Karen’s Diner, the Manchester restaurant that prides itself on having deliberately rude service, has announced an event with controversial character Katie Hopkins.
The outspoken far-right columnist is going to be at the restaurant for her ‘Katie’s Batsh*t Bonkers Britain’ show.
It’s all ahead of her Silly Cow Tour, which will take her to a select few venues around the UK who’ll have her (you can buy tickets to see her at The Monaco in Wigan if you hate yourself).
The Prestwich branch of Karen’s Diner, the immersive dining experience manned by unpleasant staff who will shout, swear, and call you names, warned that the event is ‘not for the easily-offended’.
Although given that Katie Hopkins has previously compared to refugees to cockroaches, slammed full-time parents, and just been generally incredibly racist, ‘easily-offended’ might be a bit unfair…
ADVERTISEMENT
But this divisive figure – the ultimate Karen, if you will – will be the star of the show at Karen’s Diner in March.
Tickets to the event will include Katie’s performance, plus the usual Karen’s Diner entertainment and a burger meal.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sharing news of the Katie Hopkins event, Karen’s Diner wrote: “A bit like our Karens, she’s divisive, opinionated, brash, offensive… all the qualities we look up to.”
The event page says: “Ahead of her ‘Silly Cow Tour’, Katie Hopkins takes over Karen’s Diner for an evening of madness with Katie and our Karens. This is a pairing not for the faint-hearted or easily offended.
“Your ticket will include a table for ‘Katie’s Batsh*t Bonkers Britain’ show, some infamous Karen’s entertainment AND we’ll even throw in a burger meal too!”
ADVERTISEMENT
Karen’s Diner has faced a fair bit of backlash for booking the star, with one person writing: “No!!! You’re really letting the place go downhill.”
Another said: “Scraping bottom of barrel springs to mind.”
And one person wrote: “Can’t wait to see how this one goes.”
A fair few are excited to have her in town though – one person said they ‘absolutely love Katie’ while another said was a ‘definite yes’.
And someone else just joked that they should give Putin a job as a pot washer next.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tickets for Katie Hopkins at Karen’s Diner are available here.
Family behind Salvi’s launch new concept, weeks after iconic restaurant closure
Daisy Jackson
Just weeks after the closure of its iconic, 16-year-old Italian restaurant in the Corn Exchange, the family behind Salvi’s have revealed a brand-new concept.
And this time, the reins are being handed over to the next generation.
Salvi’s founder Maurizio Cecco has helped to shape Amò, but it’s all the brainchild of his daughter, Sienna.
Sienna will run the business out of a unit up on Deansgate Mews, serving fresh pasta dishes, pizza sandwiches, tubs of tiramisu, and two-for-£10 spritzes.
The deli aspect of the original Salvi’s has been carried over to Amò too – you’ll find shelves almost to the ceiling filled with Italian pasta, wine, olive oils, pistachio spreads, and more.
Sienna has grown up in restaurants, with her parents launching Salvi’s when she was just two years old.
She said she wants the space to be a livelier, fresher version of the Italian restaurant that has been so loved by Mancs for so many years.
Sienna outside AmòFresh pasta dishesInside Amò by Salvi’sTheir viral frozen crema di caffeLemon granitaInside Amò by Salvi’sTiramisu pots
Amò, which is Neapolitan slang for ‘my love’, will have loads of fresh Italian dishes, including arancini, gnocchi, and hearty pasta plates.
At lunchtimes, guests can order from a £10 lunch menu, with dishes changing daily depending on the best produce the kitchen can get – it could be a pizza sandwich with proscuitto and tomato, a spicy pasta, or a gnocchi bake, always served with your choice of soft drink.
With its position on Deansgate Mews, Amò basks in the sunshine at lunchtimes.
And while it’s definitely a different concept to the original Salvi’s, Amò looks set to carry the family’s Italian food legacy into its next generation.
Award-winning Didsbury bakery La Chouquette reveals incredible new site
Daisy Jackson
La Chouquette is one of Greater Manchester’s top bakeries – an award-winner, with queues down the street every weekend for its authentic French pastries and loaves.
And now they’re ready for a new chapter, revealing a major expansion today.
Owners Catrina and Flo have painstakingly expanded the bakery into the unit next door, creating what feels like a true French bakery.
And in the midst of this huge renovation project, they’ve welcomed a tiny new baby boy – quite the summer for the couple.
Catrina and Flo launched La Chouquette in lockdown, and in a time where people could only get their hospitality fix from takeaways, immediately became one of the most popular spots in the region.
Their success has been so great, you’ll still consistently find queues down the street every weekend, for their top sellers like their authentic almond croissants.
Then in October 2024, they grew the business and launched Piqniq, a new deli in Didsbury village, serving freshly-baked baguette sandwiches, breakfast butties, toasties, tiramisu pots and their legendary pastries.
The new-look La Chouquette features beautiful details like mosaic floors, rich blue walls, wooden shelves, and brass light fixtures.
La Chouquette’s best-selling almond croissantsInside the stunning new La Chouquette in DidbsuryNew savoury bakesThe chausson aux pommesThe counter stuffed with artisan French bakesChocolate chip cookies and cinnamon buns
The huge new counter displays more pastries and breads than ever before, like a hearty chausson aux pommes filled with apples that will be perfect for autumn, plus seasonal treats like a rhubarb creme brulee pastry, and homemade quiche.
Speaking at the grand relaunch today, Catrina said: “The layout has changed, it looks so much more chic, it looks like a traditional French bakery. We’re really excited about it.”
As for what’s on the counter, Flo reassured fans that their beloved almond and pistachio croissants remain, but with some new savoury editions, like a truffle croque monsieur made with croissant dough.
La Choquette has reopened today, and will be open seven days a week from 7am until 5pm.
Daisy Jackson -
10th February 2024 
