There aren’t many things we love more than meat and gravy wrapped in pastry, so when we heard that there was going to be an eight-course tasting menu revolving almost entirely around pie, we started salivating so much we practically had to wipe down our keyboards.
In what might just be the best food concept we’ve heard of in a while, the brand-new pie-tasting menu is the calorific lovechild of beloved Mancunian brands, Ate Days A Week and Baldy’s Pies, two of the best and most decorated pie-makers you’ll find anywhere in the region.
This is an idea that has never been done before as far as we can tell (certainly not in Greater Manchester, anyway) and is exactly what it sounds like: plates upon plates of pies, pies, pies, a.k.a. a Northerner’s gravy-soaked wet dream.
Popping up in the equally popular Deep South-inspired bar Notion over in Stockport, where Ate Days A. Week serve up pies week in and week out, the unique and exclusive dining experience is designed not only to fill bellies near to bursting but “elevate the humble pie to new heights”.
We’re drooling and these aren’t even the actual pies you’ll be trying — you’ll only get to see them on the night.
That’s the word of the event’s co-creator and Ate Days A Week founder, Andy James, who is promising to give diners a food memory “you never knew you wanted”, not mention “intrigue, delight and wow” customers some seriously interesting and even daring twists on a classic dish adored by all.
But as if the SK and Wigan staples’ expertise wasn’t enough, the inaugural edition of ‘PieSessions’ boasts some an even bigger culinary calibre, as the two brands will also be joined by fellow Wigan-based favourites and this year’s Bake Off: The Professionals finalists, Harwoods Patisserie, as well as former MasterChef contestant, Scott Eckersley-Bell, who’ll be serving some signature Scotty’s Pies.
With the menu broken up into eight different courses featuring four pie dishes and four snacks, each team has come up with their own clever and boundary-pushing creations. Trust us when we say you’ll never have sat down for a pie like any of these before.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever had a Japanese-inspired pie with katsu chicken curry, miso mash, furikake and a teriyaki bacon flake. Nope? Didn’t think so. How about a poached fish pie with curried cauliflower, spinach and mushroom soaked in a leek and cream sauce with a potato and chive rosti on the side?
The pie tasting menu for the first-ever PieSessions night at Notion Bar, Stockport
Of course you haven’t! Literally no one has ever tried any of these utterly incredible-sounding concoctions but we can’t wait to be among the first to try them — and so can you. You’ll probably beat us there though as our mouths are watering just typing this up.
As you can see, the selection of snacks and non-pie-related dishes are no joke either; we’d pay silly money for a beef short rib slider to start off a meal and those desserts look so devilish we’re not sure we’ll ever be absolved.
Better still, since it’s taking place on an early mid-week evening at one of Stockport‘s best bars, we can’t think of many better ways to get you looking forward to a post-work treat.
To be honest, we’re pretty sure this is going to make our week full-stop.
Now, while securing a spot for PieSessions isn’t cheap, make no mistake: this isn’t just sitting down to scran any old pie you could order from the pub or a pasty shop — it’s an original dining experience celebrating one of the nation’s most iconic dishes and best-loved ways to devour meat and carbs.
That being said, costing £80 for admission per head, it’s still a very reasonable and competitive price compared to most high-end tasting menus and one thing we can guarantee is that you’ll feel much fuller than you would with most others.
Doors open from 6:30pm on 21 November at Notion; you’ll get a welcome drink upon arrival and there’ll be two bars serving drinks all night long. We honestly can’t wait for this and if you didn’t get excited by reading those menus alone, we’re not sure there’s help for you (sorry not sorry).
There’s only a handful of tickets still left so grab yours whilst you still can HERE.
Featured Image — Supplied/Notion Bar (via Facebook)
Eats
Manchester Arndale is slashing prices on food and drink across the shopping centre
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Arndale’s Summer Scran Fest is back – and that means there are some absolute bargains to be had on food and drink right across the shopping centre.
Throughout the month of August, restaurants, cafes and kiosks within Manchester Arndale will be offering some serious offers and deals.
This ranges from 25% off to buy-one-get-one-free deals, plus free meals for kids and plenty more.
Venues taking part in the Summer Scran Fest include Archie’s, Subway, Barburrito, Pizza Hut, HOP Vietnamese, Michaels Coffee House and plenty more.
And the leisure destinations within Manchester Arndale are getting stuck in too – think free drinks, combos and more at venues including King Pins and Urban Playground.
There are plenty of Manchester-born businesses getting involved and offering bargains to us all, like Archie’s giving out free soft serve when you spend £10, Barburrito offering a £10 meal deal (burrito, tortilla chips and a soft drink), and Lazy Sundae giving a free scoop of ice cream with any large drink purchase.
Big brand deals include a £5 meal deal at McDonald’s (4 Chicken McNuggets, Cheese burger or Mayo chicken; fries; and medium cold drink), and 25% off at Pizza Hut.
There’s 20% off at Sides in the Manchester Arndale Summer Scran FestLazy Sundae will do a free ice cream with a large drink purchase
Then there are newcomers to Manchester Arndale taking part in the Summer Scran Fest.
HOP, a new Vietnamese street food venue on Market Street, is doing 25% off, while Michaels Coffee House will knock 15% off their seasonal favourites like an Iced Maple Oat Matcha or an Iced Rose Coconut Matcha.
There’s also a 20% discount at Sides, the chicken shop backed by YouTube sensations Sidemen.
And as for leisure destinations – Urban Playground is doing 18 Holes of putters tech-infused mini golf, plus any three small plates from The Butcher menu for £28.20.
Kind Pins has 20% off food and drink, and Immersive Gamebox will do 20% off plus a free drink when you book a 60 or 30 minute gaming session.
Pick up a voucher booklet in the centre or download your offers from the Manchester Arndale website from 1 August.
Manchester dessert and sandwich stars Gooey are set to open another city centre site
Danny Jones
0161’s world-famous dessert stars, Gooey, are set to open another city centre site – their third in Greater Manchester and soon-to-be fifth overall.
Known for their incredible cookies, doughnuts, brunch, legendary French toast and plenty more, Gooey made their first foray out of their hometown with a Liverpool location last year, and are now set to consolidate their Manc base even further.
Set to open in a prime piece of real estate, the latest Manchester Gooey store will be opening in a sizeable empty unit over on Circle Square, right next to the Asda Express and in the heart of the student living and leisure complex.
Benefitting from being easily seen from along the bustling Oxford Road Corridor, you can expect this place to be packed to the rafters from the off on day one.
The signs are already in the window.That unreal French toast dripping in syrup.Credit: The Manc Eats
There are few details on what the new arrival might have in-store beyond all the brand favourites at this early stage, but each Gooey store shop does have its own charm.
From their original bakery and cafe over in the Northern Quarter, to the three kiosks in Ducie Street Warehouse, The Trafford Centre Selfridges and over on Merseyside’s iconic Bold Street, they all offer something a little different.
As for any hints at the launch plans, fans are yet to be given an official opening date, but you best believe you’ll be the first to know the second we do.
In case you’ve never tried or even come across the indulgent and fast-growing independent business before, another popular part of their menu is the bits between bread.
Touching on the upcoming addition, Charlotte Wild, Head of Retail & Leisure at Bruntwood SciTech – the team behind Circle Square’s ever-expanding offerings – said: “Gooey is an incredible local brand who are continuing to grow, evolve and innovate, with ever more exciting desserts.
“They will make a fantastic addition to the Circle Square community, and we look forward to seeing the impact they make in the coming months.”
In case you wonder how much we love this place and just how excited you should be about another one landing here in the city centre, sometimes we just put together random appreciation posts for that one, aforementioned butty alone.
Local foodies will also be buzzing to hear that they’re not the only calorific cult favourites that are bringing more to our mouths in 2025.
First, it was Brewski, followed by American Pies; then it was Foldies, and now the beloved culinary brand is launching yet another new concept here in Manchester.