Eats

Oldham’s hugely popular Old School BBQ Bus is back open for takeaway this weekend

It's beloved by locals for its fantastic freshly-cooked food, live music and country entertainment.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 19th February 2021
The Old School BBQ Bus

The beloved BBQ gem of Oldham has delighted its fans and loyal customers this week by announcing it is to reopen for takeaway.

Hugely popular Chadderton ranch The Old School BBQ Bus has achieved well-deserved regional fame from its humble beginnings of trading on a car park in Failsworth back in 2016, before opening on a permanent site in January 2018 and becoming the UK’s first outdoor BBQ street food eatery.

It’s since become known and loved by Greater Manchester locals for its fantastic freshly-cooked food, live music and country entertainment.

But sadly, due to ongoing restrictions and England’s third national lockdown – and even despite being an outdoor covered venue – The Old School BBQ Bus’ famous smoking pit has been forced to close its premises to the public for a large chunk of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The ranch had instead been running a successful collection and takeaway service instead, allowing customers to chow-down on their signature slow-cooked grub from the comfort of their own home.

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And now, following a closure over the festive period and a series subsequent delays due to maintenance work and cold weather, the owners have confirmed that they are back open for collection from this weekend.

Pre-orders are available from 4pm today online.

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With a menu chocked full of Smoke Shack Sharer specials, a wide range of burgers, nachos, hot dogs, pizzas, salads, sides and even a dedicated selection of kids food, there’s lots to choose from if you fancy getting stuck in this weekend.

Unfortunately though, due to current government trading restrictions for takeaway businesses, the ranch’s popular cocktail boxes and alcohol line-up will not be on the menu for the foreseeable, but a range of hard milkshakes will still be available.

Other soft drinks are also available.

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The Old School BBQ Bus will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 4pm – 8pm.

You can find the full menu and place your orders for collection via The Old School BBQ Bus’ website here, via Appaway here, or on Facebook.

Don’t forget to check out owner Mark’s message about this weekend’s reopening for all the latest updates.

Eats

Skof, Manchester’s most hotly-anticipated restaurant, confirms opening date and menu prices

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Tom Barnes with the team outside Skof, a new restaurant opening in Manchester in May. Credit: Supplied

A restaurant with a serious Michelin pedigree is set to open in Manchester very soon, as chef Tom Barnes readies to launch Skof and gives a glimpse into its menu.

Tom’s impressive CV includes time spent at L’Enclume, the three-Michelin star Lake District restaurant widely considered one of the best in the world, and he’ll bring that same farm-to-table ethos to the city centre with his debut restaurant.

Skof will be taking over a historic building in the NOMA neighbourhood, right by Manchester Victoria, with an official opening date now locked in.

Skof is set to launch on Wednesday 29 May, with bookings going live today and tables available all the way through to 14 September (and likely to fill up fast).

Tom Barnes has also teased what’s to come on his menu, with two different tasting menus available.

Skof will have a 12-course tasting menu priced at £120, and a 15-course menu for £165 – plus a £50, four-course lunch offering.

The restaurant will be owned and operated by Tom but falls under Simon Rogan’s UMBEL Restaurants group, and he’ll be weaving in new suppliers as well as using daily deliveries of produce grown specifically for him from Simon Rogan’s Our Farm in the Cartmel Valley.

He’ll be using small-scale suppliers such as Cinderwood Market Garden in Nantwich and Lake District Farmers to fill his exciting menu of home-grown dishes.

The first set of menus will include dishes like roasted Sladesdown duck, peach leaf, Ibis celeriac, and wholemeal bread; Berkswell cheese sable biscuit, crushed broad beans, whipped roe, and bronze fennel; and a lightly set custard, served with Hen-of-the-Woods mushrooms, truffle, and mushroom dashi.

Tom Barnes with the team outside Skof, a new restaurant opening in Manchester in May which has confirmed its launch date and menu prices. Credit: Supplied
Tom Barnes with the team outside Skof, a new restaurant opening in Manchester in May which has confirmed its launch date and menu prices. Credit: Supplied

There’ll be a lot of thought that goes in to the drinks pairings too, working with restaurant manager Sean Oakford and assistant restaurant manager Max Lawrence (both ex-L’Enclume), on a range of drinks options to include alcohol-free or mixed-alcohol pairings, or matching wines to go with the menu.

Tom has also collaborated with Manchester brewery, Track to create Sidney, a light and refreshing beer intended as an alternative to kick off the meal.

Tom Barnes said: “It’s been a long time coming, so I’m excited to be able to finally release our reservations. I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on and to return some of the incredible hospitality I’ve received from the people of Manchester.

“With Skof, my purpose is to create an incredible experience that focuses on great quality ingredients but above all, puts a smile on peoples faces.”

Skof will open in Manchester’s NOMA district on Wednesday 29 May.

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Featured image: Supplied

Eats

Popeyes is giving away FREE chicken sandwiches to celebrate the opening of their second Manchester site

Danny Jones Danny Jones free popeyes fried chicken sandwiches manchester drive-thru opening date

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.

popeyes free food manchester
popeyes bury new road
Credit: The Manc Eats

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.

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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.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

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