One of Manchester’s best Chinese restaurants, Yum Cha, is coming to Altrincham town centre later this year in another exciting addition to the Stamford Quarter.
That’s right, set to join Alty’s bustling district of independent businesses and the heart of its ever-growing foodie scene, this will be Yum Cha‘s fourth site in the North West after already making a name for themselves in Liverpool, Warrington and, of course, here in the city centre.
Best-known for serving up delicious dim sum, slow-roasted meats and some seriously slurpy noodles, the name derives from a traditional Cantonese meal – usually served around brunch, consisting of dumplings, other snacks and sides, as well as hot tea – Altrincham can be rightly buzzing with the news.
And so are we, because after all, what’s better than one Yum Cha in Greater Manchester? Two of them.
The newest venue, expected to launch this summer, will be opening up in the multi-purpose Foundation space, joining a number of other retail, hospitality and leisure brands.
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Boasting a 2,166 sq ft unit on the ground floor of the building, it’ll be a decently sized gaff too, as they already know they need plenty of room for pan-Asian punters.
Nailing a whole host of Chinese classics and also delivering everything in top-quality packaging when ordering out (it’s the little things), we’re big fans of these guys.
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Yum Cha’s founder Adam Wan said of the announcement “We can’t wait to open our doors in the Stamford Quarter and the Foundation building is the perfect location for us. We opened in Manchester city centre in August 2022 and after the phenomenal response from our fantastic customers, Altrincham seemed like the perfect place to expand.
Both us and you lot love it so much, in fact, that we even filmed a Takeaway Champions at their Kampus location not so long ago.
Throwing in his two cents on Foundation’s growing commercial community, Bruntwood’s Head of Retail and Leisure at Bruntwood, James Tootle, said: “Yum Cha’s decision to open their new restaurant in Foundation is a testament to the exceptional quality of retail and hospitality in the Stamford Quarter.
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It’s the perfect location for attracting visitors to the town from the local community and beyond. With an already exciting and eclectic mix of brands, we’re thrilled to welcome this fantastic indie restaurant to the heart of Altrincham. We are confident that guests will love Yum Cha’s renowned dim sum.”
A spokesperson from Trafford Council, added: “Foundation completed in March of this year and incorporates a total of five floors, including three floors of market-leading workspace.
“The completion of the Foundation building signals a major milestone in the wider transformational plans for the Stamford Quarter, which will regenerate the high street and establish the area as a new and exciting destination for Altrincham.” They’re not the only ones popping up in the area soon too.
You can now have dinner in the actual dressing rooms at Co-op Live
Daisy Jackson
Co-op Live has now launched exclusive backstage dining experiences – which means you could be having dinner inside the very dressing rooms that have hosted music megastars.
These new groundbreaking new Backstage Private Dining experiences feature menus curated by Simon Rimmer.
This will be the first time that the arena’s most exclusive artist areas have been open to guests.
There’ll be 10 selected dates from May 2026, where ticket-holders can eat dinner in dressing rooms that were previously occupied by the likes of Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen.
Guests will be able to choose from several packages, from intimate receptions and private three-course dinners inside the dressing rooms, to lavish extras like a Bentley chauffeur-driven arrival, live entertainment, and extended backstage access.
The most premium package will also offer access to Co-op Live’s adidas Originals recording studio.
Proceeds from the Backstage Private Dining will go towards supporting Co-op Live’s official charity partner, the Co-op Foundation, which tackles inequality and supports communities across the UK.
Chef Simon Rimmer commented: “Having worked with Co-op Live for some time, it’s incredibly exciting to now be involved with this unique series of Backstage Private Dining.
“It’s a rare opportunity to further combine the world-class music venue with exceptional food, and I can’t wait to showcase how these experiences can come to life together, creating truly unforgettable evenings for our guests.”
Becci Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer at Co-op Live, said: “From day one, our ambition has been to challenge expectations of what an arena can deliver, and we’re now delighted to introduce a new dimension of premium hospitality at Co-op Live.
“This collaboration unlocks new creative potential within the venue, offering experiences that have not previously been possible. It reflects our commitment to innovation and meaningful impact within the communities we support.”
Designed and delivered in partnership with Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), Founder and CEO Liz Taylor said: “Opportunities like this are rare. Co-op Live is a venue built for scale, spectacle and ambition — and that’s exactly how we are approaching these events.
“Whether it’s an intimate milestone celebration or a brand hosting at the highest level, these will be immersive, one-night-only experiences designed to deliver real impact. We are proud to have been chosen to help shape this next chapter, bringing creativity, precision and bold thinking to a space that demands nothing less.”
Salford industrial estate bakery with incredible cinnamon rolls to open new site
Daisy Jackson
Mayya Bakery, a local ‘hidden gem’ with incredible cinnamon rolls, is set to open a brand-new bakery that will make it significantly less hidden.
Until now, Mayya has been quietly trading from an industrial estate in Salford, where it’s built a great reputation for its bakes despite an off-the-beaten-track-location and relatively little social media fanfare.
It opened its doors in 2024, operated by former primary school teacher Meli and her husband, dentist Oguz.
This is an artisan bakery with a real Turkish flare, with plenty of comfort food like freshly made gözleme (or gozzies for short) and bigger dishes if you fancy sitting in.
Their counters are stuffed with sweet bakes, like their perfect cinnamon rolls, plus loaves, babka, cookies, and homemade cheesecake.
For bigger dishes, you’ll find breakfast dishes like Turkish eggs, Simit (a traditional sesame bagel) breakfasts, and menemen.
The counters at Mayya Bakery’s current locationIncredible cheesecake at Mayya BakerySigns on Chapel Street Salford for the new Mayya Bakery
And now Mayya Bakery has revealed plans to open a new location in a much more prominent spot in town, with signs appearing in the windows of a unit on Chapel Street.
The sign reads: “Everything is homemade – including this picture.”
It also quips: “They called us hidden gem… not hidden anymore.”
Mayya will open on Chapel Street soon – keep an eye on our food and drink Instagram page The Manc Eats for the latest.
Danny Jones -
9th July 2024 
