Oi Dumplings, a firm favourite independent business at the Manchester Christmas Markets, has been left devastated after a fire destroyed their new restaurant.
The beloved Vietnamese business only opened its first proper restaurant of its own in July of this year, a beautiful, terracotta-painted neighbourhood spot in the picturesque village of Marsden.
Prior to that, they had been trading from a tiny cabin with no indoor seating and doing the rounds of street food events, including the Manchester Christmas Markets.
But earlier this week, Oi Dumplings’ stunning little restaurant totally ‘perished’ in a freak fire, triggering a huge outpouring of grief and support from the local community and friends of the business (us included).
The fire was started in their brand-new, switched-off tumble dryer and has devastated the space they so carefully designed and built.
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Oi Dumplings is now going through the lengthy process of insurance before they can begin to rebuild – but with the Manchester Christmas Markets barely two weeks away, they’ve issued a plea for help.
Founders Mollie Power and Maisie Davies now desperately need somewhere to prep for the markets, a key income stream for any small independent.
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The beautiful Oi Dumplings restaurant in Marsden, opened in July, has been devastated by a fire. Credit: Instagram
They’re seeking a temporary space where they can do the pain-staking work of making their own handmade dumplings.
Oi Dumplings said ‘we’re not giving up’, adding: “The markets played a massive part in funding our restaurant, and we hope that it will play its future role in rebuilding our restaurant.”
They also quipped: “In times of darkness we are looking for the light and luckily enough for us, there’s a great big massive hole in the roof of the building.
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“So there we go, we will move and do the only thing we can right now. Steam some award winning dumplings for the Manchester Christmas Markets.”
Their full statement is below and if you can help them get back on their feet, you can message them on Instagram HERE.
Oi Dumplings’ statement after fire
Food at Oi Dumplings in Marsden. Credit: The Manc Group
I remember when we started ‘Oi’ with nothing. We were both teaching online and doing random delivery jobs for Amazon during the pandemic. We spent £120 on ingredients and packaging. We used the ice packs and delivery bags that we had from Amazon to deliver our little dumplings around Yorkshire and Manchester. We were so worried we wouldn’t get that money back. When we posted about our new venture online, embarrassment and fear crept in. I remember crying in bed thinking ‘What have we done? No one is going to buy these dumplings from a random person online.’ How wrong we were. I guess you don’t know till you try.
Fast forward four years, a series of fortunate events, countless hours and hard work. We moved from Gazebo, to the Cabin, to Manchester Christmas Markets.
After four years of working our asses off, we found ourselves in a position where we could buy our first business and renovate a space. It was so amazing to see our vision come alive and even better that we would be INSIDE. How lucky. How blessed. How glorious. But as we all know, life is a series of tests. And my god it is testing us. Riding high in April, shot down in May.
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We then faced problem after problem. Planning, licensing, court hearings. And now the pièce de résistance. A fire – caused by spontaneous combustion in the tumble dryer. Guys, never trust your dryer, ours was brand new and turned off.
And so we are left with a perished establishment. What isn’t burnt, is damaged by smoke and water. It was lucky that the fire was caught when it was. To the team of brave professionals that put the fire out, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Over the past few days we have been inundated with messages from our customers, friends and family. We have taken the time to read every single one. Words of encouragement and offers to lend a helping hand in any way possible. How beautiful. The community we surround ourselves with is truly and utterly astonishing. So what can we do now?
The only thing we can focus on now is the courage to move forward whilst our premises are in the hands of our insurers. We have the Manchester Christmas Markets around the corner and we are in urgent need of a temporary space to prep in, and we need your help to find that space. The team at Manchester Markets have kindly delayed our final payment to give us room to replace the equipment that perished in the fire. The markets played a massive part in funding our restaurant, and we hope that it will play its future role in rebuilding our restaurant. We’re not giving up. In times of darkness we are looking for the light and luckily enough for us, there’s a great big massive hole in the roof of the building. So there we go, we will move and do the only thing we can right now. Steam some award winning dumplings for the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Please, please, please share this post and help us find our temporary home?!
I went all the way to Paris to test out Big Mamma ahead of Manchester’s most exciting new restaurant opening
Daisy Jackson
Hospitality heavyweights Big Mamma Group are finally heading to Manchester, opening a Circolo Popolare Italian restaurant in the city centre – so we nipped over to Paris to see exactly what’s in store for us.
In the 10 years since launching their very first restaurant, East Mamma in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, the group have spread their wings wide.
There are Big Mamma Group restaurants, under several different names, all over Europe – and although they all belong to the same family, each one is treated like a total individual.
Some have maximalist, kitsch interiors with animal print furniture, gilded ceilings and retro prints of men in Y-fronts; others are more traditional trattorias with exposed brick, terracotta floors and crisp white tablecloths.
These interiors are fun, which is so refreshing in an industry which sometimes takes itself a bit too seriously.
On our tour of Big Mamma restaurants in Paris I came across delightful details like a loo wallpapered in pictures of Rod Stewart, a cocktail menu designed like a retro football sticker book, and an ice cream parlour built into an old train station carriage.
Every corner is packed with whimsy and wonder and there’s a whole team dedicated to sourcing these little touches from antiques fairs, second-hand shops and independent makers, stashing them all in an Aladdin’s Cave of a warehouse. Each restaurant even has its own crockery pattern.
East Mamma, one of Big Mamma’s Paris restaurantsNo Entry cocktail barA Big Mamma speakeasyPink MammaLa Felicita food hallLa Felicita food hall
So yes, the interiors in Manchester will be similarly interesting and lavish.
Big Mamma Group has already confirmed that the huge two-storey Circolo Popolare trattoria will be inspired by a Sardinian Festa, meaning cosy alcoves, more than 8000 bottles of vintage booze, and a vast room inspired by an overgrown Mediterranean courtyard.
As it takes shape in Gary Neville’s £400m St Michael’s development, they’ll be moving in big sharing tables, antique trinkets, reels of twinkling lights and even an Italian wishing well ahead of the big launch next month.
But not enough of us are talking about the food yet – this is a restaurant group that sources its produce from 160 different Italian artisans to ensure that everything you’re eating as authentic and delicious as possible.
Food at Big Mamma
While the menus shift between restaurants you can expect hearty bowls of handmade pasta laced with truffle or tomato or cheese, crispy-soft pizzas layered in creative sauce bases (like zucchini cream or black truffle cream, along with their classic San Marzano DOP tomato sauce), and per iniziare starters like giant burrata balls, melt-in-the-mouth croquettes, and slivers of cured meats – all prepared in an open kitchen run by Campanian-born Alfonso Esposito.
And a show-stopper for Manchester will be an outrageous six-inch lemon meringue pie, with a wibbly wobbly tower of Italian meringue on top.
Circolo Popolare will officially open its doors on 6 June – and before then, there’ll be a very limited soft launch where you can snag yourself 50% off your bill. Sign up HERE, with bookings live on Monday 12 May.
The massively underrated rooftop terrace in Manchester with great views and top cocktails
Daisy Jackson
Manchester city centre is generally STARVED of outdoor space, but we’ve found the perfect sun-soaked oasis where you can enjoy a bit of fresh air and a whole lot of great food and drinks.
Tucked up on the sixth floor of the award-winning boutique hotel King Street Townhouse, you’ll find a rooftop terrace with beautiful views of the city’s skyline.
As Manchester buzzes along beneath you, you can tuck in to everything from full charcuterie grazing boards to seasonal snacks and small plates, all served alongside an impressive wine and cocktail list.
This often-overlooked local spot is a firm favourite of those in the know, thanks to its sheltered location that basks in the sun all afternoon.
And although it’s in a prime city centre location, just a stone’s throw from Deansgate, St Peter’s Square and Market Street, it’s a luxurious escape from it all – as is the entire boutique hotel it’s part of.
Whether it’s a post-work social, a relaxed date night, or a cheeky afternoon cocktail, the King Street Townhouse Terrace is open to the public and available for walk-ins or bookings when it isn’t privately hired.
On the menu you can expect locally-sourced dishes like Pollen sourdough served with whipped butter, a meat or cheese grazing board loaded with British produce, and larger plates like a beef and bone marrow burger or a fried fish roll topped with crisps.
British charcuterie grazing boardSpritzes on the King Street Townhouse terrace
Pairing perfectly with a spritz or a beer are snacks like deep-fried Gordal olives, stuffed with fennel sausage, and a brioche garlic bread packed with cream cheese.
The hotel has a cocktail list that celebrates classic drinks and a few of their own signature concoctions, and it doesn’t feel much more luxurious than when you treat yourself to a glass of sky-high champagne with views like this.
The South Terrace can also be hired privately for leisure or corporate events, with tailored catering options including summer BBQs.
And you can ramp up your trip to this oasis by staying overnight in one of the boutique hotels’ rooms, or visiting the King Street Townhouse ESPA spa for a treatment.
Find out more about the terrace at King Street Townhouse HERE.
The terrace at King Street Townhouse hotelThe terrace at King Street Townhouse hotelDeep-fried olivesGarlic bread with creamed cheeseKing Street Townhouse hotel
Daisy Jackson -
24th October 2024 
