Eats

Iron Maiden star surprises fans by pouring pints in Stockport after sold-out Manchester show

There were tears, cheers, and even a marriage proposal.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 3rd July 2023

Iron Maiden’s frontman gave fans quite a surprise this weekend after he finished a sell-out gig in Manchester, only to turn up at a Stockport brewery and start pouring pints from behind the bar.

Following the band’s sold-out show at Manchester’s AO Arena, heavy metal star Bruce Dickinson made the journey over to Stockport brewery Robinson’s to celebrate his other passion: beer.

Turning up on Saturday afternoon, he surprised 100 hardcore Iron Maiden fans with a hand-pulled pint of Trooper – his band’s internationally renowned beer, named after the Iron Maiden hit of the same name.

Images show Dickinson getting stuck in as he poured off pints of the amber-coloured cask ale to a cheering crowd, many of whom had flown in from around the world to be there.

Image: John McMurtrie 
Image: John McMurtrie 

Fans were overwhelmed with the opportunity to enjoy a pint pulled by their idol, and one couple from Italy even got engaged at the event.

ADVERTISEMENT

On receiving their pint, one fan said rapturously: “I don’t want to drink this ever, it’s too special.”

Whilst a group of Trooper fans who had travelled to Manchester from Mexico said it was “of the best days of their lives.”

Read more: The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | July 2023

ADVERTISEMENT

Marco, who’d travelled to the event from Naples with his girlfriend, went all out thought and cemented the momentous occasion with a marriage proposal.

When chatting to afterwards, he said “I will remember this day for the rest of my life”.

Image: John McMurtrie 

The surprise party took place to celebrate 10 years of the iconic collaboration, marking the sale of over 33 million pints of Trooper in over fifty countries around the globe.

ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking after the event, Bruce said: “It’s always great to be in Manchester and what a fantastic reception our fans gave us here!

“It was extra special to be at the brewery to enjoy a pint or two of Trooper with our competition winners. Cheers everyone!”

Read more: Manchester’s Stock Market Grill restaurant announces shock closure after three months

The event took place during Iron Maiden’s The Future Past Tour which is underway until October and involves almost 40 performances throughout Europe and North America

Featured image – John McMurtrie

Eats

Manchester’s smash burger and ice cream legends Big Licks launch huge crowdfunding effort

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Big Licks, the Manchester restaurant that’s found the ‘sweet spot’ between amazing burgers and delicious desserts, is sailing through a huge crowdfunding campaign. 

The restaurant, which has an eye-catching location down on Liverpool Road as well as two sites in Scotland, has already raised a whopping £135,000 for its expansion dreams. 

It’s now pushing to hit £150,000 so that it can open new restaurants and franchises across the UK. 

Big Licks was first launched by two teenagers in 2009 as a takeaway – it’s now gone on to be a rapidly expanding name bringing in £3m in sales and more than 400,000 customers in the last 12 months alone. 

On their menu you’ll find incredible smash burgers (with up to four patties in each bun) made with free-range grass-fed beef that they source directly from farm, or buttermilk chicken topped with their signature ranch sauce. 

There’s also an impressive menu of house-churned ice cream made with quality local ingredients, and cakes, cheesecakes and brownies all baked in house daily. 

All that is alongside fried chicken, loaded fries, and other mouth-watering sides. 

Manchester’s smash burger and ice cream legends Big Licks launch huge crowdfunding effort
Manchester’s smash burger and ice cream legends Big Licks launch huge crowdfunding effort

Next on the agenda for Big Licks is expansion across the country, offering up the chance to become a shareholder in this bright young business. 

They want to use the money raised to prepare the business for franchising, with a target to open 18 restaurants by 2027.

Then any extra money raised will be used to open more company-owned restaurants.

And there are rewards on offer for those who choose to invest in Big Licks. 

If you invest £100, you’ll get a Big Licks White Card which gets you 10% off in store, as well as owning a share of the business. 

Then the rewards continue with other things like free burgers and shakes all the way to merch and much bigger discounts. 

Co-founder Anees Ahmed said: “It is clear that the potential is great.”

He added: “We believe one of the key ingredients to a successful restaurant is creating a hangout spot, a vibe. That will always be our aim when you come to Big Licks.”

The businessman then said: “We won’t compromise on quality. We will always keep sourcing within head office. This means we keep producing our own ice cream using locally sourced organic milk and the finest Italian flavours.

“We’ve found that sweet spot. The combination of sweet desserts and smashing burgers that opens up audience’s doors, covering off every craving. 

“We want you to be part of the journey and become a shareholder in Big Licks.” 

You can find out more about the Big Licks crowdfunder through Crowdcube here. 

Big Licks Crowdcube from Big Licks on Vimeo.

*Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. 

Eats

Electrik Bar in Chorlton is giving away 100 FREE frankfurters to celebrate their latest kitchen collab

Danny Jones Danny Jones Electrik Bar in Chorlton giving away 100 free frankfurters hot dogs

We all love a freebie, so we thought we’d spread the good word of the scran lords by letting you know that Electrik over in Chorlton is giving away 100 free frankfurters to celebrate their newest menu takeover.

The popular neighbourhood bar and kitchen on Wilbraham Road in the South Manchester suburb has had a couple of different foodie collaborations over the past couple of years, with local residents Paramogeddon and Four Side Vegan Pizza being the most recent, but now they’re doing hot dogs.

Welcoming their latest vendors Tisch Und Teller, Electrik will be giving away a total of 100 free frankfurters to the first century of people there this evening.

Guess we’re taking a trip to Chorlton for tea.

Bringing a taste of Berlin, Bavaria, Frankfurt and more (with a Manc twist, of course) to the popular pub for the Thursday launch party, all you need to do is order a drink upon arrival to get your hands on a free frankfurter sandwiched between a lovely fluffy roll.

Who doesn’t love a hot dog? Especially when they’re giving them away.

As for Tisch Und Teller (TuT), they’ve been serving up German-inspired favourites from the likes of The Shakespeare in Manchester city centre and Nip and Tipple in Whalley Range since September last year, including some very impressive brunches and Sunday roasts.

But the brand just keeps gaining more traction and now they’re setting up shop in Electrik, we’re sure the word will continue to spread – and fast.

Read more:

Better still, as advertised on the promo poster, not only will TuT now be serving up their delicious food from Electrik every Thursday-Sunday for the foreseeable but the launch party will also live music by local legend and DJing veteran, Abigail Ward of Ghost Assembly.

Free food, pints and top tunes – what more could you ask for on a random weeknight?

The offer will be available from 6pm tonight and, once again, you have to be among the first 100 people to buy a pint to be eligible for a free frankfurter.

Race you there.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Electrik/Tisch Und Teller

More Eats

City Centre

Manchester’s new Instagrammable coffee shop is giving away FREE drinks tomorrow

Ad Maiora in Manchester is selling 9p sandwiches this week through Deliveroo. Credit: The Manc Group

Eats

Manchester’s viral sandwich shop Ad Maiora is selling HUGE butties for only 9p through Deliveroo

Eats

Medlock Canteen receives rave Guardian review from Jay Rayner just one month after opening

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches