A local coffee shop has taken to social media to make its voice heard as coffeehouse chain Costa opens a third cafe in its neighbourhood today.
In a sassy Instagram post titled “#COSTALIVING”, Macclesfield coffee shop Yas Bean laid out the case for why we should all be supporting local businesses over big chains wherever possible.
It wrote: “Macclesfield has a new @costacoffee opening tomorrow. Our *third* Costa. In fact there are now TWO within 0.3 of a mile of each other?!?!?!
“It will “create 12 new jobs”, but sadly the benefits for the local community end abruptly there.”
It went on to explain that, unlike local businesses, Costa doesn’t use “local dairies, bakers, grocers, coffee roasters, local artists or crafters”, adding: “They don’t support local charities, join initiatives to improve their surroundings or create events.”
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It continued to make a strong case for why supporting local business is good for your neighbourhood, writing: “In these days ahead – where you spend your money makes a HUGE difference to your community.
“The above is true of many many other shops in our town, but I can only speak for ourselves. Macclesfield is ruddy rife with wonderful people! Support Local, Support independent. It’s amazing, fun and sexy.”
Tackling the subject of cost it said, by comparison, that drinks are actually cheaper because they are “better quality, more ethically sourced”, and “don’t taste like the run off from a marmite factory mixed with sugar.”
“When you buy from us you support your local butcher, baker and candlestick maker. Well, not quite but we do have some lovely cards made by locals.
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Image: Yas Bean
Yas Bean owners Mika Johnson and Dan Hardman. / Image: Yas Bean
Speaking to The Manc about the post, owner Mika Johnson elaborated: “Independent businesses like us try to use local wherever possible. So when you buy a latte from us you’re not only helping us and our staff but also the local dairy and coffee roaster and their staff too.
“There is a huge knock-on effect for the local economy. Plus seeing local business thrive and running my own shop is such a great confidence boost, it’s been huge for my mental health.
“We are seeing loads of small businesses take a leap and it’s amazing. We often collaborate with others to create fun events, raise money for charity, or help spread the word. This collaboration forms relationships that we really cherish and I think it’s beautiful.”
Asked whether he’d noticed Costa taking much business from the shop, Mika added: “As far as whether Costa are taking custom from us, I don’t think they necessarily are.
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“In Macclesfield, we luckily have a strong locally minded community. But that’s not to say it doesn’t limit the potential for individuals to grow. We all need each other now more than ever!”
To find out more about Yas Bean and check out their brilliant coffee shop, you can follow them on Instagram here.
New pie shop with Indian-inspired fillings opens at Greater Manchester train station
Emily Sergeant
At long last, Patel’s Pies – the proper pie shop with Indian-inspired fillings – has got its very own site, and we couldn’t be happier about it.
The business is already a familiar name (to the blue half of the city, of course) thanks to its matchday spot outside the Etihad Stadium, but now, Patel’s Pies will be serving its delicious savoury bakes to the people of the Heatons too – with its brand-new pie shop now opene at Heaton Chapel train station.
Here you’ll find their legendary curry pies with homemade pastry – filled with the likes of keema, butter chicken, and beef madras.
You can grab hot and cold pies to take away, all setting you back an affordable £5.95 each.
Patel’s Pies is now open at Heaton Chapel train station / Credit: The Manc Group
From 11am-2pm, you can also get your hands on the lunch deal, which is any pie, masala mash, spiced mushy peas, and gunpowder gravy.
Patel’s Pies has teamed up with Manc legends Gooey, so you can grab the bakery’s famous cookies and doughnuts here too.
There’ll also be local beers and canned drinks up for grabs.
All pies will set you back an affordable £5.95 each / Credit: The Manc Group
Inside, the shop keeps things traditional, complete with classic pie warmers on the counter and hand-painted signage by Cactus Sign Painting, giving the space the feel of a proper old-school pie shop with a modern twist.
Announcing the new venture, Steve, the owner of Patel’s Pies has said: “We’d love for you to come down, say hello, and support our new venture. It’s our very first day, so please bear with us as we get settled in, we can’t wait to serve you all.”
Patel’s Pies is open now at Heaton Chapel Train Station on Tatton Road South.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Trendy Ancoats wine bar Blossom Street Social to close after six years
Emily Sergeant
Trendy neighbourhood wine bar Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after nearly seven years serving the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social first opened its doors back in 2019, just months before the country – and the res of the world – was plunged into the COVID-19 lockdowns, but despite all the challenges during the early days, this wine bar went on to become a true staple of Ancoats life – hosting events, exhibitions, wine tastings, and everything in between.
But now, the owners have had to make the heartbreaking decision to close, saying they’ve ‘danced our last dance, played our last record, and poured our last glass of wine in Ancoats.’
Announcing the news in a statement to social media this week, Blossom Street Social said: “Blossom Street Social closes its doors after six and a half years at the heart of the Ancoats community.
Blossom Street Social has announced its closure after six years / Credit: The Manc Group
“When we opened in 2019, just months before the world changed forever, we couldn’t possibly have imagined the journey ahead. Through lockdowns, uncertainty and everything that followed, we somehow managed to build something that became far more than a wine bar.
“Wine was always at the heart of what we did, but so were the conversations, the music, the art and the community that grew around it.
“We’ve hosted tastings, exhibitions, launches, celebrations, social sessions and countless memorable nights. We’ve introduced people to wines they’d never tried before, watched friendships form and shared in some truly special moments.
“We’ve watched first dates become engagements, engagements become marriages, and couples return with babies in tow. We’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, new homes and countless milestones alongside you. We’ve shared conversations, laughter, music and moments that mattered from our little corner of Ancoats. We will never forget them.”
The team then went on to thank ‘every customer, artist, DJ, supplier, collaborator and friend’ who became part of their story.
The owners also gave a special thank you to the staff members who stayed ‘to the very end’ and ‘showed up when it was hard’, admitting that they couldn’t have done it without them all.
Georgina Pellant -
21st November 2022 
