Freight Island has just announced some massive new arrivals and its biggest-ever spring-summer programme – including the arrival of Ornella’s Kitchen.
Joining Ornella’s Kitchen – a tiny Tameside restaurant which is consistently booked up MONTHS in advance – will be equally massive local names like Gooey and Hello Oriental.
The landmark street food and entertainment venue turns five this year, and is announcing new kitchens, a refreshed dining service, a new look, and a free to attend festival programme.
Set to reopen on Thursday 3 April, this next iteration of Freight Island will include new kitchens for some of Manchester’s best-known and best-loved operators.
Up first will be Ornella’s Little Kitchen – an announcement they already teased last week – where this in-demand Italian restaurant will be serving its pasta-deli specials in a new restaurant setting inside Freight Island. You’ll be able to book a table for Ornella’s Little Kitchen HERE.
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Also opening next month will be a Chinese BBQ spot from MOREJOY, huge French toast brunches from Gooey, and ice cream and desserts from Hello Oriental as they launch Hello Dezato.
Of course, Freight Island will have its returning resident kitchens too with fresh new menus, like chicken shop Patterson’s, Venezuelan food from Mia’s Arepas, smash burgers from the legendary Burgerism, giant pizza slices from Voodoo Ray’s, pan-Asian dishes from FUKU, Greek street food from Mega Gyros, and cheesecake on a stick from Oh My Cheesecake.
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Kantina will be back with curated supper clubs between Freight Island traders and guest chefs from across the country.
Beyond the food and drink offering, Freight Island will have a packed programme of a spring-summer festival programme, featuring Moovin Festival, Wookie, Greg Wilson, Optimo (Espacio), David Rodigan, Luke Una’s É Soul Cultura, DJ Paulette, Congo Natty, Crazy P (DJ Set), Fat Tony and loads more.
And there’ll be official takeovers and celebrations in the UK’s biggest dedicated sports fanzone, including UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 and the Woman’s Rugby World Cup.
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On joining Freight Island, Jamie at Ornella’s Kitchen, commented: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Ornella’s Little Kitchen to Freight Island and be part of such a dynamic food and entertainment space.
“Our pasta-deli specials have found a loyal following in Manchester, and we can’t wait to share our authentic Italian flavours in this new setting.”
Dan Morris, Managing Director at Freight Island, said: “Freight Island was always imagined as a place for innovation and pushing boundaries and this year’s update is about taking us closer to that original vision.
“With the incredible new food, a refreshed dining experience and our biggest Spring/Summer festival line-up yet, we’re set for an unforgettable season.”
The best pancakes in Manchester and where to find them
Danny Jones
Pancakes might traditionally be a relatively simple staple, but here in Manchester our restaurants and cafes go large, with dozens of different styles, flavours and toppings to choose from– and we have some of the best places going in the North West.
There’s a pancake to suit everyone if you know where to look, from sweet to savoury, miniature to fat and thin to fluffy.
We’ve broken down some of our favourites below to help you get your pancake fix all year round. Yes, it may be Shrove Tuesday is looming, but one day is hardly enough to sample them all.
There are some relative newcomers to check out, too. Keep reading to discover the best places for pancakes in and around Manchester.
Where to get really good pancakes in Manchester
1. Cocoa Cabana – Didsbury and The Trafford Centre
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, the remaining Cocoa Cabana site in West Dids is one of the very best places to head for some fluffy pancakes in Manchester.
They’ve even done bottomless for Pancake Day in the past, with the only rule being you have to finish one stack before you order the next.
Flavours include tiramisu, Biscoff and caramel, Kinder Bueno and many more; they also have a pop-up at The Trafford Centre these days.
Now, if you’re more of a crepe person than a fluffy stack fan, then this increasingly viral and trending spot on Brazennose Street, just between two of the city’s most resurgent squares, might be a good alternative for you.
Putting a somewhat lighter and more delicate Japanese twist on the classic French-style dessert, these thin but flavourful little pancakes feel like a happy medium between treating yourself and pure decadence and potential overindulgence.
Their creme brûlée matcha flavoured crepe is absolutely to die for and an absolute must-try.
3. Hampton and Vouis – Central and Northern Quarter
Credit: The Manc Group
This cute little cafe next to Albert Square used to be very easy to miss, but with a second venue in the Northern Quarter now too, they’re more worth seeking out than ever. Venture inside, and you’ll find great coffee, a counter full of bakes from local suppliers and an excellent year-round pancake menu.
Here, fluffy American-style pancakes are loaded with sauce and sweet treats like Jammy Dodger biscuits, raspberries, caramel sauce and strawberry jam.
There’s also a Lotus Biscoff stack, a special apple crumble and custard stack, Biscoff and Bueno stacks, as well as plenty more – all come with vanilla ice cream on the side.
4. Lazy Sundae – Manchester Arndale
Now in the Arndale Centre only, but still just as delicious as ever, we visited their old NQ venue for some of those airy soufflé pancakes more than once over the years.
It’s a popular order in Japan and, increasingly, across the globe, and they offer personalised toppings like wafers, chocolate sprinkles, fruit and ice cream to make this special, puffed-up pancake your own – or at least they used to.
There’s still no word as to when they’ll be doing them regularly from the stall in the Arndale, but who knows? Maybe they’ll make a special exception this Pancake Day; plus, they’re great at catering to vegans and the lactose intolerant, too.
Next up is another NQ spot that often gets forgotten about, perhaps because it’s down the ‘quieter’ stretch of Tib Street that is so typically busy with deliveries and cut-through traffic that people just want it pedestrianised.
However, if you haven’t tried Sugar Junction before, you’re seriously missing out. It also happens to be ‘r Amy’s favourite, and trust us, this girl knows what she’s talking about.
The rest of their menu is also jam-packed with all the sugary goodies you’d expect from a gaff with this name, but it’s well worth a visit if you want your pancakes just about as sweet as they come.
7. Moose Coffee – Piccadilly Approach and Central
Credit: The Manc
Canadians are famous for their pancakes, and the selection at Moose in Manchester is up there with the best. Made fresh to order, think a stack of three dusted with icing sugar and served with Canadian butter.
Whether you opt for savoury or sweet toppings, maple syrup on the side is pretty much a given (yes, even with your eggs and bacon), and we’re absolutely here for it.
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The only thing that could make it more authentic is if the staff often split the bill for you unrequested. A nice little touch.
8. Ezra and Gil
In at number eight is arguably one of the original contemporary brunch spots during Greater Manchester’s biggest foodie boom over the past decade, Ezra and Gil, who smash both day and night when given the chance.
They’re another one of those where you’ll always find a queue coming out the door and for good reason, as they’ve been reinventing the pancake game here in the city centre for a long time.
We’ve been Ezra and Gil die-hards since day one. Exhibit A:
Still as good now as it was back then.
9. 19 Cafe Bar
This blink-and-you ‘ll-miss-it spot has become an absolute go-to for naughty pancakes, thanks to its chocolate bar-laden menu.
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The Biscoff and Kinder Bueno pancakes are the big draws here at 19 Cafe Bar. Loaded with the likes of Biscoff crumb and spread, banana, ice cream and salted caramel sauce, or homemade Kinder sauce, Bueno, chocolate sauce, roasted hazelnuts and vanilla ice cream.
There are healthier pancake options, too, and a strong list of brunch cocktails available from the bar. Familiar Brett from our ‘On The Street’ series is a big fan:
A greasy spoon cafe, but make it Northern Quarter.
The Koffee Pot has long been a go-to breakfast spot, way before it moved up from Stevenson Square to its newer premises on Oldham Street.
It’s been known for fry-ups and breakfast tacos for nearly half a century now, but you can get a solid pancake stack here, too. Think all-American buttermilk pancake stacks with added sausage patty, smoked streaky bacon, hash brown, fried egg and maple syrup.
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It’s basically a full English in a pancake stack, and who doesn’t want that?
Credit: The Manc
11. Evelyn’s
Another trendy cafe in the Northern Quarter with a beyond solid brunch menu, including indulgent buttermilk soufflé pancakes loaded with honeycomb butter and a spiced berry compote, just to name one of our all-time favourites.
Better still, they always do a super-rich and irresistible special every Shrove Tuesday; past concoctions include Nutella and strawberry, date caramel and banana with a spiced apple compote. Wow.
Washed down with a coffee or a brunch cocktail, you can’t go wrong with one of the GOATs.
Our penultimate pick of top-tier present-day pancake houses in central Manchester is the ever-filing out the door, Bruncho, who work magic with their Middle Eastern twists on brunch staples.
This spot also serves as just one stop among Deansgate’s growing brunch triangle. In fact, make that quadrangle – quitangle? Not sure, all we know is there’s a lot to choose from along here, and plenty serving pancakes.
Just over on the edge of Salford, as you leave the glitzy reaches of Spinningfields behind, this beloved breakfast spot has become increasingly popular since it opened back in June 2024.
They’re not for solid coffee, great deals on various brunchy bits, and in case you didn’t know, some very tasty pancakes. Specifically, that tiramisu one you might have heard about, which is nothing short of unreal…
For context, when we asked our resident taste-tester EmJ on the day what she made of it, all she could repeat was “BANGIN'”. Says it all really, doesn’t it?
First Look: Matcha Made and The Trafford Centre makes for a perfect marriage
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester’s newest matcha spot just dropped, and we know it’s an easy pun, but it really does feel like a match made in heaven.
Just picture the scene: there’s a big birthday or holiday coming up, so you’ve arrived at The Trafford Centre early to get in a full day of shopping, eating and being generally leisurely – but you need an early caffeine fix and maybe some light, fluffy yet still filling pastry to keep you going.
There are very few places better to start this kind of day than at Matcha Made, who’ve just opened up in the North West’s massive and most famous shopping mall.
Fronted by a lovely lineup of smiling staff who couldn’t do enough for you and are more than happy to give you advice or simply plug their own recommendations, we can see ourselves coming back here for the service alone.
They’ve arrived in the big leisure complex just in time for February half-term, too, meaning any parents needing an alternative caffeine hit can fuel up right here.
Specialising in the Japanese and super healthy green tea craze that currently has the UK in a chokehold, only directly out of a tap – almost like a zen twist of draught beer taps – the art is not only in how green the raw matcha itself tastes but in the flavours and finishing touches.
This stylish pastel green hatch might not be the only place to get your matcha on in The Trafford Centre, but it might just be the best already.
It was immediately apparent that the staff had a clear favourite: the Biscoff foam version, but they said their simple but sweet and satisfying strawberry one has also proved to be one of the most popular.
There’s plenty of fruity options to choose from; they’ve got their own take on the fellow contemporary trend of banana pudding for anyone looking for a fix, and even ume plum, or you can just go for a straight-up coffee or hot chocolate as well.
So yeah, even if your partner isn’t quite ready to admit they’re a secret ‘matcha girlie’, then they can spend a little bit more time lying to themselves over this side of the menu.
Whether you want it topped with cream, shavings or a light dusting of cocoa powder, you can make this little drink just about as decorative as you like.
Besides being more reasonably priced than we were expecting, given the ongoing matcha boom, you’ve also got the big bonus of a fridge stocked with bakes from local favourite La Chouqette. Sold.
Daisy Jackson -
25th February 2025 
