space with immediate effect.
In an email sent to customers with reservations, they wrote that Bangkok Diners Club ‘sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle’.
Owners and husband-and-wife team Ben and Bo Humpheys aren’t leaving things there though, announcing plans to move into the Exhibition food hall on Peter Street.
Co-owner Ben Humphreys outside Bangkok Diners Club. Credit: The Manc GroupThe food earned them a place in the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
They’ll be joining MoreJoy and pasta concept Anatra in the space, but bidding farewell to their own dedicated restaurant for now.
The email sent to customers reads: “We have just noticed that the system has allowed you to make a reservation during a time that we are closed. We apologise that this has happened.
“Ben and Bo are cooking at Exhibition during 2026 and Bangkok Diners Club sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle.
“Sincerest apologies for all the inconvenience caused.”
Daisy Jackson -
21st February 2024 
