A huge new food hall has opened in Denton, bringing some of the hottest street food names in Greater Manchester together under one roof.
Hatters is a brand-new addition to Tameside, a massive, modern, social space with four kitchens and a couple of sizeable bars too.
Its founders have pulled together an enviable line-up of operators for the kitchens, including a few that trigger queues down the street wherever they appear.
Up first is the legendary Ornella’s Kitchen, a firm Tameside favourite where diners can wait months for a table reservation.
Their menu at Hatters includes their beloved arancini, plus pizzas (including mini kid’s pizzas), and huge Italian sandwiches packed with quality Sicilian ingredients.
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Ornella has also brought her desserts to Denton – like a gigantic tiramisu and a rich chocolate cheesecake.
Another firm Manc favourite that’s moved into Hatters is Waffle Kart, the trader that triggers enormous queues at the Manchester Christmas Markets every single year.
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As well as their OG chicken and waffles, and the chilli crisp chicken sandwich, they’ve got snacks like hot buttered maple popcorn on the menu, plus waffle prawn toast, and frozen custard shakes (the blueberry maple waffle shake…)
At Casa Dario, owners Dario and Jess are cooking paella, classic Spanish tortilla made to order, and a traditional Argentinian Milanesa, where thin-cut beef is layered in tomato sauce and cheese.
Dario is Madrid-born, Barcelona-raised, and is now bringing his perfected Spanish cooking to Denton.
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Dario and Jess from Casa DarioPaella and tortilla from Casa Dario
Expect croquetas, gambas al pil pil, four different tortilla flavours, and giant for-two paellas served straight in the pan.
And completing the Hatters line-up is Curio, where you’ll find a menu that’s focused on meat in all its shapes and sizes, like a Cola BBQ burger, an Argentinian steak with chimichurri, and yakitori chicken skewers.
Curio is a neighbourhood favourite in Royton, where they’ve been feeding locals in some shape or another since June 2020.
At the bar, you’ll find frozen cocktails like pornstar martinis and margaritas, signature cocktails including palomas and negronis, and a great beer selection that includes Oldham-brewed pours from Trail Brew Co.
The bar at HattersCurio’s steak and yakitoriBeers, including a locally-brewed beerHatters in DentonCocktails upstairsInside Hatters in Denton
Hatters is split across two floors, with a modern food hall downstairs packed with long tables and a stage for live music events – while upstairs, it’s a more relaxed space with lots of sofa seating, designed for whiling away an evening with a cocktail in hand.
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The massive building in Denton used to be home to four different businesses – a pub, a carpet showroom, a warehouse, and a gym – now all four of those empty units have been knocked into one huge space, with floor-to-ceiling windows wrapping around and colourful art on the exposed brick walls.
The venue gets its name from the nearby pub that was previously owned by founder Josh Berry’s family.
Hatters Food and Drinks Hall opened its doors on Market Street in Denton on Friday 3 April.
Speaking after its opening night, the founders said they were ‘overwhelmed’ by the venue’s popularity, posting: “To the 1,000+ people that came to see us today, thank you. Overwhelmed. See you tomorrow.”
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.