The home of the now-famous 22” pizza pies and slices is opening a new restaurant at the corner site of Manchester’s newest city centre garden neighbourhood.
Serving up its much-loved and best selling Original Cheese, Do You ‘Roni Honey?, and Vegan Deluxe pizzas to hungry Mancunians, Nell’s at KAMPUS will feature a restaurant where you can make bookings for groups of all sizes, a bar, and also stand-alone ‘Slice Bar’, so people can pop in for a quick slice on-the-go all day and late into the evening.
Of course, while the best-sellers are on the menu, there’s also some new additions to the new restaurant site, including a range of snacks and signature cocktails to join the pizza line up.
Famous for the attention-to-detail in the dough, and not content with just repurposing the 48-hour dough used for their pizza, Nell’s founder Jonny Heyes went back to the mixer and developed a new focaccia-style dough, baked and topped with either Nell’s signature marinara, extra garlic and basil or with rocket, burrata and crushed pepper.
The home of the now-famous 22” pizza pies and slices is coming to KAMPUS / Credit: Instagram (@nellspizza)
Nell’s new location at KAMPUS will keep its title as one of the best beer slinger in the city with 17 lines pouring a selection of house beers, rotating specials from visiting breweries, and some local favourites, as well as a wine list that’s made up entirely of wines you just want to drink, in large glasses, all night.
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The Nell’s team has even developed a new cocktail menu for the KAMPUS opening too, with three signature cocktails – Nell’s Sbagliato, Nell’s Spritz, and Nell’s Sour.
And if you’re really looking to get the full Nell’s experience, then make sure to keep Sunday free in your diary, as Sundays will be all about bottomless slices, bottomless drinks, and DJs, as part of the launch of ‘Sunday Pizza Social’.
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Bookings for this can be made online or in house, with tables for large groups available.
Nell’s NY Pizza & Bar opens at KAMPUS on Friday 5 November / Credit: KAMPUS
Nell’s at KAMPUS takes the place of Cornerstone – the pub which owners Jonny and Charlotte Heyes had planned initially for this space – and to give a little more insight into the change of plan, Jonny said: “We decided to make a change from our original concept for KAMPUS – it wasn’t an easy decision, but we felt like so much had changed since we began this project at Kampus and Cornerstone started to feel like a ‘pre-COVID’ idea, which of course it was.
“KAMPUS had been intended as the first ever Nell’s, but in fact we’re already now operating at two sites.
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“So much of our focus over the last year has been on Nell’s, so we thought it didn’t make sense to have it playing second fiddle to Cornerstone.
“Now felt like the right time for Nell’s to step out of the shadows and have a place of her own.”
The Manchester cafe serving viral Dubai pistachio chocolate, smores platters, chocolate fondue and more
Daisy Jackson
There’s a cafe in Manchester that is dedicated to ticking off every chocolate food craze under one roof, from indulgent platters to those viral ‘Dubai’ pistachio bars.
We are of course talking about Cocoa Cabana, a pretty little spot in the heart of Ancoats (as well as its original site over in Didsbury), which specialises in all things artisan chocolate.
From beautiful cakes and chocolates made by hand and displayed in their cabinets, to traditional afternoon teas, to brunches and lunches – there’s a LOT to satisfy your sweet and savoury tooth at Cocoa Cabana.
First founded by Sarah Gallacher back in 2012, this is one of those spots that keeps people coming back time and time again thanks to a packed programme of experiences, including cocktail-making classes, tasting events, and chocolate making classes.
Now, if you’re one of those people who orders the sizzling fajitas in a restaurant, you’re going to enjoy the Cocoa Cabana smores platter, which arrives with a similar amount of ‘ooh look at me’ pomp and ceremony.
You’re presented with your own miniature firepit-in-a-tin, flickering blue flames surrounded by a mountain of giant marshmallows, homemade cookies, and little jars of molten chocolate.
A smores platter at Cocoa Cabana in Ancoats. Credit: The Manc Group
Skewer your squishy mallow, stick it over the fire until its outsides are all golden and bubbling, then squash that between two cookies and apply whatever sauce – white chocolate, dark chocolate, or pistachio sauce – you fancy. Sickly, yes, but so good.
There’s also the option to have a more traditional chocolate fondue, again presented on fire.
This time it’s a dark vat of artisan molten chocolate, with a heaped bowl of fresh strawberries, banana, chocolate straws, waffles, brownies, and more for dipping.
Dunking a fudgy, iced brownie into a pot of chocolate is the ultimate indulgence.
Cocoa Cabana’s chocolate fondue. Credit: The Manc GroupCocoa Cabana in Manchester sells the viral Dubai pistachio chocolate. Credit: The Manc Group
And then, as all smart chocolatiers have done this year, Cocoa Cabana has brought those viral pistachio chocolate bars from Dubai straight to Manchester.
These enormous bars are stuffed with pistachio sauce and knafeh, a crunchy, traditional Arabic pastry that is sort of reminiscent of when you use to make Easter nests with a Shredded Wheat in primary school.
Cocoa Cabana finishes theirs in a shimmering coat of edible gold (because why not).
This is just one of those spots that proves you don’t need a golden ticket to find chocolate heaven in Manchester.
Hello Oriental opens new ‘seriously affordable’ Asian food hall at the Trafford Centre
Emily Sergeant
Manchester gem Hello Oriental is finally opening its new Asian food hall at the Trafford Centre this weekend.
The renowned East Asian street food hub has already taken Manchester city centre by storm since opening its original venue at Circle Square, just off Oxford Road, back in February 2022, and been has receiving rave reviews ever since – with critics notably calling the experience “a lot of fun” and “seriously affordable”.
But now, the Manchester-founded brand has chosen the Trafford Centre as the first UK shopping centre location to bring its trademark street food dining concept to.
There’ll be more than 100 delicious dishes for customers to choose from when the new site opens in the Upper Orient this Saturday.
Hello Oriental has opened a new Asian food hall at the Trafford Centre / Credit: The Manc Group
Hello Oriental owners and childhood best friends, Ricky Yip and Azim Kourah, say they have selected some of the most popular dishes from the Manchester city centre site’s extensive menu for the new Trafford Centre restaurant.
This means diners at the Trafford Centre can enjoy traditional dishes from across East Asia – including a wide range of Dim Sum, hearty main dishes like Taiwanese pork belly with rice, traditional favourites like beef Ho fun, and loads of different Cantonese roast meats.
There’ll also be a wide selection of street food available, like Korean fried chicken, loaded katsu chicken fries, and three varieties of sticky chicken wings.
There’s also plenty for the little Mancs to tuck into too, as there’ll be a full kid’s menu available at the new Trafford Centre site, with options for both those with “adventurous” junior palates, to those who prefer “more familiar” tastes.
“We’re so excited to open in the Trafford Centre and give shoppers the chance to try our dishes from across East Asia,” commented co-owner, Ricky Yip, ahead of the new opening.
“Many of the dishes on the menu were enjoyed by Azim and I growing up, cooked by my family, or served in family restaurants, and it’s wonderful to see other families come to Hello Oriental to enjoy these flavours.”
Emily Sergeant -
20th October 2021 
