Eats

All of Manchester’s last minute bar and restaurant deals ahead of lockdown

The local hospitality sector has announced a wide range of deals on food and drink ahead of their imminent month-long closure.

The Manc The Manc - 2nd November 2020
Burst / Pexels

So, yeah. It’s happened again.

On Saturday, for the second time in the space of eight months, the Prime Minister appeared on our television screens and ordered everyone to stay indoors – stirring up a stomach-churning sense of deja-vu.

The virus that sent the UK into quarantine back in March has enjoyed an alarming new lease of life, and without tough action now, Boris warned us, Christmas would effectively be cancelled.

There’s a temporary ban on most socialising, whilst thousands of businesses across England must close.

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Among those ordered to shut, of course, are bars and restaurants.

Hospitality has had a raw deal throughout the pandemic, with the sector subjected to particularly stringent measures including a 10pm curfew.

But from Thursday, every bar, pub and restaurant in England will have to shut entirely – serving customers only via takeaway (although it will be forbidden to provide alcohol ‘to go’).

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Ultimately, there’s lots of stock set to go to waste. And in order to clear the shelves and pipes, bars in Manchester are launching a wide variety of lockdown deals – offering customers the chance to grab a bargain before the country closes down again.

Here are a few of the best ones. We’ll keep adding more as they come in.

£1 pints at Albert’s Schloss

Albert’s Schloss is serving pints for £1 for three days in November.

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Litre growlers are also being poured for £2.50.

All of their draught beer is included in the lockdown deal – and you’ll need to order food as per Tier 3 rules.

The bar wrote on social media: “Today [Monday 2 November] til end of play Wednesday, we’ll be serving £1 pints.

“Tour the Taps to stop it going to waste – you can also take away a 1 litre growler of your favourite bier for only £2.50, just ask your server.

“Our Haus will be open 4pm – 10pm til we close the doors (again) on Weds. Available on every draught bier – til they’re gone. Must be served with a substantial meal. Bookings strongly advised.”

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Big sale at Nibble NQ

Northern Quarter’s Nibble restaurant is also arranging a huge lockdown clearance – with loads of ingredients up for grabs for low prices.

Eggs, sausages. beans, milk, juice, powder and sugar are all being advertised on the cheap – and you can place your order via email.

Nibble representatives said: “The money is undoubtedly better in the bank than on our shelves, so if you’re going to be getting any of these things from the supermarket over the coming days and weeks please consider placing an order with us instead to help with cash flow while we get ready to close up and focus on delivery and collection only.”

Nibble NQ added: “This list is subject to availability, and preorder only, once it’s gone it’s gone. But we will continue to provide our local and national delivery menus throughout lockdown so check out the website for these and email [email protected] for any upcoming orders and birthday treats for loved ones.”

£10 off per person at Kala Bistro

Kala Bistro is offering £10 off food and non-alcoholic drinks every day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

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The lockdown deal is available for both lunch and dinner, with the restaurant encouraging customers to enjoy “one last Kala fix before [they] close for a short break.”

The King Street venue will be opening from midday to 3pm and 5pm – 8pm.

Free shooting at Point Blank

Fancy taking out some of your frustration on the pending lockdown with a shooting game?

Point Blank – the speakeasy-style range on Deansgate – is offering customers a free go on the guns before the bar closes down.

Representatives commented on social media: “We are offering FREE SHOOTING all day Tuesday & Wednesday.”

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They added: “Not only that, we’ve got drinks deals, pizzas, guns and positive vibes.”

To book a booth, customers can call Point Blank on 0333 023 0363.

50% off at Asha’s

Asha’s Indian restaurant on Peter Street has also announced a corker of a lockdown deal – half price dishes right across their A La Carte menu.

The restaurant wrote on social media: “As a massive thank you for your continued support throughout this pandemic, we would like to invite you to enjoy 50% off our á la carte menu from Monday 2nd November – Wednesday 4th November from 5pm – 9.30pm.”

Bookings can be made online or by calling 0161 832 5309. Walk-ins are also welcome.

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50p wings at Northern Soul

Northern Soul Grilled Cheese – Manchester’s top toastie takeaway of Man v Food fame – has ordered in a “f*** load” of wings for this week, according to staff.

But now, due to new circumstances, they need to offload this grub somewhere fast.

That’s why Northern Soul is plating up wings for 50p each right up until Wednesday.

Learn more here.

50% off at Solita

Both Solita restaurants in Northern Quarter and Didsbury will be offering an all-day discount Monday to Wednesday – with 50% off their menu (up to £10 per person).

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Offers on alcoholic drinks will also be available.

Learn more about how to book here.

50% off at TNQ

TNQ, based on Northern Quarter’s High Street, is offering half-price food until they have to close their doors on Wednesday at 10pm.

The restaurant stated: “Join us for half price food when dinning on our A la carte menu, just ring and quote ‘TNQ50’ on 0161 832 7115.”

Learn more here.

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Milk bottles of beer at Elnecot

Cutting Room Square’s neighbourhood kitchen and bar Elnecot also needs to get rid of its beer – so staff are encouraging customers to visit the premises with empty milk cartons and get them filled up with lager instead.

The price? £2 a litre.

Somehow it seems likely that Mancs will be ploughing through the rest of their milk supply later today…

Learn more here.

Deals galore at Blossom Street Social

Open from 4pm – 8pm Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday this week, Blossom Street Social is apparently all set to start serving “tempting platters, free wine upgrades & cheaper pints”.

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According to their social media channels, the bar is pouring their “famous FOUR [at] just £3.50/ pint, served in an ice cold tankard!”

Check out their Insta for more info.

Eats

A new pasta restaurant is opening inside the old Vertigo site on Cross Street

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

A new restaurant selling freshly made pasta is tipped to open in the old Vertigo unit on Cross Street later this year, proving that when one vegan door closes another one opens.

Pastan, a plant-based pasta kitchen that first began life in London’s Covent Garden in April 2021, has submitted a planning application to take over the site from September.

If successful, it will see the new arrival take over 18 Cross Street, the original home of beloved Manchester vegan eatery Vertigo, which sadly closed its doors in March with bosses citing ‘significantly increased’ running costs.

Read more: Vertigo closes Manchester sites citing ‘significantly increased costs’

Co-founded by Dean Fawcett and Jerome Ibanez when the world of hospitality was just beginning to reopen after the second lockdown, Pastan has hosted a number of pop-ups across the country.

Founders Dean and Jerome pictured with former Pastan team member Sienna at their Notting Hill pop-up. / Image: Pastan.UK
The duo says they ‘make no compromises’ when veganizing ‘such a classic’ as mac and cheese. / Image: Pastan.UK

It started off as a pop-up in Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden, before heading to Bristol throughout the summer of 2021 for a second pop-up opened at the Nectar House, Gloucester Road.

Following that, the owners set up a third and final pop-up in Notting Hill from September to November 2021, before opening its first permanent restaurant just around the corner from the capital’s famous Smithfield Market.

Now, it looks like they’re planning to expand into the north with a second restaurant here in Manchester

If successful, going by its London menus the new restaurant will focus on simple, fresh pasta dishes, serving up the likes of fried gnocchi loaded with a choice of sauces including BBQ jackfruit, cheese, pepper or pomodoro, alongside time-tested Italian classics like cacio e pepe and carbonara at lunch.

Image: Pastan.UK
Image: Pastan.UK

Elsewhere, you’ll find cavatelli mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs and crispy onions, plantshakes loaded with donut skewers, Lotus Biscoff mini doughnuts and scoops of ice cream.

Come to the evening things will then be taken up a notch, with a different menu served from 5pm featuring charcoal-activated taglioni served with dill hollandaise, salsa verde-dressed pea and shallot ravioli, and a beetroot hummus-topped cheesy tagliatelle with courgette spaghetti and crunchy veg.

Read more: The Ethiopian restaurant hidden above a takeaway in Manchester’s gay village

Pastan’s founders have over 20 years of hospitality experience between them but made the decision to set out on their own after struggling to find healthy, plant-based pasta.

With a cooking ethos that swerves away from any refined or unnatural ingredients, it’s sure to be a welcome addition to Manchester’s dining scene – particularly to city centre vegans missing their Vertigo lunch (or dinner) fix.

To find out more ahead of the new opening, head over to Pastan’s social media pages here.

Feature image – Google / Pastan.UK

Eats

The Greater Manchester delicacies you have to try at least once in your life

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Greater Manchester – home of world-famous music, Corrie, two of the world’s biggest football clubs, and, er, Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls.

We can shout about a lot of things here in the north west, but our local delicacies really are in a league of their own.

Everything from pastry sweets to meaty treats crop up in Greater Manchester’s menu of mouth-watering regional dishes that everyone should try out at least once in their lifetime.

They’re not for everyone, and there’s a good chance that for some of them, the first time you them will be the last, but we’re proud of them all the same.

Here’s some of the best the region has to offer.

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Black Pudding

Credit: Bury Black Pudding Company

A somewhat polarising delicacy, black pudding is a dark sausage made from pig’s blood and fillers such as barley, oats, and suet.

Sure, black pudding may not have wholly originated in Greater Manchester, but there’s definitely a strong argument to be made for Bury black pudding being some of the best, or at least the most celebrated and appreciated, there is out there.

You can get your hands on some hot boiled black pudding from many local markets in the region,

Or you can buy it fresh from the regional produce section at most supermarkets, and you can even eat it locally as a takeaway snack dowsed with malt vinegar. 

Manchester Tart

Credit: Jon Hillyer

Something for those with a sweet tooth and an appetite for coconut, Manchester Tart is a traditional English baked tart made up of a shortcrust pastry shell spread with raspberry jam inside, covered with a custard filling, and topped off with flakes of coconut and a cherry.

This was a staple of the 1940s and 50s school dinner, but it’s not as beloved as it once was nowadays.

If you are looking for a blast from the past though, you may be lucky enough to spot it on a specials menu at one of the many British-themed restaurants in the city centre and wider region, or in local supermarkets if you keep your fingers crossed.

Vimto

Vimto is a much-loved Manchester-born and produced soft drink.

It contains the juice of grapes, raspberries and blackcurrants – each in a 3% concentration – which is then flavoured with a selection of delicately-balanced herbs and spices.

It was created by John Noel Nichols in 1908 at 19 Granby Row in Manchester city centre under the name Vim Tonic and even though it’s hard to believe it now, Vimto was originally registered as a health tonic or medicine when it was first created, but was then re-registered as a cordial in 1913.

Nowadays, it’s taken on a life of its own spawning many variations, it’s sold internationally in over 40 countries, and you can get your hands on it at just about any local shop, supermarket, and chippy or takeaway.

Pasty Barm

Credit: Carr’s Pasties

Fancy an absolute carb overload?

You can’t go wrong with carbs in the north, and over in Bolton, they’re really taking that statement to heart with this staple delicacy that sees a pasty – preferably meat and potato, and really preferably from the town’s iconic Carr’s Pasties, which’s been “baking perfect pasties since 1938” – and putting it inside a bread roll, also known as a barm cake.

It sounds a lot, but all we can say is just don’t knock it until you’ve tried it – and maybe just make sure you’ve got a glass of Vimto on hand to wash it down with.

Eccles Cake

GoodtoKnow

Another one for those with a sweet tooth, the Eccles cake – sometimes down as a “squashed fly pie” or “fly cake” – is a centuries-old pastry, of course taking its name from the town of Eccles in Salford, that’s a staple often sold at bakeries and supermarkets around Manchester and Lancashire.

It’s made up of a flaky pastry dough filled with currents, and it’s often topped with a sugary crust.

While it is a sweet pastry, the Eccles cake is actually traditionally eaten with Lancashire cheese to provide a unique sweet and savoury experience, but it’s just as nice however you chose to serve it.

Lancashire Hotpot

BBC Food

This is probably one of the most famous delicacies on the list.

Mostly associated with the iconic Manchester-based soap Coronation Street, thanks to the fictional Betty Turpin’s hotpot beloved by all the Rovers Return regulars, the Lancashire hotpot remains a hot food staple on tables not just in the region, but right across the UK.

Paying resemblance to a casserole or stew, a Lancashire hotpot is traditionally made with lamb or mutton, onions and stock, and is topped with sliced potatoes, before being cooked low and slow until the potatoes on top go crispy.

If you’re looking for the best hotpot in town, then on over to Annie’s on Old Bank Street.

Rag Pudding

The rag pudding may have been invented in Oldham, but it’s now considered a specialty all over Greater Manchester, particularly in its hometown, and in Bury and Rochdale

A hearty and meaty dish, with a flavour that’s similar to a meat pie, just minus the crust, a rag pudding is made up of ground beef and onion gravy wrapped in suet, and cooked in a piece of muslin – also known as a rag – to give it its distinct and recognisable shape.

Did you know that the most notable producers of the rag pudding, Jacksons Farm Fayre in Milnrow, still lovingly hand-fold 15,000 of the puddings each week to be dished out to local butchers, delis and chippies across the region?

That’s how popular it is.

Pinterest / Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls

Parched Peas

Also known as black peas, black eyed peas (no, not the music group), dapple peas, maple peas, and probably more depending on where you come from, parched peas are dried and cooked purple podded peas, which are then soaked overnight and simmered to produce a type of mushy pea. 

It’s a delicacy often served with lashings of malt vinegar, and most-commonly served in autumn and winter time, especially known to be a staple on or around Bonfire night.

The dish is popular in Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Wigan, Bolton, Tyldesley and Heywood.

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls

Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls are (sort of) spherical mints produced by Wm Santus & Co. Ltd in Wigan, which are made from pure cane sugar, oil of peppermint and cream of tartar.

Originally made for miners and ideal for “coughs and sniffles”, they have remained one of the region’s pride and joys for years on end, helping to keep the population “all aglow” since 1898, with it said that around 160,000 mint balls are still made every day, which is around 35 million per year.

They also have their own catchy jingle, which, if you say the name of them to a Mancunian, you’ll likely get a dodgy rendition of sang back to you.

“Suck em’ and see, you’ll agree, they’re the best in all the land”.

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