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?
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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.
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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.
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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”.
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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.
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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
Andy Burnham’s favourite Manchester pub, restaurant, neighbourhood and Sunday roast
Daisy Jackson
Andy Burnham’s favourite pub, restaurant, neighbourhood, and Sunday roast have been revealed – and the man’s got taste.
Old footage of now-PM Andy Burnham chatting to content creator Isaac Likes has been doing the rounds again, and while the interview dates back to before Andy left us and headed down to the big smoke, his Manchester recommendations still stand.
From his go-to neighbourhood and favourite pub to where he heads for a Sunday roast, and even the song he likes to play when he gets behind the decks, Burnham gave us a glimpse into his ideal Manchester day.
First up, there’s the Northern Quarter, which Burnham reckons has to be his favourite neighbourhood in the city.
He said: “Got to be the Northern Quarter. It’s the place where it’s all happening.”
When it comes to food, he singled out Firehouse, sitting on the edge of the Northern Quarter, as one of his favourite places to eat. He also gave a shoutout to its sister venue Ramona, where he’s been known to get behind the decks.
Andy said: “On the edge of the Northern Quarter, Firehouse is a place I love to go. Ramona Pizza, I’ve DJ’d there – if the mayor DJs there it’s gotta be alright.”
For a proper pint, Burnham’s choice is a little more traditional, saying his favourite pub is the ‘proper old school’ Peveril of the Peak.
The beautiful tiled pub was recently named the best in the UK, just days before its legendary landlady Nancy passed away.
When Sunday rolls around, Burnham said he has a couple of options up his sleeve. The Wharf in Castlefield gets a mention, as does Edinburgh Castle up in Ancoats.
The Peveril of the Peak pub in ManchesterThe Edinburgh CastleFirehouseSome of Andy Burnham’s favourite places in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
He said: “We love our gravy, we drink it by the pint in Manchester.”
Of course, no conversation with Burnham about Manchester would be complete without talking music.
Asked to name the best Manchester band of all time, he offered a few contenders – The Smiths, New Order, and, ultimately, The Stone Roses.
“The band I think are quintessentially Manchester is The Stone Roses. That was peak Manchester,” he said.
The amazing new doughnut shop that’s opened in a churchyard in Wigan
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new doughnut hatch has landed in Wigan, serving fresh bakes and speciality coffee from inside a beautiful local churchyard.
This is Holy Grounds, the latest independent spot bringing together freshly made doughnuts, excellent coffee and a spectacular setting, right beside the Wigan Parish Church.
The Lancashire-born business expanded to Wigan just three weeks ago, and it’s already proving hugely popular with the locals.
As we’re seeing all over Wigan these days, Holy Grounds have taken on a beautiful characterful space and turned it into a great new independent hangout.
The doughnut hatch is connected to the church itself, with the room believed to have once been an old school space. Today, it’s been given a very different purpose, with the smell of freshly baked doughnuts and coffee filling the building.
And you can still get a very real reminder that you’re sitting inside a church – the bells ring twice a day.
Holy Grounds was set up by Sam, who was previously a vicar, alongside his partner Hannah.
They and their team are making doughnuts fresh every day, using a 48-hour proving process, before transforming them into a monthly-rotating selection of flavours.
This month’s specials at Holy GroundsThe selection of Holy Grounds doughnuts in WiganA peach and almond doughnut, and an OGHoly Grounds stands in the churchyard of Wigan Parish ChurchFreshly-made doughnuts and coffee in Wigan
This month’s flavours include The OG, peach and almond, chocolate cornflakes, and blackberry and white chocolate.
Holy Grounds serves speciality coffee from Clifton Coffee Roasters in Bristol, making the doughnut-and-coffee combination feel less like a quick sugar hit and more like a proper little ritual.
A beautiful old building, fresh doughnuts, excellent coffee and church bells ringing overhead?
We’re not saying we’ve found heaven, but we’re definitely getting closer.
Emily Sergeant -
16th February 2021 
