The first ever Chinese takeaway drive-thru in England will open in the north west this week, it has been revealed.
Called Wiyo – which stands for What Is Your Order – will bring something entirely new to the region as it launches its first drive-thru restaurant in Warrington this week.
Offering up the likes of salt and pepper chicken, shredded chilli beef and its “house special chicken”, owners have revealed they already have their sites set on an opening in Manchester – and hope that in time the concept could become the “McDonald’s of Asian cuisine.”
The idea was first born, apparently, around a kitchen table back in 2018 but has taken five years to come to fruition.
Co-owners Leon Freedman, Sally Gallagher and Dominic Freeman are the trio behind the genius concept and worked alongside a leading Chinese chef to develop the menu for Wiyo.
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Choices span three different meal options, with prices starting from just £7 for a single dish and drink and rising to £11 for three dishes with a beverage.
Further options include a ‘salt + pepper sub’ with seasoned chicken layered onto a roll with salad, onions and a special soy mayonnaise, as well as side dishes like battered spring rolls and chicken nuggets from £3.
One of Wiyo’s owners, Leon Freedman, told the Manchester Evening News: “The aim was to make Chinese takeaway food quicker and more convenient for the masses. Considering how popular Chinese food is in England, we were confused why no one had developed the concept before now.
“The goal is to make Wiyo the McDonald’s of the Chinese fast food industry. We’re already looking at franchises in Manchester, Liverpool, Essex and hope to make this national.”
Speaking to the Warrington Guardian he added: “Our goal was to create a quick, convenient, great tasting menu, that can be eaten on the go for the people of Warrington and surrounding areas.
“We will be employing at least 15 staff from the local area and hope to bring some life back to a once run-down space in the centre of town.”
Wiyo opens officially on Saturday, June 17 at 5pm, following on from a soft launch this weekend just passed.
Featured image – Wiyo
Eats
You can now have dinner in the actual dressing rooms at Co-op Live
Daisy Jackson
Co-op Live has now launched exclusive backstage dining experiences – which means you could be having dinner inside the very dressing rooms that have hosted music megastars.
These new groundbreaking new Backstage Private Dining experiences feature menus curated by Simon Rimmer.
This will be the first time that the arena’s most exclusive artist areas have been open to guests.
There’ll be 10 selected dates from May 2026, where ticket-holders can eat dinner in dressing rooms that were previously occupied by the likes of Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen.
Guests will be able to choose from several packages, from intimate receptions and private three-course dinners inside the dressing rooms, to lavish extras like a Bentley chauffeur-driven arrival, live entertainment, and extended backstage access.
The most premium package will also offer access to Co-op Live’s adidas Originals recording studio.
Proceeds from the Backstage Private Dining will go towards supporting Co-op Live’s official charity partner, the Co-op Foundation, which tackles inequality and supports communities across the UK.
Chef Simon Rimmer commented: “Having worked with Co-op Live for some time, it’s incredibly exciting to now be involved with this unique series of Backstage Private Dining.
“It’s a rare opportunity to further combine the world-class music venue with exceptional food, and I can’t wait to showcase how these experiences can come to life together, creating truly unforgettable evenings for our guests.”
Becci Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer at Co-op Live, said: “From day one, our ambition has been to challenge expectations of what an arena can deliver, and we’re now delighted to introduce a new dimension of premium hospitality at Co-op Live.
“This collaboration unlocks new creative potential within the venue, offering experiences that have not previously been possible. It reflects our commitment to innovation and meaningful impact within the communities we support.”
Designed and delivered in partnership with Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), Founder and CEO Liz Taylor said: “Opportunities like this are rare. Co-op Live is a venue built for scale, spectacle and ambition — and that’s exactly how we are approaching these events.
“Whether it’s an intimate milestone celebration or a brand hosting at the highest level, these will be immersive, one-night-only experiences designed to deliver real impact. We are proud to have been chosen to help shape this next chapter, bringing creativity, precision and bold thinking to a space that demands nothing less.”
Salford industrial estate bakery with incredible cinnamon rolls to open new site
Daisy Jackson
Mayya Bakery, a local ‘hidden gem’ with incredible cinnamon rolls, is set to open a brand-new bakery that will make it significantly less hidden.
Until now, Mayya has been quietly trading from an industrial estate in Salford, where it’s built a great reputation for its bakes despite an off-the-beaten-track-location and relatively little social media fanfare.
It opened its doors in 2024, operated by former primary school teacher Meli and her husband, dentist Oguz.
This is an artisan bakery with a real Turkish flare, with plenty of comfort food like freshly made gözleme (or gozzies for short) and bigger dishes if you fancy sitting in.
Their counters are stuffed with sweet bakes, like their perfect cinnamon rolls, plus loaves, babka, cookies, and homemade cheesecake.
For bigger dishes, you’ll find breakfast dishes like Turkish eggs, Simit (a traditional sesame bagel) breakfasts, and menemen.
The counters at Mayya Bakery’s current locationIncredible cheesecake at Mayya BakerySigns on Chapel Street Salford for the new Mayya Bakery
And now Mayya Bakery has revealed plans to open a new location in a much more prominent spot in town, with signs appearing in the windows of a unit on Chapel Street.
The sign reads: “Everything is homemade – including this picture.”
It also quips: “They called us hidden gem… not hidden anymore.”
Mayya will open on Chapel Street soon – keep an eye on our food and drink Instagram page The Manc Eats for the latest.
Georgina Pellant -
12th June 2023 
