Eats

Five golden tickets with massive prizes are being hidden in cakes in Manchester

Loaf MCR is taking inspiration from Willy Wonka.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 28th November 2023

A Manchester cafe is giving away massive prizes in a Willy Wonka-style giveaway, with golden tickets hidden in its cakes.

Loaf MCR, which has sites on Oxford Street, Affinity Living, and in Selfridges Trafford Centre, will be hiding the golden tickets beneath its mini loaf cakes.

Anyone lucky enough to find one will win prizes including two tickets to see Jason Manford with a chance to meet him, a meal for four at Bundobust, and a Birthday Party Cake Package worth £200 from Loaf.

The golden tickets are going to be hiding underneath Loaf’s Willy Wonka-inspired special loaf, a super-chocolatey chocolate sponge with a smooth ganache centre and a white chocolate-infused buttercream.

The cake is then topped with colourful sweets inspired by Roald Dahl’s classic tale, like a swirly lollipop, fizzy sweets, popping candy and pink mushroom foams.

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A golden ticket sticker will be hidden in five of the £4.50 loaf cakes between Monday 27 November and Sunday 10 December.

Loaf MCR wants to spread a little festive cheer as Christmas approaches and is offering Mancs five chances to win big.

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As well as the three massive prizes already announced, there are still two top-secret rewards to be revealed.

Inside Loaf's all-pink cafe on Oxford Street. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Loaf’s all-pink cafe on Oxford Street. Credit: The Manc Group
Loaf's doing a huge golden ticket giveaway to spread Christmas cheer. Credit: Loaf MCR
Loaf’s doing a huge golden ticket giveaway to spread Christmas cheer. Credit: Loaf MCR

Aiden Ryan, founder of Loaf MCR, said: “We love to play with nostalgia and Willy Wonka gives just that! We love that we can infuse Christmas with a little bit of magic.

“At Loaf, we believe in giving people great experiences, and what better way than to start the Festive season with a treasure hunt?

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“We’ve partnered with some great Manchester businesses to make this happen!”

There’ll be a limited number of the special-edition Willy Wonka loaf cakes available.

Once all five golden tickets have been found, there’ll be one last chance to win ‘The Golden Key’, which will get you free coffee and cake from Loaf MCR for a year.

But you won’t be able to find the golden key through cake – this prize will be given to someone nominated by the community of Manchester, and will reward someone who deserves something special this Christmas.

Prizes including in the Loaf MCR Willy Wonka giveaway

  1. A Birthday Party Cake Package worth £200 from Loaf MCR, including 50 mini loaf cakes and a birthday cake.
  2. Ultimate Christmas Dinner for four at Bundobust, Indian street food and craft beer specialists, to taste their festive menu. (Yes, your first drink on the house too!)
  3. Two tickets to see Manchester’s favourite comedian Jason Manford live at the AO Arena and a meet and greet.
  4. Two more prizes to be revealed this week…

The Loaf MCR x Willy Wonka giveaway will run from Monday 27 November until Sunday 10 December.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

‘Remember to support genuine independents’ – Manchester’s rotisserie chicken bistro Tartuffe announces closure

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Tartuffe at Side Street

Rotisserie chicken bistro Tartuffe has called final orders on its time at popular city centre hangout, Side Street.

Serving some of the best rotisserie chicken in Manchester – ‘sexy chicken’, if you will – Tartuffe first landed at Side Street inside the ABC Building back in the later summer of 2024, and quickly became known and loved by critics and customers alike for not just their rotisserie options, but also their stylish bar snacks and standout sides.

Hungry folk can expect seasonal menus, bistro-style dining, and, in the opinion of our legendary former Takeaway Champion Dean, some of the best sandwiches in Manchester.

But despite being a roaring success these past two years, Tartuffe took to social media this week to announce the end of the ‘longest pop-up ever’, with its final service being tomorrow (25 September).

Tartuffe at Side Street
Tartuffe at Side Street
Tartuffe will be leaving Side Street this Friday / Credit: The Manc Group

Announcing its closure on Instagram, Tartuffe wrote: “That’s right, our time at Side Street has come to an end and our final service here is this Friday.

“It’s been an incredible two and a half years cooking for the wonderful people of Manchester and we’re hugely thankful to everyone who’s been to see us whilst we’ve been here.

“Another big thanks to the staff at Side Street who we’ve loved working with. We’ve made some great friends and worked with some absolutely brilliant people.

“We’re going to be having a little bit of a break whilst we plan for Tartuffe part 2. It’s not a goodbye, it’s a see you soon.”

The statement then closed out with an emotional plea to the people of Manchester.

“And remember to support the GENUINE independents out there, or else there won’t be any left,” Tartuffe concluded.

Read more:

The closure of Tartuffe was announced on the same day as Deansgate Mews’ award-winning casual dining restaurant, Another Hand, which fell victim to the difficult and ever-changing economic climate.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

Eats

10 of the best new restaurants, bars and cafes to open in Greater Manchester recently

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Manchester has welcomed a whole host of new places to eat and drink over the past couple of months – and there’s a LOT to be excited about.

It’s fair to say we all love our food, and here at The Manc, we certainly love writing about it.

So, allow us to indulge as we take you through some of our favourite new openings to have landed across Greater Manchester recently.

From a Latin BBQ restaurant making a splash in the Northern Quarter to a humble Vietnamese sandwich shop turning heads over in Didsbury, there’s been plenty to get excited about.

But consider this your warning: reading on may cause extreme hunger…

Kickback Coffee

11 Portland Street, M1 3HU

Images: The Manc Group

Kickback Coffee is the latest trader to open on bustling Portland Street, serving up flat whites, long blacks and iced drinks aplenty.

With their roastery hub based in Cheshire, this independent business puts their love of coffee at the forefront. If you’re looking for a really quality coffee, then this is your next stop.

Sandy’s Smoke Shed

Arch 121 Woollam Pl, Manchester M3 4JJ

Images: The Manc Group

Sandy’s Smokeshed has just opened in Castlefield, where Sam – and his smoker, Angela – are serving up serious Texas-style BBQ, with queues already stretching out the door.

The idea is simple: take great cuts of meat, cover them generously in seasoning, put them in the smoker and give them all the time they need.

Think eight-hour smoked beef chuck, brisket, short ribs, chicken and stellar sides.

Read more: The new BBQ restaurant beneath a Manchester railway arch where meat is cooked very, VERY slowly

Sistermoon

Blackfriars St, Manchester M3 2EQ

Images: The Manc Group

Say hello to Sister Moon, a beautiful new restaurant bringing a taste of Southeast Asia to the city centre and the latest addition to Manchester’s Treehouse Hotel.

Here, all the dishes are cooked on open fire, including dishes like the fried pork skewers with banana ketchup and the grilled prawns with crispy chilli and garlic. Elsewhere on the menu you’ll find stars like the crispy pork belly and pomelo salad as well as the slow cooked lamb jungle curry (warning, this one’s got a kick).

Sister Moon is the new project from acclaimed chef Sam Grainger who you’ll know from Madre, and it’s just as good as you’d expect.

Read more: A new Southeast Asian BBQ restaurant has opened on a Manchester rooftop with jaw-dropping city views

Clean Greens

241 Deansgate, M3 4EN

Image: The Manc Group

If you need a break from all that indulgent food and drink, then this new spot on Deansgate should be at the top of your list.

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Clean Greens is bringing health in the form of fresh salads, cold-pressed juices, matchas, coffee, and more. Their menu focuses on using clean ingredients without all the faff, and all served in a gorgeous setting – what more could you want?

Pranzo Italian

55 King St, Manchester M2 4LQ

Images: The Manc Group

Sometimes only a steaming hot bowl of homemade pasta will do, and you’ll find it at the new Pranzo Italian on King Street.

Here they’re using 70-year-old Calabrian recipes passed down from owner Marco’s Nonna, so it’s about as authentic as it gets. The pasta comes al dente, and they’re not scrimping on the portions or the flavour.

Read more: Inside Manchester’s newest Italian restaurant serving 70-year-old Calabrian recipes

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Dahlia Stereo

Unit 1+2, The Hive, 47 Lever Street, M1 1FN

Images: The Manc Group

Dahlia Stereo has landed in the Northern Quarter, bringing Latin-inspired open-fire cooking, tequila and mezcal-led drinks, and a seriously impressive sound system under one roof.

Expect everything from achiote chicken and 400g churrasco steak to fresh tortillas, smoky sides, and house-made cocktails, with DJs keeping the vibe going late into the night.

If you love great food, good music, and a proper Manchester night out, this one looks well worth checking out.

Read more: New two-storey Latin BBQ restaurant, bar, and music venue Dahlia opens in the Northern Quarter

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Banh Mi 782

782 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2DR

Images: The Manc Group

This unassuming spot has been turning heads in Didsbury for its authentic, stacked Banh Mi sandwiches.

Everything is made fresh to order, with fillings like crispy pork belly, lemongrass crispy chicken, roast duck, ham, grilled beef, and tofu, plus traditional Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk.

Casa Papi

9 Woodford Road, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 1JN

Images: The Manc Group

There’s a new taqueria spot in Stockport that prides itself on using only the best of the best ingredients imported all the way from Mexico.

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Casa Papi is serving up tacos, rice bowls and plenty with your choice of slow-cooked birria beef, roasted chicken or sweet potato for the veggies. They’ve even got traditional blue-corn taco shells as an option too which are 100% gluten free and just as tasty as their flour-based cousins.

Arcadian

1C School Lane, Didsbury, M20 6RD

Images: The Manc Group

Beloved neighbourhood restaurant Hispi may have closed its doors, but its shoes have been filled pretty quickly with the delightful Arcadian stepping into its place.

A new-to-Manchester open-fire restaurant, with dishes cooked over wood, charcoal and open flame. The new concept sees the chefs themselves serving you your dinner, with plates like coal-seared beef tartare, grilled monkfish, and a Basque cheesecake with black cherries.

Bar Caput

71 Great Underbank, Stockport SK1 1PE

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Images: The Manc Group

Stockport has bid farewell to its only Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, with the team behind the acclaimed Cantaloupe pivoting to a totally new concept – and it’s a good’un.

Bar Caput has stepped into the unit, where it’s all about bringing the Roman culture of drinking and aperitivi to Great Underbank. That means crisp-based Roman-style pizzas, plus fritti, small plates, great wine, and bright cocktails.

Read more: Roman kitchen Bar Caput replaces Stockport’s only Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant

Featured images – The Manc Group

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