Morrisons has relaunched a new initiative at hundreds of its cafes across the UK encouraging people to discreetly ‘ask for Henry’.
The supermarket has reintroduced its free meals initiative, allowing customers can use a discreet code in its cafe in exchange for free food.
Designed to help people in need no matter their age or circumstance, anyone can come into the cafe and enjoy a scran of Heinz baked beans and a jacket potato with salad on the house – no questions asked.
Customers will be able to ‘ask for Henry’ in Morrisons cafés across Manchester, including:
Morrisons Openshaw, Ashton Old Road
Morrisons Failsworth, Poplar Street
Morrisons Whitefield, Stanley Road
Morrisons Eccles, Irwell Place
Morrisons Swinton, Swinton Hall Road
Free meals are available all day long from April 24 to May 7, and they are open to anyone who needs them.
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The ‘ask for Henry’ initiative was first launched in 2022 in partnership with Heinz, taking a leaf out of its philanthropist founder Henry J. Heinz who would regularly make food with his mum to share amongst their community.
All staff at Morrison’s cafe have been fully trained on the initiative, so whether you ask “is Henry here”, “Henry”, “can I have a Henry”, “can I ask for Henry” or another derivative they will know what you mean.
Jojo De Noronha, President Northern Europe at Heinz said: “Last October we launched the ‘Ask for Henry’ initiative for the first time and were blown away by the response. And that’s why we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to bring back the initiative again, available from April 24.
“We would really encourage anyone who feels they may need or want a hot, hearty meal to take us up on this offer – it’s open to absolutely everyone, and there is plenty to go around. Whilst we know it doesn’t fix the problem, we’d love to be able to help as many people as we can in this two-week period in our own small way.”
Sian Whittle, Category Director for Food Service at Morrisons, added: “Our customers were very grateful for the ‘Ask for Henry’ initiative last year and as they continue to face financial pressures we’re pleased to be renewing our partnership with Heinz. For the next two weeks we’re bringing back our free jacket potato topped with Beanz offer in our cafés nationwide .”
Featured image – Flickr
Eats
Inside Chinatown’s enormous new three-storey restaurant, with futuristic karaoke booths
Daisy Jackson
A gigantic three-storey restaurant and karaoke bar has just opened its doors in Chinatown in Manchester.
Sovereign Clouds is the newest addition to one of the city’s most beloved and ever-evolving neighbourhoods, taking over a sizeable building on Faulkner Street that’s been vacant for 10 years.
Inside the 1,000 sq metre space, you’ll find a glittering restaurant adorned with marble and gold, where you can tuck into a massive menu of dim sum and traditional dishes.
One floor up and you’ll find yourself surrounded by live lobster tanks and the massive kitchen, alongside several flexible private dining spaces.
And up on the top floor are the most futuristic karaoke rooms in town, where you can customise lights, LED ceilings, and even sing through an autotune microphone.
Three roast meats from Sovereign CloudsDelicious dim sumAuthentic Chinese cooking from Sovereign CloudsBlack Gold Lava Buns with salted custard fillingThe massive Sovereign Clouds restaurant
On the menu you’ll find tonnes of steamed dim sum, stir fries, traditional claypot stews, roast meats, and loads more.
There’s seafood like stir-fried lobster with salted egg yolk, and traditional Cantonese steamed grouper; a whole section for abalone (advance orders only) including braised goose feet and fish maw; and a good selection of spicy Sichuan dishes.
The chefs here also have an impressive array of Chinese roast meats, like Peking crispy duck, pork belly, and char siu, as well as three roast meats with rice.
Futuristic karaoke roomsThe main restaurant at Sovereign CloudsFuturistic karaoke rooms
And that’s alongside ingredients you don’t find on a lot of menus in Manchester, like jellyfish, tripe, and century eggs.
It’s all led by Terry Ni, who has been behind the popular Dynasty Chinese and Thai takeaway in Timperley for more than a decade, and has spent years transforming this empty old building into one of Chinatown’s most glittering restaurants.
Come for dinner, stay for a turn on the karaoke upstairs, and tell everyone – Sovereign Clouds is a fantastic addition to Manchester.
‘Surreal’ moment Stevie Wonder dines at Stalybridge restaurant after enormous Manchester gig
Daisy Jackson
Stevie Wonder has stunned a local restaurant in Stalybridge after he popped in for dinner after his massive Manchester show.
The soul icon had performed a huge gig at Co-op Live on Sunday night, performing hits from his illustrious, decades-long career.
And while you might expect someone of Stevie’s fame and stature to dine at one of the city centre’s many Michelin-recommended restaurants, the star instead headed straight for the suburbs.
He was spotted dining at Cafe Continental, an independent restaurant that’s become one of the Greater Manchester’s most-hyped neighbourhood haunts since it launched two years ago.
The stylish spot is famed for its European-style restaurant and cafe culture, aiming to recreate the atmosphere of the sort of place you’d stumble upon down a back street in Rome or Paris.
On the menu they’ve got a rotation of small plates, open-fire dishes, pastas and burgers, along with their divine Parisian hot chocolate, served with a bowl of whipped cream on the side.
Cafe Continental has had a good track record for pulling in local famous faces, but arguably nothing comes close to Stevie Wonder himself.
Inside Cafe Continental in Stalybridge. Credit: The Manc GroupSoup and focaccia at Cafe Continental. Credit: The Manc Group
The night before Stevie’s visit, they’d served his band and daughter – and clearly word got back to Stevie fast, because he returned the next night to test it out for himself.
Cafe Continental posted: “Surreal things happen now and again. This is one of them! Pleasure to welcome Mr Stevie Wonder to the restaurant to close off his tour!”
And according to the MEN, Stevie left a whopping £1,000 tip for the staff.
Not only did Stevie Wonder support a local hospitality business, but he also arrived dressed in Drama Call, a Manchester-based sportswear brand.
Georgina Pellant -
25th April 2023 
