Eats

Manchester pub brilliantly exposes ‘dumb dumb’ criminal after attempted break-in

'Ram raid on a bicycle'

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 29th September 2026

A pub in Manchester city centre has shared hilarious footage of a bungled break-in, and made a rather sarcastic swipe at the criminal in question too. 

North Westward Ho is the stunning boozer launched back in 2023 by the team behind Pomona Island brewery. 

It’s in a prime city centre location, just off Market Street and Cross Street, and has been decorated in the style of a historic boozer, with dark wooden details, ornate tiling, wall sconces, and oil paintings.

But North Westward Ho has recently caught the eye of an unwanted patron, who attempted to break the door down in quite a ridiculous way. 

CCTV footage shared by the bar shows a man running full-pelt into the locked, reinforced door, bouncing back some distance into the road. 

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He tries four times before giving up, hopping back on his bicycle, and disappearing.

The pub said it’s not normally bothered by criminals these days, with no cash on site to make it worth their while, adding that it’s usually only ‘the real dumb dumbs’ who attempt to break in. 

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Then they dialled the sarcasm up to 100 and laid into the man caught on CCTV. 

They wrote: “Once in a lifetime you get this kind of Machiavellian genius, a man so smart that he’s always three steps ahead. 

“It doesn’t feel great at first because you know you and your pane of toughened glass are no match for his mental dexterity, but then… You start to respect it. You realise you have to up your game. You have to think like him, live like him, become him. 

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“If you see me banging my head against a brick wall with no trousers on, dribbling on myself with a glazed expression, I’ve either been on the Factotum or I’m trying to get inside the mind of my Moriarty here. 

“Well played sir, you didn’t get in this time and if you had, it really wouldn’t have achieved anything, but you made us all have a good laugh. And maybe that’s the real point.”

Pomona Island then added: “Ram raid on a bicycle.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Northern Quarter cafe to reopen after TWO mysterious closures

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Morning Glory in Manchester will reopen this week

Morning Glory, a Manchester cafe that has mysteriously closed twice since its launch, is set to reopen again this week.

The sunny yellow cafe, which makes a playful nod to the Oasis hit with its name, opened in the Northern Quarter last summer.

It was created and launched by much-loved local influencer Zack Hipps, and was known for its coffees, matchas, and Manchester tarts.

Then in May this year, Morning Glory quietly closed temporarily, with forfeiture notices appearing in its windows while Zack assured fans things would be sorted out soon.

In late July, the cafe teased its grand reopening, with a post captioned: “Did you miss us? Cos we missed you.”

But then just days later, the doors were closed again.

This time, it seems like Morning Glory is back for good – music to our ears – with Zack sharing a statement addressing a ‘harsh reality check and very public lesson to learn’.

Manchester Tarts at Morning Glory
Manchester Tarts at Morning Glory
Inside Morning Glory, which will reopen this week
Inside Morning Glory, which will reopen this week

In his statement, the local business-owner has promised that the cafe will be back ‘stronger than before’, with ‘a lot of cool things planned’.

Morning Glory will also be handing out freebies, including speciality drinks, coffees, and house-made Manchester tarts to the first people to visit on its grand reopening day this weekend.

Zack’s statement reads: “Entering the Manchester coffee scene was incredible, but as a first-time business owner, it was also a massive learning curve.

“I’ll be honest: I got caught up in all the things I wanted Morning Glory to be – great coffee, a great space, art, events and somewhere that felt part of the community. I didn’t spend enough time focusing on the business side of making all of that work, leading to our closure. It was a harsh reality check and a very public lesson to learn.

“But I’ve been putting the work in behind the scenes, and we are moving forward stronger than before.

“If the Gallagher brothers can come back, so can we! We’re excited to share that we are officially reopening on 3rd October from 10am. To say thank you for all your support so far, we’ll be giving out 15 of our NEW special drinks, 85 regular coffees, and 100 house-made Manchester tarts to the first people through the doors. Come say hi!

“We will also be hiding a few of our yellow sloths around Manchester for a free coffee every day for the rest of the year – keep an eye out for clues on the 10th October.

“I want to say a massive thank you to everyone involved in phase one of Morning Glory. From the team behind the bar, to the people who helped make our art, events, and collabs happen, to the suppliers, and to every single one of you who came and tried us out.

“As we enter Season 2, we’ve got a lot of cool things planned. We are building on our favourites, expanding the range, bringing back fun events, and showing you more behind the scenes.

“See you on the 3rd Oct! Zack and team. Morning Glory x”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Manchester’s first banana pudding bar has opened in the city centre

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Make sure to save room for pudding…because one of the city’s most-talked about dessert brands has found a new home.

Buttercup launched last summer, creating little pots of the hit US dessert made famous by the iconic Magnolia Bakery.

Each dessert features vanilla custard whipped with cream, soft sponge, and fresh banana, which you can then customise with rotating flavours and toppings.

And after a brief disappearance from the Manchester foodie scene, Buttercup is back with a bang with their beautiful new home on Deansgate.

Images: The Manc Group

And when we say beautiful, we really mean it.

Glossy burgundy tiles, butter yellow walls and sleek chrome furniture make up the space beneath the huge arched window, and there’s even a few seats for you to enjoy your pud and watch the world go by.

Open daily from 10am til 10pm, the menu includes three puddings on rotation ready to scoop. 

Images: The Manc Group

Choose from the classic banana, indulgent tiramisu and an ever-changing seasonal special, alongside a wall of toppings for you to customise your own pud. 

Each recipe has been perfected in-house and the proof really is in the banana pudding…because it tastes just as good as it looks. 

Since launching, Buttercup has served around 50,000 puddings, hosted sell-out pop-ups across the city, collaborated with some huge brands, and built a loyal following around its signature build-your-own pudding bar.

Image: The Manc Group

With this new standalone space, you’ll of course be able to indulge in its signature banana pudding, as well as breakfast yoghurt bowls, coffee and matcha.

Officially opening tomorrow Saturday 26 September, the first 50 customers will get a free topping and sauce with the purchase of any pudding, plus a free lip gloss from Manchester-born beauty brand REFY.

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

Featured image – The Manc Group

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