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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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

Legendary landlady of The Peveril of the Peak pub has passed away

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Peveril of the Peak pub in Manchester

Nancy Swanick, the legendary landlady behind Manchester’s much-loved Peveril of the Peak pub, has died.

The pub shared a statement today to confirm that Nancy, 96, who was the pub’s landlady for more than 55 years, passed away earlier this week.

She’s become something of an icon across the UK and was the oldest and longest-serving landlady in the country.

The Peveril of the Peak – or simply The Pev, to most of us – had just been named the best pub in the UK earlier this week.

The Pev has now assured fans that the pub will remain in the Swanick family, even without Nancy at its helm.

They said in their touching statement: “We will continue to cherish it as we did Nancy.”

In their full statement, The Peveril of the Peak wrote: “We are sad to say that our beloved Nancy, landlady for over 55 years, passed away peacefully on 28th July.

“Nancy always kept up to date with news about the Pev and we told her about our new accolade of Best Pub in the UK a few days ago.

“The Pev will stay in the Swanick family and we will continue to cherish it as we did Nancy.

“The pub will remain open thanks to our brilliant staff and, if you pop in anytime soon, please raise your glass to the wonder that was Nancy.

“With love, The Swanicks.”

RIP to a true local legend.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

New croissants-by-day, pizza-by-night cafe and bar opens in Altrincham

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Paddy's is opening in Altrincham this week

A new food and drink concept is opening its doors in Altrincham today, serving perfect personal-sized pizzas by night, and coffee and croissants by day.

The much-loved Irish Deli has sadly closed its doors, but the team are immediately rolling in a brand-new concept for the town.

Under one roof, Paddy’s will be the new home of Flakey (famed for their enormous, filled sweet and savoury croissants) as well as a pizza and cocktail bar.

The two concepts will share the cosy space beside Kennedy’s Irish Bar, right in the heart of Altrincham.

Customers will be able to pop in Monday to Sunday to pick up Flakey’s stuffed croissants, along with speciality coffee and matcha.

There’ll be savoury fillings like the Buff Italian (vegetable caponata, buffalo mozzarella, and pesto) and the New Yorker (Emmental, pastrami, sauerkraut and pickles), plus sweet options like the Sticky BC (vanilla Basque cheesecake and Biscoff).

Speciality drinks and stuffed Flakey croissants
Speciality drinks and stuffed Flakey croissants
The team outside Paddy's
The team outside Paddy’s
An individual pizza with Paddy's Punch frozen cocktail
An individual pizza with Paddy’s Punch frozen cocktail

By night, Paddy’s will take the stage, named after the former Irish terrier of the owner’s grandmother.

These individually-sized, handcrafted pan-pizzas will be loaded with toppings like the Paddy’s Pep with chilli and burrata, and The Dubliner with Irish sausage and pickled red onion.

During opening week (30 July – 2 August) Paddy’s is offering 50% off all pizzas for guests at Kennedy’s between the hours of 3pm-5pm.

Owners, Dan Mullen and John Kennedy said: “We’ve designed it to evolve throughout the day – start with coffee and croissants, come back for pizza, and stay for a pint or a cocktail. It’s one site, two distinct food experiences, and neither compromises the other.

“Two brands sharing one building with completely different moods, and we think Altrincham is going to love both. Our goal is to create a venue that’s full of life from open til close.”

Ahead of opening, Paddy’s is hosting a pizza hunt, where twenty branded Pizza-Pan boxes will be hidden around Altrincham, each containing a voucher, t-shirt, drinks voucher or – for the lucky few – a “pizza for life” keyring. Clues will be revealed daily on Instagram, with finders posting under #PaddysPizzaHunt to claim their prize and a free pizza on opening night.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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