Eats
Eats
Mulligans are making butties with the team behind some of the best sandwiches in Manchester
                
                  
                     Danny Jones
                    Danny Jones
                  
               
              
We feel like we say this almost every time they set up one of these crossovers, but Bada Bing might have just hit it out of the park with their latest collaboration, as they’re teaming up with beloved Irish bar Mulligans to create what could be the sandwich of the century.
In case you’re wondering where we’ll be when this butty becomes available, we’ll be in the legendary Manchester pub, clutching at least three of these while asking the live band to play The Sopranos theme tune in full Celtic reel fashion.
Yes, two of our very favourite places in the city centre are teaming up not just for a one-off special, the Deansgate boozer – widely considered one of the best Irish bars (if not THE best) in Manchester – is actually going to be supplying the crucial ingredient in their limited-time menu item.
Teasing the collab earlier this week, the Bada Bing boys roped in Mulligans owner, Pádraig Brady, to play his role in the announcement that quickly went viral.
@badabingsandwichdeli What is going on here then? 👀 #badabing #sopranos #sandwich #food #manchester ♬ original sound – Bada Bing 
Our interest was piqued immediately.
Now, in case you weren’t already salivating at the mere thought of it, wait until you hear what concoction they have come up with.
Simply titled ‘Split the B’ (nice), the Bada Bing x Mulligans special edition sandwich features Mulligans’ Guinness-braised short rib, crispy spuds, greens, pickled cabbage and crispy onions. Oh. My. Word…
With punters’ favourite ‘Mullies’ pouring in more than 13,000 pints of the black stuff every single week, it won’t surprise you to learn that those lines have to be cleaned and maintained almost constantly.
It also goes without saying that wasting even a single drop of that liquid gold is a tragedy, so they had the ingenious of using that surplus stout to create a limited supply of slow-roasted, Guinness-flavoured beef fit to grace any authentic Irish stew.
Slap that meat between bread, and what do you get? Perhaps one of the greatest culinary creations we Manchester foodies have ever seen.
Speaking on the collab, Pádraig said: “At Mulligans, we take pride in every pint of Guinness we pour, so when the chance came up to team up with Bada Bing and create something special for Mancs to enjoy beyond the pub, it just made sense. Quality recognises quality.”
“We’ve always admired Mulligans for how they do things – with no shortcuts”, says Sam Gormally, co-founder of Bada Bing.”
He went on to add: “This collab celebrates everything we both love about Manchester hospitality – craft, quality and a bit of heart. It’s a proper Manc sandwich, made with a proper pint.”
In case it wasn’t already blatantly obvious, we cannot wait to try this thing, and since it’s only being served for a few days, we intend to eat as many as possible.
The ‘Split the B’ Mulligans x Bada Bing Guinness Sandwich will be available exclusively at Bada Bing, 125 Oldham St in the Northern Quarter from Thursday, 6 November – and once they’re gone, they’re GONE.




Read more:
- Manchester Food and Drink Festival announces nominees for 2025 MFDF Awards
- The best cosy pubs in Manchester city centre to hide away on a winter’s day
- Bar Posie: The new cocktail bar with an oyster happy hour from the team behind 10 Tib Lane
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Group
Eats
Manchester Food and Drink Festival announces nominees for 2025 MFDF Awards
                
                  
                     Daisy Jackson
                    Daisy Jackson
                  
               
              
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival has announced the shortlists of nominees for this year’s MFDF Awards, championing the best hospitality talent across Greater Manchester.
The annual awards will return to New Century in January, promising to celebrate the businesses and individuals doing incredible work across the industry.
There are 16 categories in this year’s MFDF 2025 Awards, including new categories to reflect the region’s growing wine scene, coffee shop rise, and turn towards low- or no-alcohol drinking.
This year, the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards will welcome Therme as a headline sponsor, ahead of the hotly-anticipated launch of the Therme urban wellbeing resort in TraffordCity.
The shortlist announced today features 128 nominees, from cosy pubs to Michelin star restaurants to bakers.
The shortlist has been compiled by the MFDF Judging Panel, which is made up of the region’s leading food and drink critics, writers and experts.
As well as the public vote, a mystery shopping period will now commence where judges will anonymously visit nominated venues and will compile scores based on their experiences.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards, commented: “We’re delighted to announce Therme Manchester as the headline sponsor for this year’s MFDF awards. The Awards have always reflected the ongoing excellence and innovation here in Greater Manchester.

“As we welcome Therme Manchester as a partner it’s an opportunity to celebrate the next chapter for our world-class city region and champion the talent and communities that make it extra special.
“This year’s list of nominees is a phenomenal example of this innovation with talent from all quarters of Greater Manchester to celebrate -from takeaways in Trafford to Michelin star meals in Ancoats.
“The list should serve as a journey of discovery for food lovers around this great region. Please support all your hospitality heroes and vote for them on the awards website.”
Ben Dutson and Charlotte Harbour, joint Heads of Therme RPC, the food and wellbeing function of Therme Manchester commented: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards — one of the North West’s most significant celebrations of culinary talent.
“Supporting an event that champions creativity, community, and excellence in food and drink perfectly reflects Therme Manchester’s commitment to wellbeing and shared experiences. We’re looking forward to celebrating the people and places that make Manchester’s dining scene truly exceptional.”
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival (MFDF) Awards will take place at New Century on 26 January 2026.
Voting is now open HERE.
Nominees for the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2025
Affordable Eats Venue of the Year sponsored by Therme
- Noodle Alley
- Pho Cue
- Cafe Sanjuan
- Hong Thai
- Seoul Kimchi
- Double Zero
- Wow Báhn Mì
- Rabbie’s Thai
Last year’s winner – Nell’s Pizza
Takeaway of the Year
- Ceresis
- Ad Maiora
- Home Chinese
- Viet Deli
- Pancho’s Burritos
- Rack
- Mughli Charcoal Pit
- This & That
Last year’s winner – Fat Pat’s
Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year (new for 2025)
- Cafe Sanjuan
- Oscillate Coffee
- Federal Cafe Bar
- Just Between Friends Coffee
- Sipp Coffee
- à bloc
- The Old Fire Station Bakery
- Something More Productive
Wine offering of the Year (new for 2025)
- Ad Hoc
- Higher Ground
- The Beeswing
- Salut Wines
- Reserve Wines
- Flawd Wine
- Where the Light Gets In
- Kerb
Food Trader of the Year
- The Little Sri Lankan
- House of Habesha
- Baity
- Rita’s Reign
- Rack
- Taiko Ramen
- Thatziki
- Little Scarfs
Last year’s winner – Honest Crust
Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
- Stockport
- Urmston
- Levenshulme
- Chorlton
- Monton
- Salford
- Altrincham
- Sale
Last year’s winner – Prestwich
Independent Drink Producer of the Year
- Balance Brewing & Blending
- Pod Pea Vodka
- Stiff Tea Brewing Company
- Sureshot Brewing
- Runaway Brewery
- Track Brewing Co
- Seven Bro7hers
- Weekend Project Brewing Co
Last year’s winner – Cloudwater Brew Co
Independent Food Producer of the Year
- Long Boi’s Bakehouse
- Holy Grain Sourdough
- Littlewoods Butchers
- Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
- Wong Wong Bakery
- Pollen Bakery
- Half Dozen Other
- Mayya Bakery
Last year’s winner – Great North Pie Co
Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
- Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop
- Stretford Canteen
- The Pearl
- Lupo
- Cantaloupe
- Tawny Stores
- The Perfect Match
- Gladstone Barber and Bistro
Last year’s winner – Bar San Juan
Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
- Victoria Tap
- Runaway Brewery
- City Arms
- The Marble Arch Inn
- The Magnet Freehouse
- Café Beermoth
- North Westward Ho
- Track Taproom
Last year’s winner – Mulligans of Manchester
Great Service Award
- Tast Catala
- Atomeca
- Higher Ground
- Adam Reid at The French
- Maray
- Federal Cafe Bar
- Blacklock Manchester
- Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar
Last year’s winner – Schofield’s Bar
Low or No Offering of the Year (new for 2025)
- Nell’s Pizza
- Cloudwater Brew Co
- Dishoom
- Red Light
- Blinker Bar
- Hinterland
- Lina Stores
- Speak in Code
Bar of the Year
- Stray
- Schofield’s Bar
- Red Light
- Speak in Code
- Pray Tell
- Renae
- Libero
- Flawd Wine
Last year’s winner – Hawksmoor
Newcomer of the Year
- Cantaloupe
- Bangkok Diners Club
- Stow
- Kallos Cafe & Wine Bar
- Café Continental
- Winsome
- Royal Nawaab Pyramid
- Kung Fu Noodle
Last year’s winner – Skof
Chef of the Year
- Rosie Maguire (Higher Ground)
- Shaun Moffat (Winsome)
- Adam Reid (Adam Reid at The French)
- Matt Bennet (The Pearl)
- Mary-Ellen McTague (Pip)
- Patrick Withington (Erst)
- Jamie Pickles (Stow)
- Jack Fields (Restaurant Orme)
Last year’s winner – Tom Barnes (Skof)
Restaurant of the Year
- mana
- Skof
- Adam Reid At The French
- Winsome
- Higher Ground
- Stow
- Erst
- Cantaloupe
Last year’s winner – Where The Light Gets In
Voting is now open HERE.
Featured image: Mia Edmond
 
                
             
                   
                     
                     
           
              