The team behind Manchester’s most legendary burger bar, Almost Famous, will open the doors to a brand new burger concept this week.
Super Awesome Deluxe is taking over the old Lono Cove site on Thomas Street, serving up a short menu of smash burgers with a daytime soundtrack of 80s hits and a nighttime playlist of drum n bass.
If you don’t like beef burgers, look away now, but if you do, you’re going to like this one.
Super Awesome Deluxe will operate as a grab-and-go takeaway with just three core smash burgers on the menu – the Super (with deluxe sauce and pickles); the Awesome (shaved onion, deluxe sauce, ketchup, mustard and pickles); and the Deluxe (deluxe sauce, spicy ketchup, lettuce, tomato and pickles).
There’ll also be the Special, which will change every two months.
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And alongside those tender smashed beef burgers, topped with melty cheese, will be golden hand-cut fries which are taken ‘very seriously’ to bring maximum nostalgia to your takeaway.
The Super Awesome Deluxe fries are made with Cheshire spuds, cooked to crispy, salty perfection.
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Burgers will be made with meat sourced super locally from W.H Frost with a house blend of chuck, brisket, and aged marrow for a rich buttery flavour, ground for a steak-like texture and smashed hot into caramelised patties.
They’ll be limited daily until they’re sold out to ensure the highest quality and freshest buns.
Smash burgers at Super Awesome Deluxe Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupThe core menu at Super Awesome Deluxe is only three burgers, plus fries and homemade cherry lemo. Credit: The Manc Group
There’ll also be house-made cherry lemonade made daily, plus a special Super Awesome Deluxe lager made in collaboration with Tiny Rebel.
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Beau Myers, co-founder at Super Awesome Deluxe said: “Why is super awesome so super awesome? We’re doing more than just smashing burgers – we’re creating a whole vibe.
“We’ve created something completely fresh that hits in a new way and gives people what they need. It’s all about quality, energy, and keeping it real.
“Our menu is tight, the flavours are bold, and the beats are loud.
“We want people to walk out with a grin on their face, knowing they’ve just had the best damn burger ever. This isn’t just about food, it’s about the culture we’re building around it and the good times we’re bringing.”
Super Awesome Deluxe will open in the Northern Quarter on Wednesday 9 October, with 200 free burgers up for grabs on opening day (100 from midday, and another 100 from 5pm).
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Super Awesome Deluxe is open for takeaway from 12pm-3pm and again from 5pm-10pm, Wednesday to Sunday. There’ll be late night hours until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
New Almost Famous owners praised for ‘honest’ statement about burger joint
Daisy Jackson
The new owners of Almost Famous have released a lengthy statement addressing the legendary burger joint’s shock closure and sudden reopening.
The statement touches on everything from hiring back old teams to reopening those remaining venues that didn’t survive the takeover.
And this ‘transparent and honest communication’ has earned them a wave of praise from fans, who say it’s a ‘breath of fresh air’.
In their statement shared a week after reopening Almost Famous, D2 – the company behind PINS Social Club bowling bar in Liverpool – addressed plenty of the rumours and noise surrounding the high-profile closure.
“No, it wasn’t a publicity stunt,” they stressed, adding: “It wasn’t a pre-planned takeover – we saw the news at the same time everyone else and acted quickly.”
Addressing the staff who were made redundant when former Almost Famous operator Beautiful Drinks shut the brand down, D2 assured followers that they have ‘hired as many of the old team as we could’.
And as for their outstanding wages, they added: “We moved heaven and earth to get them a pay check in February as we knew they hadn’t been paid since December.
Food at Almost Famous since D2’s takeover of the legendary burger brand. Credit: The Manc Group
“It was really important to be able to reopen the venues quickly – we wanted to get staff back into their jobs and keep the existing suppliers -otherwise it wouldn’t have been the same brand we all loved, would it?
“If we hadn’t been able to reopen at the speed that we did – then the existing teams would have had to look at new jobs and we’d have risked losing brilliant people. If you don’t believe us ask them.”
When D2 took over Almost Famous, they had initially toyed with the idea of having it as the food operator in its PINS Social Club, but instead swiftly reopened the restaurants in the Northern Quarter and in Liverpool – though its Leeds and Great Northern sites never got back to slinging burgers.
On that, they said: “Leeds – we’ve not forgotten you. Ideally we’d have all four sites reopen now but the lease agreements were more complicated for Leeds and Great Northern. We had to prioritise the sites we knew we’d be able to save and we’re hoping that we’ll be able to look for new sites soon.”
Since sharing their statement on Instagram, Almost Famous has been flooded with praise from customers for their honest take.
One person wrote: “Great to read such an open and transparent statement about everything, especially regarding the old staff, and their pay, the staff at the NQ have always been one of the reasons I’ve kept visiting anytime I’m up in Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to making a visit at the end of the month when I’m up in the city for an overnight stay.”
Another commented: “This is awesome! I love how upfront and honest you have been with all of this. Taking the OG team back too – more businesses need to take this lead! Good luck with your amazing future, I’ll be bobbing in to get my AF fix ASAP.”
And someone else said: “This is honestly such a positive sign. The fact you’re being completely transparent is a breath of fresh air – I had no idea the previous owners hadn’t paid their staff. I really hope the Leeds branch opens again.”
Manchester’s Joy Division-inspired bar has shut down, to be replaced with ramen restaurant
Daisy Jackson
A bar in the heart of Manchester that was inspired by the legendary Joy Division has quietly closed its doors, and its spot in the Northern Quarter already snapped up by a new operator.
Disorder opened in 2023 on High Street, taking over the former Walrus bar and turning it into a restaurant and bar inspired by one of the city’s most famous bands, with decor including a mural of Ian Curtis himself, painted by the legendary local street artist Akse-P19.
Disorder has now quietly closed its doors, with its social media pages falling silent.
But the site itself won’t stay quiet for long – a new application has already been lodged for a popular ramen and sushi spot to move in.
Maki and Ramen have submitted plans to open another of its Japanese restaurants here in the Northern Quarter, pretty much down the street from their existing, and very busy, York Street.
The brand started life in Edinburgh, before opening more restaurants across Glasgow, Leeds, and arriving in Manchester in 2023.
Founder Teddy Lee spent time studying the art of both ramen and sushi making in the heart of Tokyo to hone the menu at Maki and Ramen.
Maki and Ramen is taking the former Disorder site in the Northern Quarter. Credit: The Manc Group
Now you’ll find sushi, side plates and other mains, including classic tonkotsu ramen, steak tataki and salmon miso.
The interior of the existing restaurant is filled with pink cherry blossoms, and the walls are adorned with post-it notes that customers sign and leave well-wishes on.
Disorder had been serving an Asian fusion menu, which features items like Japanese sandos, loaded skewers, and tostadas, but was best-known for its live events down in its basement.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd October 2024 
