Chapter One Books has been part of the Northern Quarter furniture for almost a decade – but now this much-loved bookshop-cafe hybrid has a Middle-Eastern cafe concealed inside too.
Visitors will be able to get lost in flavours and books thanks to the arrival of Gulf, where you’re instantly transported to the Middle East from the minute you see the restaurant’s decor to the moment the food hits your tastebuds.
All the meals prepared at Gulf are inspired by foods which have been brought to the middle east by migrants from India and Pakistan – expect authentic chapatis with traditional fillings like egg and soft cheese or falafel with labneh and tahini.
The interior is an instant stress soother with a stone water fountain acting as the venue’s centrepiece with lots of intricate decorations which help to frame the eatery’s many chairs and tables.
You feel as though you’re stepping into a mini holiday with the Moroccan-inspired space, just tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main cafe.
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There are hand-painted walls, comfy cushions and warm-toned rugs everywhere.
The cheesy garlic pide is a must-have – it’s the ultimate cheesy doughy pick-me-up to power anyone through their next study or work session.
The ultimate foodie fuel – cheesy garlic pide at GulfA full set-up of all the various Gulf menu favourites we tried.Hot drinks at GulfCredit: The Manc Group
The oval shaped flatbread came with a creamy hummus topped with chilli flakes and fresh herbs. This pairing is a match made in heaven.
Their Karak tea is a signature drink on their menu, a hot drink brewed for around an hour with a secret blend of spices. It’s no surprise that the flavours with this are unmissable as the word ‘karak’ translates to strong.
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The gulf toast is another highlight – their take on French toast has all the usual rich flavours from the caramel and ice cream, with a Karak tea pouring sauce for the more adventurous foodies.
Served in a cute dainty pot, the tastes coming from this warm and creamy sauce are anything but small. It contains the same secret spice blend giving any sweet tooth a perfect pairing of flavours.
Gulf’s menu is quietly geared towards vegetarians, with only a beef quesadilla and keema chapati containing meat.
And that’s not the only hidden gem space to discover inside Chapter One.
There’s also a mini library, with bookshelves adorning all four walls, nestled at the back of the building.
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Find your next read during your visit to Chapter One Books.An overview of most of the seating area at Chapter One Books & Gulf.Socialise with friends and play some board games provided by the cafe.Credit: The Manc Group
With an array of tables and cozy armchairs, workers can sit back and sink into an environment which wouldn’t feel too out of place in Hogwarts.
Both Gulf and the mini library are quiet zones within the bustling establishment, where you’ll often find masses of people sat at laptops or socialising over a coffee.
Diners can have the best of both worlds as they respond to those relentless emails while enjoying a taste of the Middle East.
In the evenings, the space even has some zen time for after the working day is done. There are a variety of classes and groups that take place in the workspace including a free meditation workshop every Thursday from 6pm and a creative writing group every Tuesday from 6.30pm.
Both Gulf and Chapter One Books are open everyday from 10am until 9pm meaning guests have a whole 11 hours everyday to sample all their incredible delicacies.
Greggs confirms Festive Bakes return date as it unveils 2025 Christmas menu
Emily Sergeant
Greggs has unveiled its Christmas menu for 2025, and that means the Festive Bake is back again in all its glory.
The UK’s most-popular high street bakery chain has officially revealed its festive food and drink offering for the 2025 season, and there’s a few brand-new goodies joining the lineup this year, along with the return of some undeniable fan favourites.
And of course, nothing spells Christmas at Greggs quite like the Festive Bake, right?
The chain’s classic crumb-coated pastry filled with chicken, sage and onion stuffing, and sweetcure bacon in a creamy sage and cranberry sauce goes down an absolute treat each year, and is a serious fan-favourite, so it’s no surprise it’s made a comeback for 2025.
Thankfully for plant-based foodies, the Vegan Festive Bake has also made a comeback, but this year under a slightly different name – the Vegan Lattice (Festive Edition).
Greggs has unveiled its Christmas menu for 2025 / Credit: Greggs
Despite the new name, the flavours have stayed the same, as the Vegan Festive Lattice is puff pastry filled with savoury-flavour Quorn mycoprotein pieces, sage and onion stuffing balls, and vegan bacon, finished with a mouth-watering cranberry and red onion sauce.
Another returning Greggs festive favourite this year is the Christmas Lunch Baguette, which is a freshly-baked baguette ‘jam-packed full of festive flavours’, alongside last year’s newest addition, the Festive Flatbread – which is filled with sage and onion-style chicken, sweetcure bacon, mayo and cranberry and red onion relish.
When it comes to sweet treats, Greggs really does take some beating, as the lineup is full of tasty cakes, muffins, biscuits, and more.
Some of the stand-out newbies this year include the Gingerbread Muffin, and the Christmas Mini Caramel Shortbreads, while returning for more is the indulgent Chocolate & Hazelnut Flavour Doughnut, the Christmas tree and start-shaped biscuits, and of course, the classic Sweet Mince Pies.
The festive drinks lineup this year includes the popular Mint mochas and hot chocolates, and the Salted Caramel Latte.
Gingerbread returns for 2025 too, and you can get Gingerbread Lattes both hot and iced, as well as a Gingerbread Flat White.
All drinks are topped with whipped cream, and come with a range of festive sauces and toppings.
The 2025 Greggs Christmas menu will be available to tuck into across the UK from 6 November and will run right up until the new year.
Featured Image – Greggs
Eats
Mongrel – New taproom and pizzeria set to move into the former Street Urchin site
Daisy Jackson
A brand new taproom, coffee shop and pizzeria concept has announced plans to move into Ancoats.
Mongrel will come from the same team behind Crust, a much-raved-about pizza joint that operated off a Stockport industrial estate until earlier this year.
They’ve now confirmed they have their sights set on the city centre, specially the magnificent corner unit that was previously home to the beloved Street Urchin.
Street Urchin suddenly closed earlier this year after co-founder and head chef Kevin suffered a heart attack, leaving them ‘unable to continue as a business’.
Rachel Choudhary, Kevin’s partner and co-founder of the neighbourhood restaurant, wrote at the time that they were ‘heartbroken’ to close the business.
Street Urchin was quietly one of the top restaurants in Ancoats and operated in a market diner fashion, creatively cooking the best catch of the day for an ever-changing menu that honoured each season.
Thankfully, this key corner unit won’t be quiet for much longer, with another local operator now lined up to move in.
Inside Street Urchin before its closure – the site will now become a pizzeria called Mongrel. Credit: The Manc Group
Mongrel has so far shared that it’s set to be a ‘coffee shop, pizza place and taproom, all under one roof’.
Upon closing Crust in Stockport they confirmed this will be ‘a huge step up from the Crüst you know and love’.
They posted on Instagram: “Thanks to everyone who’s popped down over the last year. We’re eternally grateful for the support from our fantastic customers, and will look back on this period with huge gratitude.
“It’s with great sadness that we announce our departure from Stockport. We know this will come as a disappointment to our Crüst family – we haven’t made this decision lightly.
“We have been looking for a new premesis in Stockport for a while, however after multiple applications going nowhere, we have finally found a new home in Manchester City Center!
“Our new home will be a huge step up from the Crüst you know and love… We can’t to reveal what’s to come!
Mongrel is set to open its taproom and pizzeria on Great Ancoats Street, in the former Street Urchin site, in November.
Thomas Melia -
25th October 2024 
