Promising Mancs a taste of the deep south, Louisiana’s famous chicken chain Popeyes has revealed it is opening in Manchester city centre this year – and now we have an opening date.
The restaurant chain – known for serving fried chicken dishes with sides like red beans and rice, Cajun fries, mashed potatoes with Cajun-style gravy, Cajun rice, macaroni & cheese, southern-style biscuits, and coleslaw – is opening a new location on Piccadilly Gardens.
Famed for its signature 12-hour marinated chicken, its most famous dish is the viral Popeyes Chicken Sandwich made with added Southern biscuits and gravy.
Akin to a more buttery, savoury scone, the Southern biscuits melt in the mouth and offer a buttery, flaky addition to the signature shatter crunch burger.
Elsewhere fans will also be able to get their hands on a brand new breakfast menu, with dishes including the Big Breakfast Roll (a sausage patty, egg, streaky bacon, and American cheese in a soft bun), a variety of sausage, bacon, egg and cheese muffins, cajun hash browns, and its famous Louisiana buttermilk biscuits served with cinnamon sugar or Nutella.
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Image: Popeyes
Image: Popeyes
Formed in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana and headquartered in Miami, the new Manchester store marks the brand’s 15th opening in 2023, and the chain’s 32nd opening since landing in the UK in 2021.
The new Manchester restaurant will be located within Piccadilly Gardens at One Piccadilly Gardens and will seat up to 67 people for dine-in, with additional seating outside for al fresco dining (when the sun shines).
Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes® UK, said: “We are thrilled to announce that a new Popeyes restaurant will be opening in Manchester later this year.
Popeyes, but make it festive. / Image: Popeyes
Image: Popeyes
“The city has been a key location for us since we first landed in the UK, and we’re looking forward to bringing the spirit of New Orleans to the iconic Piccadilly Gardens.
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“Our most recent openings have been some of the biggest to date, not just in the UK but for Popeyes globally.
“After many requests for a Popeyes® UK in Manchester, we are confident that the new restaurant will be just as popular and can’t wait to announce our opening week plans soon.”
Popeyes will open in Manchester on Thursday 26 October.
Bakery chain Gail’s is attempting to win over Prestwich after spelling mishap
Daisy Jackson
Gail’s has announced a plan to try and make amends with Prestwich after spelling the village’s name wrong on the new bakery’s signs.
The massive bakery chain finally confirmed that it would be moving into the suburb on the fringes of Bury and Manchester, but made a fatal flaw at the first step.
The huge posters are missing the letter ‘T’, instead saying ‘Hello Preswich’.
More than a few eyebrows were raised locally, with people saying it’s ‘not a great first impression for the locals…’.
And now Gail’s is attempting to put things right by offering free tea to Prestwich residents.
In new material released today, they wrote: “Oops… people of Prestwich, we owe you a ‘T’.
“You may have seen how we missed out a ‘t’ in our new bakery signage.
“We’re sorry for the mistake, and to make up for it we’d like to brew you a tea when we open.”
The new advertising has a QR code which people can scan to claim their free cuppa.
Gail’s has also passed its thanks on to ‘local resident Clair’, who actually came up with the suggestion on The Manc’s LinkedIn post here.
With this development, Gail’s has now confirmed it’ll be opening in Prestwich – directly opposite the new Rudy’s – in early 2025, with free tea served then to those who scan the QR code.
Gail’s will hand out free tea in Prestwich to apologise for spelling the village’s name wrongHuge bakery chain Gail’s confirms move to Prestwich – but spells village’s name wrong in signage
Salon Madre – A new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A new tequila bar and pool hall is set to open in Manchester in a couple of weeks, from the same team behind Madre.
The huge new space, Salon Madre, will be serving up the tacos and burritos that have made the Mexican restaurant at Kampus so well-loved.
And all that’s alongside a drinks menu that centres around tequila, including frozen, classic and flavoured margaritas and palomas.
Can’t stomach tequila? There’ll also be wines on draft, Corona and local beers.
The food menu will show off signature dishes like al pastor tacos, with daily rotating specials, plus Gringas, nachos and Madre’s huge burritos.
Salon Madre has taken over a spot just off Kampus’s lush garden that was previously home to a Seven Brothers taproom, right next door to Madre itself.
Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSalon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
As well as all the Mexican food and drink goodness, the bar will have four pool tables and will be screening Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) and American sports.
The dream is to bring the fun and liveliness of a Mexican pool hall to the heart of Manchester, in this beautiful spot right near Piccadilly and Canal Street.
Salon Madre will open on 6 December at Kampus, with bookings for Christmas groups and parties now available.
Georgina Pellant -
31st July 2023 
