A massively-popular travelling street food festival is returning to Wythenshawe next week with a packed lineup of traders.
Award-winning street food champions GRUB is once again teaming up with Manchester City Council to bring its monthly food and drink festival, GRUB Carnival – The Travelling Food Festival, back to Wythenshawe next week – with the first event kicking off on Saturday 22 April.
The monthly event is set to bring together the very best of GRUB’s top street food traders, alongside a series of pop-up brewery bars and take-home produce stalls.
The first GRUB Carnival of 2023 will be pitching-up in its new location in the centre of Wythenshawe Civic Centre.
The huge retail unit will be transformed into a space for indoor seating, bars, and activities.
Next weekend’s opening lineup of street food trader includes the likes of Burger Bros smashed burgers, Dough So Good on pizza duty, Feast Of The East with a wide range of Mediterranean treats, and House Of Wingz serving up wings.
Crepe Castle, Cake Box and Hyacinth Ice Cream will also be in charge of catering for the crowd with a sweet tooth, while Sparrows Garden Market and Cheshire Pie Co are leading the lineup of local independent food and drink producers at the a mini take-home produce market.
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Manchester artisan rum producers, Witch Kings, are in charge of the bar, and will be supplying cocktails, craft beers, and soft drinks to be enjoyed in the sun.
Neighbourhood Coop, Bakehouse 32, Jeyda’s Turkish Kitchen, Mangiama Streetfod, Gwafu Vegan, and Big Mama’s Twisted Street Food will then be joining the event later in the year.
GRUB’s massive travelling street food festival is returning to Wythenshawe next week / Credit: GRUB
Aside from all the food and drink, on top of all that, Woodhouse Park Family Centre and Happy Somedays Football will also be joining the Carnival for the first date next weekend to provide some fun activities for the little ones.
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GRUB says its monthly ‘Carnival’ will not only be a “fantastic, inclusive, family-friendly event” that’s designed to “bring people together”, but there’s also big ambitions to “become a focal point for the community” by providing new jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities, alongside space for local creatives to share their work and talents all throughout the summer.
Speaking ahead of next weekend’s first event, Jason Bailey – Director of GRUB – said: “We had a smashing time trialling the carnival last year, and so many Wythenshawe folk were happy to see us, so it is fantastic we have the chance to come back all summer long.
“Fingers crossed we can carry on building Carnival in to something that makes a difference”.
Andy Burnham’s favourite Manchester pub, restaurant, neighbourhood and Sunday roast
Daisy Jackson
Andy Burnham’s favourite pub, restaurant, neighbourhood, and Sunday roast have been revealed – and the man’s got taste.
Old footage of now-PM Andy Burnham chatting to content creator Isaac Likes has been doing the rounds again, and while the interview dates back to before Andy left us and headed down to the big smoke, his Manchester recommendations still stand.
From his go-to neighbourhood and favourite pub to where he heads for a Sunday roast, and even the song he likes to play when he gets behind the decks, Burnham gave us a glimpse into his ideal Manchester day.
First up, there’s the Northern Quarter, which Burnham reckons has to be his favourite neighbourhood in the city.
He said: “Got to be the Northern Quarter. It’s the place where it’s all happening.”
When it comes to food, he singled out Firehouse, sitting on the edge of the Northern Quarter, as one of his favourite places to eat. He also gave a shoutout to its sister venue Ramona, where he’s been known to get behind the decks.
Andy said: “On the edge of the Northern Quarter, Firehouse is a place I love to go. Ramona Pizza, I’ve DJ’d there – if the mayor DJs there it’s gotta be alright.”
For a proper pint, Burnham’s choice is a little more traditional, saying his favourite pub is the ‘proper old school’ Peveril of the Peak.
The beautiful tiled pub was recently named the best in the UK, just days before its legendary landlady Nancy passed away.
When Sunday rolls around, Burnham said he has a couple of options up his sleeve. The Wharf in Castlefield gets a mention, as does Edinburgh Castle up in Ancoats.
The Peveril of the Peak pub in ManchesterThe Edinburgh CastleFirehouseSome of Andy Burnham’s favourite places in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
He said: “We love our gravy, we drink it by the pint in Manchester.”
Of course, no conversation with Burnham about Manchester would be complete without talking music.
Asked to name the best Manchester band of all time, he offered a few contenders – The Smiths, New Order, and, ultimately, The Stone Roses.
“The band I think are quintessentially Manchester is The Stone Roses. That was peak Manchester,” he said.
The amazing new doughnut shop that’s opened in a churchyard in Wigan
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new doughnut hatch has landed in Wigan, serving fresh bakes and speciality coffee from inside a beautiful local churchyard.
This is Holy Grounds, the latest independent spot bringing together freshly made doughnuts, excellent coffee and a spectacular setting, right beside the Wigan Parish Church.
The Lancashire-born business expanded to Wigan just three weeks ago, and it’s already proving hugely popular with the locals.
As we’re seeing all over Wigan these days, Holy Grounds have taken on a beautiful characterful space and turned it into a great new independent hangout.
The doughnut hatch is connected to the church itself, with the room believed to have once been an old school space. Today, it’s been given a very different purpose, with the smell of freshly baked doughnuts and coffee filling the building.
And you can still get a very real reminder that you’re sitting inside a church – the bells ring twice a day.
Holy Grounds was set up by Sam, who was previously a vicar, alongside his partner Hannah.
They and their team are making doughnuts fresh every day, using a 48-hour proving process, before transforming them into a monthly-rotating selection of flavours.
This month’s specials at Holy GroundsThe selection of Holy Grounds doughnuts in WiganA peach and almond doughnut, and an OGHoly Grounds stands in the churchyard of Wigan Parish ChurchFreshly-made doughnuts and coffee in Wigan
This month’s flavours include The OG, peach and almond, chocolate cornflakes, and blackberry and white chocolate.
Holy Grounds serves speciality coffee from Clifton Coffee Roasters in Bristol, making the doughnut-and-coffee combination feel less like a quick sugar hit and more like a proper little ritual.
A beautiful old building, fresh doughnuts, excellent coffee and church bells ringing overhead?
We’re not saying we’ve found heaven, but we’re definitely getting closer.
Emily Sergeant -
12th April 2023 
