Stockport restaurants and residents have joined forces to help feed some the community’s most vulnerable people for free next week.
After expressing dismay at the current political climate – said to be with respects to the “unacceptable” £30 free school meal hampers provided to some children learning from home this week that have gone viral on social media – and believing that “no person should go hungry”, Ate Days A Week – a “new and inventive musical-themed” sandwich and pie restaurant, with a branch in Stockport and a pop-up unit at street food venue Hatch in Manchester city centre – has teamed up with independent cocktail business Cherry Jam Stockport and the Vara family to “offer free meals to anyone who needs it”.
Next Wednesday 20th January from 12pm, the collective has vowed to “dish out free meal bundles” for 150 people from across the community on a first come first served basis – and it’s not just next Wednesday either.
150 meals will be distributed for free every Wednesday “throughout the duration of lockdown”.
Spreading word of their intent to feed, Ate Days A Week took to social media with a post that read: “Just think of all those hungry mouths we have to feed, take a look at all the suffering we breed, so many lonely faces scattered all around, searching for what they need,”
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Ate Days A WeekAte Days A Week
It continued: “We want to do something – we can’t count on the elected powers that be to look after us, so we’ll look after anyone we can.”
“No questions asked – any age, any colour, any creed, any walk of life is welcome.”
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According to the social media post, those claiming one of the 150 free food bundles from next week can expect to took into a freshly-prepared hot meal, which will consist of either a Hotpot from Cherry Jam, or Vegetable Curry & Rice from The Vara’s.
And along that, they will get some fresh fruit and a roast chicken sandwich from Ate Days A Week.
All meals will be served at Ate Days A Week from 12pm on Wednesday 20th January, and every Wednesday after that until England’s third national lockdown amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic comes to an end.
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You can find more information about the initiative here.
Ate Days A Week, 8 Vernon Street, Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK1 1TY.
Eats
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.
Burger King is giving away free burgers to new drivers today
Emily Sergeant
Burger King will be giving away burgers to drivers who have recently passed their tests for free of charge today.
In case it wasn’t on your radar, tomorrow (Thursday 24 July) is actually National Drive-Thru Day, and in a bid to properly celebrate this unofficial holiday, Burger King has decided to hand out a bunch of freebies to newbies today.
The fast food chain is asking all new drivers to “buckle up”, head on down to their nearest Burger King drive-thru, and help themselves to a free burger.
All newly-qualified drivers will be able to take their pick from either the Whopper or Chicken Royale without parting ways with a penny, and all they’ll need to do the claim their freebie is simply show off their learner’s ‘L Plates’ to the staff at their local Burger King restaurant.
/ Credit: Burger King UK (via Instagram) | Supplied
Hundreds of Burger King drive-thrus across the UK are taking part in the one-day promotion – including several across in Greater Manchester.
Although it might seem a little too good to be true, there’s a reason Burger King has chosen to dish out the freebies, and that’s because the company says it knows that one of the first activities newly-qualified drivers like do once they’ve passed their test is make a pit stop at a drive-thru with their mates to show off their new wheels and skills.
Sometimes though, navigating a drive-thru for the first time can be tricky, and this leaves new drivers feeling a bit like a rabbit in the headlights.
Luckily with this one-day Burger King offer, new drivers’ first drive-thru trip couldn’t be any easier.
The offer is available nationwide today (Wednesday 24 July) at Burger King drive-thru lanes only, while stock lasts, and newly qualified drivers must verbally mention “BK Plates” at the drive-thru lane to unlock their free burger.