Eats

‘Damn fine’ burger and steak restaurant Meatworks set to open at Circle Square

That's grill-iant, utterly grill-iant.

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 29th January 2025

A brand-new modern steak house is openings its doors in Manchester next month, and Meatworks has chosen Circle Square as the perfect location for its flagship UK restaurant.

Famed and respected for being burger specialists, they’re also the same team behind the hugely successful smash burger Boo and Midlands butchery, Halal Editions.

The new 52-cover casual restaurant space will be offering traditional burger patties and smash burgers, merging them with some incredible and unique flavours.

That’s alongside delicious steaks, and if you weren’t hungry enough already, their signature small plates like cheeseburger dumplings and slow-cooked short rib pancakes.

Manchester’s newest steakhouse is bringing some extraordinary offers with them too as guests can grab ‘Lunchtime value specials’ which includes a smash burger and fries for just £10. 

It’s going to become everyone’s go-to as not only does it cater to the fast-paced grab-and-go eating habits of the Manchester public, the evening brings a more relaxed dinner setting.

Meatworks will be an alcohol-free restaurant but the drink menu features mocktails like the kiwi mojito to the lychee and lemongrass mocktail.

The inside of Manchester's newest steak joint 'Meatworks'.
The inside of Manchester’s newest steak joint ‘Meatworks’. Credit: Supplied

Circle Square is quickly becoming the place with all the ‘IT Factor’ as just last month, viral bakery Half Dozen Other opened their newest site in this establishment.

The landmark neighbourhood, from Bruntwood SciTech and Vita Group, is in the heart of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor and centred around the beautiful Symphony Park.

Meatworks joins this rapidly-growing neighbourhood alongside Onda Pasta Bar, North Tap Room, Federal Cafe Bar, Detroit Slims, Ambers and Doug’s, who all take up residence in this site.

Charlotte Wild, Head of Retail & Leisure for Bruntwood SciTech, shared: “Meatworks represents yet another fantastic new reason to visit Circle Square.

“After an extraordinary year of new openings in 2024 we’ve built a vibrant community of hospitality innovators here on the Oxford Road Corridor, and it’s great to kick off 2025 with another great addition to the community.

“This independent, quality steak house and eatery will fit perfectly into the destination and we can’t wait to welcome them.”

Meatworks are shouting out about their 'Damn fine burgers' at Circle Square.
Meatworks are shouting out about their ‘Damn fine burgers’ at Circle Square. Credit: Supplied

Jake Atkinson, Head of Food & Beverage for Vita Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Meatworks to Circle Square. Known for their exceptional cuts, bold flavours, and attention to detail.

“Their arrival enhances the diverse dining scene at Circle Square, and we’re excited for Manchester to enjoy a new experience.”

Mohammed Suleman from Meatworks added: “We’re thrilled to be opening Meatworks and share our passion for great food with the people of Manchester. Burgers and high quality meats are in our DNA and we’re excited to bring our expertise to Circle Square and its growing community.

“The destination is the perfect location for our first opening in the city. We promise to offer bold flavours and innovative dishes and can’t wait to welcome our first customers.”

Meatworks is set to open on 5 February at Circle Square and will be open from Tuesday to Sunday between 12pm to 11pm every week with both walk-ins and bookings welcome.

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Featured Image: Publicity Picture (Supplied)

Eats

Bundobust and Madre announce bold new Indo-Mexican collaboration

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall Madre and Bundobust are teaming up

Two of Manchester’s best-loved casual dining spots are joining forces for a limited-edition collaboration.

Bundobust and Madre will be teaming up this summer to create a menu inspired by two world-famous street food cultures – India, and Mexico.

The Indo-Mexican menu will feature dishes like ‘Naanchos’, and plenty of other Desi-flavoured Mexican dishes.

It’ll be mashing up iconic ingredients, techniques, and flavours, with a menu of brand new spice-packed dishes and cocktails combining Desi and Mexican influence.

So, what can we expect?

Mexican street food classics chimichanga and quesadillas get the Desi treatment, while Bundobust’s Indian street food favourites like chaat get a little Latino heat.

All paired with spicy summer-time cocktails, as a homage to Mexican drinking culture, plus the return of Bundobust Brewery’s new golden Cerveza, SANJA Mexican Lager.

We can’t think of a better place to spend our summer evenings to be quite honest.

On the menu there are crunchy Indo-Mexican ‘naanchos’, topped with salsa verde, crema, tamarind, onion, coriander, and a punchy pickle masala.

Madre and Bundobust are teaming up
Madre and Bundobust are teaming up
Naanchos, from the Bundobust x Madre menu
Naanchos, from the Bundobust x Madre menu

There’ll also be a ‘Tikkadilla’ – a corn tortilla packed with oyster mushrooms, red tikka sauce and Oaxaca cheese, with a side of desi birria sauce for dipping.

That’s alongside masala chimichanga, birria-ani, and corn chaat.

Then you can wash that down with a cashew colada, an avocado lassi, spicy mango margs and loads more.

The Indo-Mexican menu will be available at all Bundobust and Madre locations from Monday 14 July until Sunday 17 August 2025.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Northern Quarter cafe to give out 100 FREE slices of cake to celebrate its birthday

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A little Northern Quarter cafe is celebrating a big milestone this week, and is giving out 100 free slices of cake for the occasion.

Nibble is turning eight this week, and nothing makes a birthday better than cake.

The female-run independent cafe on Oldham Street in the heart of the Northern Quarter first opened its doors to hungry Mancs back in July 2017, after owner and manager Lauren had dreams to take her business of selling brownies at local artisan markets and turn them into a cosy cafe of her own that catered to people with all sorts of dietary requirements.

The cafe has since been acknowledged by tastemakers as one of the most accessible places in Manchester.

Not only is Nibble known and loved for serving up some of the best homemade bakes in the city, with something for everyone to tuck choose from, but they also provide a tasty selection of all-day brunch dishes, salads, and sandwiches, as well as corporate catering too.

So of course, to celebrate eight years of the lovely Nibble team feeding the good people of Manchester, the business is giving away free slices of birthday cake on Friday.

Nibble NQ is giving away 100 free slices of birthday cake / Credit: The Manc Group

After doing something similar to celebrate their birthday last year, this time around they’re taking things once step further, as it’s not just 100 free slices of scrumptious cake you can get your hands on, there’s plenty other prizes too.

Nibble will be ‘levelling up’ and throwing in some ‘hidden surprises’ in the form of vouchers, giving people an opportunity to win a free brunch, brownie box, or coffee and cake. 

Read more:

To be in with a chance of taking away one of the 100 free slices of birthday cake, all you’ll need to do is head to Nibble on Oldham Street this Friday (11 July) and line up outside the cafe from 9:30am, then you may just be lucky enough to start of your day in the sweetest way possible.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

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