V Rev is the latest victim in a spate of closures announced this year by popular vegan restaurants.
Vegan eateries JJ’s Vish and Chips, Chorlton takeaway Zad’s and Liverpudlian concept Frost Burgers have all been forced to close their doors this year, all citing rising costs as a reason.
Now V Rev, one of Manchester’s original vegan restaurants, has followed suit – closing its doors for good on Sunday 25 September.
The Northern Quarter restaurant first opened in 2015 and is widely considered to have paved the way for vegan junk food, serving what was then considered a game-changing menu of plant-based jumbo hot dogs, fried ‘chicken’, loaded fries, burgers and mac balls.
Image: V Rev
Image: V Rev
Initially launched in 2011 by Manchester University graduate Dom Moss as a vegan grocery and record store, in 2013 a small menu was introduced before V Rev eventually became the subterranean diner we’ve known and loved for the past seven years.
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In that time, it’s quietly carried on whilst other similar concepts opened on its doorstep. Now, owners have announced that their time has come to an end.
In a statement shared on social media on Sunday, the V Rev team wrote: “Unfortunately, today (25/09/22) will be tour last day open.
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“Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us over the past 10 years.
“The past few years with lockdown and restrictions brought us to a point where we’re not able to financially recover and stay operational.
“Obviously, this isn’t how we wanted things to end – this is now out of our hands and we’re absolutely gutted.
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“We’ll continue serving today – we are running out of stock so pop in while you can to say your goodbyes and cry intro your loaded fries.’
After the shock post appeared on social media on Sunday, comments flooded in thick and fast as fans shared their heartache that the restaurant was closing so soon.
Image: V Rev
Image: V Rev
Amassing over 1,000 comments on Instagram alone in the last 24 hours, the post has been shared widely as loyal vegans commiserated together.
Yorkshire-based vegan restaurant group Doner Summer wrote: “Pioneers of the vegan food scene in the North, you will be missed”
Mnbvegan added: “Oh my god, we’re so sorry folks. Proper sad to see you go. You guys were one of the first totally vegan places we know of, and it was so exciting! One of the proper originals, you will be missed.”
Whilst JJ’s Vish and Chips Manchester, who was also forced to closed this year, simply said: “Sending love.”
Feature image – V Rev Manchester
Eats
Viral chicken shop Wingstop is opening inside the Manchester Arndale
Daisy Jackson
Wingstop, the chicken shop famed for its vast range of wing flavours and sauces, is opening another spot in Manchester city centre.
The brand will be taking over the old Yo Sushi site in the Manchester Arndale, which shut down just last month.
It’ll mean there’ll be two Wingstop locations within a few minutes’ walk of each other, with another takeaway already well-established on Piccadilly Gardens.
Wingstop UKI has found viral fame with people taste-testing its wide range of hand-sauced chicken wing flavours, ranging from garlic parmesan all the way up to the eye-watering ‘Atomic’.
As well as chicken wings, it serves delicious tenders and burgers, all cooked to order.
There are also a range of sides, including loaded fries, sweet potato fries, and cajun fried corn, plus dips like ranch, honey mustard, and blue cheese.
Wingstop is also famed for its thick milkshakes – which are a necessity if you order your chicken down the spicier end of the scale.
Established in Texas in 1994, Wingstop rose rapidly to become one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the US.
The brand launched in the UK market in 2018, and into Ireland last year, and now operates more than 85 locations.
Wingstop is opening in Manchester Arndale
Wingstop will be moving into the 5,928 sq ft unit upstairs in Manchester Arndale, just opposite Next.
Scott Linard, Portfolio Manager for M&G Real Estate, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Wingstop to our vibrant F&B offer; an addition we’re sure will resonate with our younger visitors.
“With the additions of popular restaurant chains like Wingstop, coupled with the arrival of new retailers such as Arc’teryx, Alo Yoga, Pro:Direct and Sephora, we are strategically creating a destination where people across the North West and beyond want to spend their time.”
Steve Gray, Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, said: “Wingstop will join Manchester Arndale’s varied F&B mix, including Popeyes, Sides, Hotel Chocolat, Joe & The Juice and Café Nero.
“In-demand operators like this help create energy and momentum that allows the brands across the scheme to thrive, driving increased footfall, longer dwell times and a more compelling offer for visitors.”
The best cheese tasting party in the North is BACK at a new Manchester venue
Danny Jones
That’s right, one of the biggest and best cheese tasting nights in the entire land is returning to Greater Manchester at a brand new city centre venue.
Not to be over-the-top, but this isn’t just another experience sampling possibly the greatest foodstuff on Earth, it’s a fully-fledged cheese-lovers’ party.
Some of you may have come across Homage2Fromage before, but for anyone unaware of the Yorkshire-born event, it started out as a monthly cheese tasting club and went on to expand across the dairy-adoring North at large.
Relaunching here in Manchester for 2026, all you lactose-intolerant people better watch, because Home2Fromage is coming back with a vengeance and heading to the Northern Quarter. Here’s how it went down the last time we visited one in Leeds:
Leeds, Sheffield, Harrogate, Manchester and who knows where else next.
Posting up in a relatively recent addition to NQ‘s bar and restaurant scene, The Faraday – a pub on Lever St that replaces the old Seven Sins back in October – it looks set to be an ideal venue for the regular evening series.
Homage2Fromage will be making its Manc return this month, and better still, they’re holding a cheeky little giveaway to sweeten the pot.
As in the deal, we mean – not the inevitable bowls full of olives, chutney, oil and various other dips…
To welcome this celebration of all things cheese coming back to Manchester city centre, they’re giving away a bunch of free tickets: 20 pairs in total.
Worth over £50 a piece for each twin set of tickets, you’d be a fool not to at least throw your hat in the ring for this one.
As you can see, the competition closes this Thursday, 19 February, ahead of the full relaunch party next week (Wed, 25 Feb), and all you have to do to enter is fill out this super quick survey.
It really is as simple as that; a few quick words are all that stand between you and a potential mountain of cheese and more.
You can find all you need to know about the event right HERE, and in case you haven’t popped into The Faraday just yet, see more down below.
It’s still somewhat early days, but we can see ourselves spending a fair bit of time in this up-and-coming Manchester watering hole, especially when there’s cheese nights involved.
Georgina Pellant -
26th September 2022 
