Owners of Salford’s pink teapot cafe The Travelling Teapot have hit out at the local council as they revealed they are on the hunt for a new site.
Owners of The Travelling Teapot, a pale pink 1970s caravan known as Betsy to her friends, told The Manc that they were looking outside Salford for a new location and expanding the cafe’s horizons across the north west.
Revealing that they were ‘gutted’ to be leaving their home patch, owners hit out at Salford council as they said bosses had been unhelpful in helping them find somewhere to pitch up closer to home.
Bosses at the teapot cafe said: “We’ve got to make a decision by August whether to continue or close the business as we’ve been trying so hard to get a new pitch with better footfall but not had any success.
“We are gutted but we just can’t find anywhere to trade. Salford council won’t help so we are going to have to spread our wings.”
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Image: The Manc Group
Image: The Manc Group
The teapot cafe on wheels is the only one of its kind in the whole of the UK, according to owners Maria and Vicky.
Serving up delicious homemade cakes and other sweet treats like cookies and triple chocolate brownies, there’s also an extensive menu of hot and cold drinks with hot chocolates, locally-roasted coffees and piping hot cups of tea.
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The cafe has been a fixture at Buille Hill Park, Salford, since opening at the start of February
Getting the project off the ground, owners say, took fifteen months, so by the time they were ready to start serving from their magical teapot cafe they were beyond excited.
However, six months down the line, whilst Betsy and her owners have plenty of fans they maintain that the footfall at their current site is not high enough to continue trading there and the time has come to move on.
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Speaking exclusively to The Manc, owners revealed that whilst it had always been their dream to trade in Salford they ‘did not know or expect’ to run into so many problems with finding a site to trade from.
They said: “Being born and bred in Salford we naively thought that a new, independent business would be welcomed.
“We paid £800 for a Salford Council street trading license in November 2022 to trade at Buile Hill Park fireworks event. The council pushed it through on the proviso we could use it to trade on the streets thereafter.
“We had to pick a location (following their guidelines) and we were under the impression when this happened we were good to go. Nine months later we still haven’t had permission to trade on the streets.
“We have a park license which we use for Buile Hill Park {…] but the footfall is just not enough so have been looking for locations for places with more footfall.
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“We have applied for so many locations within the guidelines. The locations have either been turned down, emails not answered, passed to management committees, asked to contact other people within the council etc.”
Image: The Travelling Teapot
Image: The Manc Group
Owners told The Manc that they had applied for locations around The Lowry only to be told that the council didn’t own the land, contrary to information on the land registry, and generally said that despite sending numerous emails they often did not get a response.
It appears from correspondence seen by The Manc that owners were told there were ‘too many coffee shops in the area’ and they weren’t taking on any more.
“We did persist and ask if we could go on a waiting list until one became available,” owners added, “but apparently there isn’t a waiting list or criteria.”
They also allege that new businesses have since been given licenses to trade in areas they have been refused.
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Sharing the news of their departure from Buile Hill on Instagram, bosses wrote: “Please share. The UK’s only giant teapot on wheels is looking for a new home. We can bring a breathe of fresh air to your location. DM for info.
“Permanent pitch wanted. DM for info. Looking around the Northwest for a new permanent location. The UK’s only giant teapot on wheels. Fabulous drinks and cake menu. Breathe new life to your venue, eye catching, crowd pulling and unique. All enquiries considered.
Owners also said how sad they were to leave the park in the comments section, writing: “Awww we are so sad. We will be there a couple more times. The people we have met and all our customers have all been amazing!
“You’ve all been so loyal and kind, which honestly wish we could stay, unfortunately the park is just too quiet. Wherever we end up we will hope to see you again.”
A spokesperson for Salford City Council said: “We are disappointed that the owner feels this way. Salford City Council has provided extensive support over the last eight months including enabling the business to trade at the 2022 Bonfire Night celebrations attended by 15,000 people, trade at the two day We Invented the Weekend festival in June 2023 at Salford Quays and listing the business as a recommended street trader to help community event organisers find suitable food vendors for their event.
“Our business team also facilitated an introduction to the Kargo food hall team at The Quayside Shopping Mall and we understand discussions about trading there are ongoing.
“The owner continues to trade at Buile Hill Park and has expressed an interest in moving to another park location which would need to be one without an existing community café. We have not asked the business to relocate.
“Salford City Council does not provide a location finding service for any business but does respond to any request to use council owned land and we are happy to continue working with the owner as we have done over the past eight months. However if a business is seeking to trade on a privately owned site then it is for the business owner to negotiate directly with the private landowner.”
Featured image – The Manc Group
Eats
Beloved local restaurant passionately tears apart burglars after ‘hurtful and disappointing’ break-in
Daisy Jackson
A local Manchester restaurant has found itself the victim of a break-in, with staff wages and other goods stolen – and they’ve not exactly held back in their statement to the burglars.
The Thirsty Korean, a hugely popular name over in Chorlton, has asked customers to ‘teach them how to swear in English’ so they can adequately express their disappointment and disgust.
Owner Eunji Noh said in a passionate statement that ‘bad karma comes as well as good karma’.
She wrote: “What you did was that you fully disrespected us that we put our love, passion, effort and time to do something meaningful and great.
“We do not deserve that. I wish, you will be deserved of what you did and I hope, that it will hurt you and your life.”
The Thirsty Korean opened last year in a new spot on Wilbraham Road, serving its legendary and authentic Korean dishes like fried chicken, tteokbokki, and Korean pancakes.
Sharing CCTV images of the burglars in the restaurant, Eunji added that she hopes they will ‘one day become someone doing something right’.
She said: “Hating someone is consuming so much negative energy, therefore I really do not like to say such and it hurts me too.
“However words have a power. So I leave the message that, in any case you would ever read. You will have many bad things happening to you and you will have many bad days and I wish this bad karma will chase to you soon.”
The Thirsty Korean’s brunch spreadCheesy Ttekbokki noodles
She also wrote: “What you stole from the thirsty korean last night was paying our hard working staff wages, paying goods and supplies and our maintenance for the restaurant which assures us living tomorrow.
“It is truly hurtful and disappointing to know that there were people looking for the opportunity to steal someone’s belonging that I personally have never imagined to do by myself stealing someone’s possession and hovering and looking for a spot during the night with this bad intention.”
Addressing customers, she assured people that The Thirsty Korean will be back open for service from Wednesday.
Eunji signed off: “Eventually we all know that everything will be fine again. Spring has been always coming after winter ends.”
15 places kids can eat for £1 or FREE throughout the summer holidays
Thomas Melia
With the summer holidays just around the corner, we’ve rounded up 15 places kids can eat for £1 or free across the UK.
In case the ongoing heatwave didn’t remind you, summer is in full swing, and that means the inevitable school holidays are nearly here.
If you’re after ways to enjoy some quality family time without having to break the bank, we’ve found lots of places where kids can eat for £1 or free – 15 of them, to be exact.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Italian, a bit of brekkie, or even a big Greek feast, just because you’re on a budget shouldn’t mean you have to limit your and your family’s taste buds.
Here are 15 places you can take the kids to eat for £1 or even free this summer holidays.
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15 places kids eat for £1 or free throughout the summer holidays
Asda Café
Any child aged 16 or under can eat for £1 when dining at any Asda Café location, and every meal comes with a piece of fruit. There’s no minimum spend required and this deal is running all-day, seven days a week.
Bill’s
Brunch spot Bill’s is offering two free kids’ meals to any child aged 10 or younger when purchasing an adult main meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner). This free meal includes a main, side and dessert, but is only applicable Monday to Friday. They’ve even got a special deal built for teenagers, too.
Turtle Bay
This Caribbean-inspired chain entitles one free kids’ meal per each adult, who spends £15 or more and presents a code via its app. Children paying a visit to Turtle Bay, who are 10 and under, will receive a kids’ meal and small soft drink.
The Real Greek
Every Sunday, The Real Greek is offering one free kids’ meal for each adult that spends £15 or more on any menu items. This deal will be automatically applied to the bill with the child getting to choose between a souvlaki wrap or mezze selection.
Beefeater
Two children under 16 are entitled to a free breakfast with any adult who purhcases an unlimited cooked breakfast for £10.99. There’s no specific end date for this one, and it applies to Premier Inn hotels as well as further Whitbread restaurants: Table Table, Whitbread Inns, Bar + Block, and Brewers Fayre.
There are lots of locations offering kids eat free or for £1 across the UK / Credit: Tesco (Supplied)
Bella Italia
Any adult dining at a Bella Italia location who purchases a main meal can get a free starter, main, dessert and juice for their child. Kids eat free all-year-long between Sunday to Thursday. This offer will be automatically applied to the bill. Subject to venue.
Morrisons Café
At Morrisons Café locations, when an adult spends £5 or more on a main meal, little ones can get a free hot meal including a main, side and veg or pick ‘n’ mix meal which contains a sandwich, snack and drink.
Tesco Café
Running in over 330 participating Tesco Café sites, kids are allowed a free hot meal, breakfast or pick ‘n’ mix meal when purchased alongside a full price adult meal. A valid Tesco Clubcard must be scanned, with this offer working on weekends too. The supermarket is also bringing back free fruit in 800 Tesco stores.
Sizzling Pubs
When visiting with a Sizzling Pub on a Monday after 12pm, children can eat for £1 alongside any adult buying a main meal. This discount will be automatically applied and will work at all their restaurants.
Travelodge
If an adult purchases an unlimited breakfast for £9.99, two kids aged 15 or under can eat for £1. This deal is running for anyone, and you don’t even have to be staying over at one of their hotels – you can simply walk in.
Dunelm Pausa Café
A child can eat free with every £4 spent by an adult at Dunelm Pausa Café. The deal guarantees kids a main, two snacks and a drink. If an adult spends £8, two kids could eat for free and so on.
Brewers Fayre
Just like Beefeater and other Whitbread restaurant brands, two children under 16 can get a free breakfast when an adult purchases an unlimited cooked breakfast for £10.99.
Table Table
As mentioned above, two children aged under 16 are entitled to a free breakfast when dining with a paying adult who buys an unlimited cooked breakfast for £10.99.
Dobbies
When an adult purchases a main meal of £8.75 or more, kids can dine-in for 88p. The offer applies to the children’s breakfast and lunch menu with the option of hot food or a pick and mix box, both including a drink. Only applicable in Dobbies; the offer isn’t valid in ‘Little Dobbies’ stores.
IKEA
Although there isn’t an official offer, Swedish furniture chain IKEA is recognised for its affordable menu serving up delicious dishes like pasta and tomato sauce for children from 85p. The adults’ menu is pretty reasonable too, with a mixed vegetable rice meal for just £2.50. Breakfast rolls are £1.75, and individual breakfast items start from 75p.
Georgina Pellant -
13th July 2023 
