Rudy’s is opening another new pizza site in Manchester, taking over the former Dawson’s Music shop after it closed its doors last September.
The new pizza restaurant will open inside 30 Portland street, next to Cafe Nero, taking over the huge two-floor glass building that previously housed the music mainstay – a fixture on the Manchester scene for over two decades.
It will bridge the gap between Rudy’s two existing city centre sites, sitting at a halfway point between the original pizzeria in Ancoats and the Peter street site.
Image: The Manc Eats
This will be the fourth Manchester site for the award-winning Neapolitan pizzeria, which is currently in the process of opening its first Greater Manchester site in Sale on Northerndon road.
Rudy’s has also expanded in recent years to open Neapolitan pizza parlours in neighbouring cities Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham.
Rudy’s first opened in Manchester in 2015 as an independent pizzeria, operated by local couple Jim Morgan and Kate Wilson.
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The pair found huge success with their walk-in Neapolitan pizza concept, creating queues around the block as hungry fans clamoured to get a table, and gained a huge number of accolades including being named one of the best in the world.
Last year, it was named the fifth-best in Europe – coming in just four places behind L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Naples, widely known to be the Italian ‘temple of pizza’.
Image: The Manc Eats
In 2017, the founders sold a slice of the business to Mission Mars – the company behind Albert’s Schloss.
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Whilst they still remain as shareholders and are said to be “very much involved”, the sale has enabled the huge expansion of Manchester’s favourite pizza parlour into various parts of the UK.
In 2029, its new operators told the Manchester Evening News it planned to launch a further five restaurants in Greater Manchester’s suburbs within the next two years.
At the time, Neal Bates, managing director of Rudy’s, told the paper:
“Over the next two years we aim to open a further five restaurants in the satellite towns of Manchester serving local communities with informal family dining and delivery services.
“If you know of a premises or site that might be suitable, we would be delighted to hear from you.”
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Bosses have submitted a planning application with the council for the new Portland street site, which will remain in review until 8 March 2022.
Feature image – Google
Eats
Indie food and drink festival to return to popular Greater Manchester town for second year
Emily Sergeant
A food and drink festival shining a spotlight on independent businesses is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.
Following the success of last year’s tasty debut, Urmston’s very-own independent food and drink festival, YUM! – Your Urmston Matters, is back for its second serving later this month, and will once again be transforming the Trafford town’s M41 site on Railway Road into a buzzing hub of ‘flavour, fun, and local pride’.
Organised by Love Urmston and hosted by Urmston resident and food and drink presenter, Matty White, this community celebration will bring together top local street food vendors, artisan producers, and drink retailers, alongside live cooking demos, family activities, and loads of entertainment.
Now in its second year, YUM! continues to shine a spotlight on Urmston’s indie food scene and the passion of the people behind it, but as well as local residents, it also invites the rest of Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester community to come together.
So whether you just live down the road, or you are discovering the town for the first time, everyone is welcome to pop down.
“Bringing YUM! back for a second year is incredibly exciting,” commented Fred Davids, who is the Chair of the Love Urmston committee.
“It’s a brilliant way to celebrate what makes Urmston special – its community, and fantastic food and drink scene, welcoming people from near and far to experience the town at its best.
“And as a committee, we’re proud to support our incredible local independent businesses who put their heart and soul into everything they do.”
YUM! is returning to Urmston for another delicious festival this month / Credit: Emma Boyle (via Supplied)
Just some of the independent businesses you’ll find at the festival throughout the day include English Rose Bakery, Inforno Pizzeria, Dan’s Cookies, Banga Curries, JJ’s Caribbean Kitchen, The Greek Village, Pomona Island Brewery, Kelder Wines, and so many more.
The festival is also proudly sponsored by Gecko Homes – a north west property developer that specialises in creating affordable and shared ownership homes across many of Manchester’s most popular suburbs.
You can read more about what Gecko Homes is doing across the region here.
YUM! – Your Urmston Matters is back this month on Saturday 21 June, and will be getting underway from 11am through to 5pm.
Featured Image – Emma Boyle (via Supplied)
Eats
The Stables – A brand-new Manchester pub on the site of the Rovers Return
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new pub is set to open in Manchester city centre net month, with treats in store like complimentary bowls of crisps, an outdoor terrace, and a games parlour.
The Stables Tavern is taking shape in the St John’s district, poetically on the same site that was once home to Coronation Street’s iconic Rovers Return pub.
They’re promising this will be a ‘historic tavern reimagined for today’s lover of a proper pint’.
The pub will come from Shiko Group, which is also behind Courts Club, where you can play tennis or basketball followed by court-side pints, and Side Street, a bar-restaurant-events space with a mid-Century interior.
Neighbouring the Bonded Warehouse, The Stables Tavern will join this rapidly blossoming new creative district, just across the yard from Caravan, The Trading Route and Aviva Studios.
Inside, punters will find multiple beer taps with local beers, served with complimentary bowls of crisps as well as a menu of pub snacks like handmade sausage rolls and local pies.
The pub will be split into three sections – an outside terrace, a main bar, and a parlour area at the back of the pub for live entertainment, old school games, and rounds of whiskey.
The Stables pub in Manchester
The Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in Manchester
This might be a new district but it’s a historic area for the city – the same building was a busy watering hole back in the early 19th century for workers, merchants and visitors who made use of the nearby canals and cobbled streets.
It was then the home of the Rovers Return, back when this area was the home of Granada Studios.
Hayley Sammé, Marketing Director, said: “We’re so excited to bring The Stables Tavern back to St John’s. The area’s extensive historical backdrop and burgeoning hospitality scene provides the perfect landscape for a traditional British pub.
“It’s the perfect addition to the existing scene, and we hope it’s going to become a popular spot in our new creative district.”
The Stables Tavern will open at St John’s on Friday 6 June – you can sign up for one of 1,000 free pints HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
11th February 2022 
