Independent Leeds-based brewery North is opening a taproom at Circle Square, bringing its beer to Manchester’s Oxford Road.
Set to open later this year, North Taproom will see popular beers from its core poured alongside an ever-changing line-up of beers, wines, cocktails, ciders, and spirits.
North Taproom will feature 24 draught lines, including eighteen lines of keg beer and one cask, all pouring North’s ever-evolving range of classic beers, specials and collabs.
Over the past seven years, the team has worked with a stellar roster of Manchester breweries including Cloudwater, Track, and Pomona Island, and locals can expect to find some exciting collaborations with Manchester breweries when North opens its doors later this year.
The new taproom will also boast a new food offering from fellow Leeds-based brand Little Bao Boy, which gained notoriety as the city’s most-ordered takeaway during lockdown.
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Known for serving up traditional Asian food with a western and contemporary twist, Little Bao Boy’s menu features an array of homemade squishy bao stuffed with the likes of gochujang cauliflower, salt and pepper aubergine, pulled pork cooked low and slow in Chinese five spice, oyster mushrooms and crispy tofu.
Elsewhere on the menu, diners will find a selection of meat and veggie gyoza dumplings, garlic salt, salt and pepper and loaded fries – if their Leeds offering is anything to go from, anyway.
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The 2590 sq. foot taproom will seat 100 covers inside, with room for an additional 30 standing guests. Housed in a modern glass building, the new taproom will also have an extensive outside seating area overlooking Circle Square’s green space.
On the taps, guests also can enjoy house-made negroni and a rotating selection of cocktail, as well as natural wine and fizz.
Speaking on the new opening, John Gyngell, co-founder and director said: “Our new bar in Manchester marks a huge milestone for all of us at North.
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“We’ve actually been looking for a Manchester site for the last 25 years and have come very close a number of times! Many of the North team have lived, worked or studied in Manchester, and we make a habit of visiting as regularly as possible.
“The hospitality scene in Manchester has provided tonnes of inspiration over the years, and we can’t wait to bring North to the city.”
Alongside the North Brewing Co. Taproom, Circle Square will also welcome newcomer Boo – a speciality burger, breakfast and coffee spot – later this year.
Popeyes is giving away FREE chicken sandwiches to celebrate the opening of their second Manchester site
Danny Jones
Popeyes is once again set to give away dozens of free chicken sandwiches to celebrate the opening of their latest location and the second here in Greater Manchester later this week.
The announcement that another Manc Popeyes was set to pop up just a few months on from their flagship restaurant in Piccadilly One came just this past March and people are starting to get super excited about this newest edition – and for good reason.
Not only it is another place for people to get their hands on the legendary Louisiana fried chicken but it’s also set to be a drive-thru – just their sixth anywhere in the UK, in fact.
Better still, those looking to get their hands on a freebie this Friday can do so from their car too.
Just as with their first opening back in October, there are set to be huge queues for the Popeyes on Bury New Road as fans get ready to be among the first line as the fast food franchise is giving away 25 of their iconic fried chicken sandwiches for absolutely free.
And that goes for those queuing up in their cars too, as they can also get their hands on those beloved spiced sarnies by being among the first to get in the drive-thru. Be warned though, the last one stretched for a whopping 16 hours.
To top it all off, the first three of those to make it to the counter/pay window will be given free fried chicken for a whole year. Yes, seriously.
We were there when lucky Manc Hashim was the very first in line at the Piccadilly opening and walked away with the ultimate prize. We’ve never been more jealous in our lives.
There’ll also be lots of Popeyes merch up for grabs which has become a bit of a cult favourite amongst merch collectors. We’re not exactly sure why but people got nuts for those baseball caps.
The all-new American chicken restaurant will not only be their second in the region but mark the brand’s 11th opening so far this year and 47th since landing in the UK back in November 2021.
Popeyes’ Manchester drive-thru opens on 288-292 Bury New Road at 11am on Friday, 26 April, so if you want to be in with a chance you better be quick. You can find the full terms and conditions HERE.
We recently went back to their exciting city centre site for an episode of our Takeaway Champions and it didn’t disappoint. Safe to say we’re pretty buzzing we’ll soon be able to grab it on the go.
Sacha Lord hails Manchester restaurant for serving up ‘the best Sunday roast’ he’s had ‘in ages’
Danny Jones
Parklife and Warehouse Project co-founder Sacha Lord has hailed a Manchester Sunday roast as ‘the best he’s had in ages’ and he’s by no means the only one showing it some love.
Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser has been heavily involved in supporting the Manc hospitality sector of late, especially post-pandemic, bigging up local food spots all over Greater Manchester and even footing the bill on occasion.
Sacha has given his seal of approval to many spots in and around the city centre over the last 12 months but if there’s one suggestion we always take seriously it’s about a proper good Sunday roast.
Posting this weekend, the entrepreneur and recently published author was full of praise for Kala over on King Street, crediting their “great food and superb staff”, as well as labelling it simply “the best Sunday roast I’ve had in ages.” Big words.
Really like Kala_Manchester treated mum earlier in the year lovely food, good service and excellent value.
Sacha Lord calls Kala ‘the best roast he’s had in ages’ — and lots of people are in agreement.
Social media was quick to follow Lord’s lead in flooding the comments with praise for the beloved Manchester bistro. One person wrote, “best food, service and general vibe in all”, urging owner Gary Usher to “keep fighting the fight” and another simply added: “one of my very favourite restaurants”.
Usher, chef-owner of the Kala, Hispi in Didsbury and the Elite Bistros group across the North West, replied to Sacha, saying: “Was our total pleasure to have you with us mate thank you so much for supporting us and it really does mean a lot to everyone”.
Sacha Lord‘s post also encouraged lots of others online to share their positive stories and recommendations for other excellent restaurants in and around the region. The wholesome content we just love to see.
It’s worked too, as not only have we started noting down tonnes of new spots we’ve never heard of before but it’s also made us want to go back to Kala pronto – come on, how insane do these Sunday roasts look?
Mouth-watering stuff.Their lamb rump special sold out in less than a couple of hours earlier this month. Credit: Kala Bistro (via Instagram)
Kala’s had a lot of props from food critics as well, with Jay Rayner summing things up succinctly in his Observer column as far back as 2019 by headlining it: ‘Quietly feeds you well’. If this place is still a secret to anyone, it might be one of the worst-kept in the city.
Well in, Gary – and if you’ve not tried their Sunday roast already, you can now take ours and Sacha’s word for it. Where’s your favourite roast in Greater Manchester?
You can see our full list of the best Sunday roasts in Manchester down below:
Georgina Pellant -
1st November 2022 
