There’s a crisp festival happening at a bar in Stockport this weekend, and we are absolutely obsessed with the idea.
Bask, the Stockport bar that’s become one of the region’s best nights out according to our very local Stopfordian, is laying on bowls upon bowls of crisps as part of its first-ever crisp festival.
Even better it’s entirely free – with both entry to the festival and the crisps themselves costing punters absolutely nothing.
Taking place at the end of the bank holiday weekend, Monday 28 August will see Stockport bar Bask roll-out tables full of crisps in a host of different shapes, flavours, and sizes.
And whilst it’s not been made entirely clear exactly which of our favourite crisps will be on offer on Monday, an A-board outside the bar definitely gives a hint.
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Promotional artwork for the crisp festival suggests you’ll find everything from Skips and Quavers to Wheat Munchies, Squares, Pringles and Monster Munch.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: Bask / Mark Brown Studio
Packets of Hula Hoops, Wotsits, McCoy’s, Walker’s, Roysters, Scampi Fries, Doritos, and Frazzles also look set to make an appearance at the big crisp bonanza.
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Sharing the news on Twitter, Bask wrote: “You might’ve seen our events board stating CRISP FESTIVAL, and wondered what the hell that is? Well I’ll tell ya… On bank holiday Monday, August 28th, between 2pm – 6pm, we’re hosting the very first FESTIVAL OF CRISPS to take place in Stockport.”
They continued: “We’ll have tables and tables of bowls of crisps, literally as many brands as you can think of, saddled up next to bread and butter to make the ultimate crisp butty.
You might’ve seen our events board stating CRISP FESTIVAL, and wondered what the hell that is? Well I’ll tell ya…
On bank holiday Monday, August 28th, between 2pm – 6pm, we’re hosting the very first FESTIVAL OF CRISPS to take place in Stockport 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ydWh70Obco
— Fitzpatricks Stockport (@fitzstockport) August 5, 2023
“Not only that, we’ll have a resident Bask DJ dropping some cheesy beats to soundtrack your day whilst you crunch.”
“And because we’re good to you, it’s free entry and FREE crisps. Go on then.”
Kicking off at 2pm and running until 6pm, head down to Bask this bank holiday Monday to get your ultimate crisp fix.
Featured image – Bask
Eats
Family behind Salvi’s launch new concept, weeks after iconic restaurant closure
Daisy Jackson
Just weeks after the closure of its iconic, 16-year-old Italian restaurant in the Corn Exchange, the family behind Salvi’s have revealed a brand-new concept.
And this time, the reins are being handed over to the next generation.
Salvi’s founder Maurizio Cecco has helped to shape Amò, but it’s all the brainchild of his daughter, Sienna.
Sienna will run the business out of a unit up on Deansgate Mews, serving fresh pasta dishes, pizza sandwiches, tubs of tiramisu, and two-for-£10 spritzes.
The deli aspect of the original Salvi’s has been carried over to Amò too – you’ll find shelves almost to the ceiling filled with Italian pasta, wine, olive oils, pistachio spreads, and more.
Sienna has grown up in restaurants, with her parents launching Salvi’s when she was just two years old.
She said she wants the space to be a livelier, fresher version of the Italian restaurant that has been so loved by Mancs for so many years.
Sienna outside AmòFresh pasta dishesInside Amò by Salvi’sTheir viral frozen crema di caffeLemon granitaInside Amò by Salvi’sTiramisu pots
Amò, which is Neapolitan slang for ‘my love’, will have loads of fresh Italian dishes, including arancini, gnocchi, and hearty pasta plates.
At lunchtimes, guests can order from a £10 lunch menu, with dishes changing daily depending on the best produce the kitchen can get – it could be a pizza sandwich with proscuitto and tomato, a spicy pasta, or a gnocchi bake, always served with your choice of soft drink.
With its position on Deansgate Mews, Amò basks in the sunshine at lunchtimes.
And while it’s definitely a different concept to the original Salvi’s, Amò looks set to carry the family’s Italian food legacy into its next generation.
Award-winning Didsbury bakery La Chouquette reveals incredible new site
Daisy Jackson
La Chouquette is one of Greater Manchester’s top bakeries – an award-winner, with queues down the street every weekend for its authentic French pastries and loaves.
And now they’re ready for a new chapter, revealing a major expansion today.
Owners Catrina and Flo have painstakingly expanded the bakery into the unit next door, creating what feels like a true French bakery.
And in the midst of this huge renovation project, they’ve welcomed a tiny new baby boy – quite the summer for the couple.
Catrina and Flo launched La Chouquette in lockdown, and in a time where people could only get their hospitality fix from takeaways, immediately became one of the most popular spots in the region.
Their success has been so great, you’ll still consistently find queues down the street every weekend, for their top sellers like their authentic almond croissants.
Then in October 2024, they grew the business and launched Piqniq, a new deli in Didsbury village, serving freshly-baked baguette sandwiches, breakfast butties, toasties, tiramisu pots and their legendary pastries.
The new-look La Chouquette features beautiful details like mosaic floors, rich blue walls, wooden shelves, and brass light fixtures.
La Chouquette’s best-selling almond croissantsInside the stunning new La Chouquette in DidbsuryNew savoury bakesThe chausson aux pommesThe counter stuffed with artisan French bakesChocolate chip cookies and cinnamon buns
The huge new counter displays more pastries and breads than ever before, like a hearty chausson aux pommes filled with apples that will be perfect for autumn, plus seasonal treats like a rhubarb creme brulee pastry, and homemade quiche.
Speaking at the grand relaunch today, Catrina said: “The layout has changed, it looks so much more chic, it looks like a traditional French bakery. We’re really excited about it.”
As for what’s on the counter, Flo reassured fans that their beloved almond and pistachio croissants remain, but with some new savoury editions, like a truffle croque monsieur made with croissant dough.
La Choquette has reopened today, and will be open seven days a week from 7am until 5pm.
Georgina Pellant -
20th August 2023 
