One of the north’s most beloved independent burger chains has opened a new city centre site and expanded its delivery offering across Manchester today.
Fat Hippo – a group of independent burger joints founded in the North East, before opening up in Sheffield, Nottingham, and Leeds – specialises in the best burgers, loaded fries and more “good old fashioned, roll up your sleeves and get it all over your face” food.
The company’s brand new Manchester site has arrived at Lane 7 in Great Northern for takeaway from today.
But as all hospitality businesses are currently closed, with the exception of takeaway services, during England’s third national lockdown, the group is working closely with Deliveroo and has launched exclusively on the platform in Manchester, allowing customers the chance to enjoy Fat Hippo’s signature burgers in the comfort of their own home.
So what can Manchester’s foodies expect then?
Well, alongside an extensive menu of their signature beef and boneless buttermilk chicken patties – that come with free fries as standard – Fat Hippo Manchester will also have a carefully-designed range of vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options available.
The family-friendly burger joint is also famed for its quality ingredients and quirky flavours.
Burgers like the PB & J – a beef burger topped with peanut butter and bacon jam – is undoubtedly one of the fan favourites, and will be on the Manchester menu to try out, alongside all the classics and a great-value kids menu too.
This will be the group’s second venture with Lane 7, with their successful Fat Hippo S1 site already based in the leisure brand’s complex in Sheffield.
And as well as the several other sites in North East, Nottingham, Leeds and now Manchester, Fat Hippo also has exciting plans to continue growing, with further locations being established across the country.
Fat Hippo Fleet also travels all over the UK, bringing its renowned burgers to thousands of national events.
Speaking on the launch of Fat Hippo Manchester, Michael Phillips – who founded Fat Hippo in the North East in 2010 – said: “The last year has been difficult for everyone, especially the hospitality sector, but we just couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with Lane 7 again and bring Fat Hippo to the North West.
“Great Northern is the perfect location for us to be based and we can’t wait for the people of Manchester to enjoy the good kind of gluttony”.
Michael Johnson – Operations Manager at Fat Hippo – added: “It’s been an incredible ride over the last ten years feeding the ever-growing herd of burger lovers, and now we can’t wait to bring the best burgers to Manchester”.
Although only open for takeaway services for the time being, Fat Hippo Manchester will open for dine in once restrictions have eased.
You can find the full Fat Hippo menu and place your orders on Deliveroo here.
Make sure you also follow Fat Hippo’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for access to exclusive competitions, sneak peeks and to stay in the loop with this next chapter of its burger journey.
Eats
Hotel Chocolat to open viral chocolate Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Hotel Chocolat is set to open a Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester city centre, and it’ll be absolute paradise for chocolate lovers.
The popular chocolate shop, which has stores across the UK selling delicious chocolate bars, boxes and more, is now preparing to branch out in town.
Hotel Chocolat then hit a new level of fame with its Velvetiser, an invention that creates velvety smooth hot drinks at the touch of a button.
They’ve been so popular, Hotel Chocolat is now opening Velvetiser Cafes across the UK – and Manchester is up next.
If it follows in the footsteps of the Meadowhall cafe in Sheffield, visitors will be able to customise their perfect hot chocolate from thousands of combinations.
There are 18 flavours, different milks, and a whole variety of toppings available.
Then you drink can be served hot, over ice, or as a choc shake.
Colourful hoardings for the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe have now appeared on Cross Street, just next door to the new Joe & The Juice.
A planning application has also been lodged with Manchester City Council.
Drake-backed fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
The huge LA-based fried chicken brand backed by Drake is heading to Manchester for the very first time this summer.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to open in the Printworks this August – the first UK branch outside of London and Birmingham.
The cult chicken brand has said that its new venue will feature an ‘industrial design inspired by Manchester’s rave scene’ (if we had a pound every time a new venue used that design style, we’d be as rich as Drake…).
Dave’s Hot Chicken is famed for its signature Nashville-style hot chicken, which is served in seven different spice levels from No Spice to Reaper.
Expect sliders, tenders, ‘next-level’ top-loaded shakes and slushes.
It’s grown so quickly that in 2021, it caught the eye of none other than rapper Drake, who is a ‘significant investor’ in the brand.
The fried chicken spot will be moving into the large corner unit at Printworks, which has previously been Busaba Thai, and Floripa, with 139 covers.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming to Manchester
Inside, it will feature towering ceilings, exposed steelwork, and laser lights, claiming to be a ‘full-on sensory trip, where music, light and fried chicken will come together to create a high-voltage experience’.
There will also be custom graffiti inspired by L.A.-based street artists Splatterhaus and Dehm.
Dave’s Hot Chicken still has hour-long queues down in London, several months after opening on Shaftesbury Avenue – next up will be a Birmingham branch in July before Manchester opens later this summer.
And this is just the start of a nationwide expansion.
Jim Attwood, Managing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK, said: “Printworks Manchester is the ideal setting for our next UK site – right at the heart of one of the country’s most exciting cities.
“The new restaurant pays homage to Manchester’s legendary warehouse rave scene, with an industrial-inspired design and bold, high-energy atmosphere to match our signature flavours.
“We can’t wait to bring something fresh to this iconic venue and its vibrant mix of entertainment, food and culture.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken will open at Printworks Manchester on 8 August.
Emily Sergeant -
16th February 2021 
