A popular local business, famed for its huge sandwiches and for serving some of the best burgers in Manchester, has been forced to close after its rent rocketed in price.
Super Happy has been based at the counter at Ducie Street Warehouse since September, brought to life by the team behind Batard.
Since they’ve been there, they’ve also branched out into the smashed burger world, launching Now That’s A Burger from the same site.
But now Super Happy has announced that it has just a few days of trading left after its rent ‘essentially doubled’.
The team said they’ve been trying to ‘find a way (any way) to make it work’ but the ‘numbers just don’t add up’.
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They’ll now close before Christmas and will be taking a break while they try and find a new home for the business.
Super Happy and Now That’s A Burger in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSuper Happy and Now That’s A Burger in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSuper Happy and Now That’s A Burger in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
They wrote in an Instagram post titled ‘Bye for now’: “Bit of naff news but this week will be our last for a while. Pretty gutted tbh.
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“Last week we were informed by our landlord that our rent will essentially be doubling starting on the 31st of this month. We’ve tried to find a way (any way) to make it work here but it just doesn’t seem that’s possible right now.
“The numbers just don’t add up unfortunately. On such short notice, after a rebrand and only just settling in at a new unit we just aren’t able to adjust and continue trading going in to January. Soooo we are wrapping up here for Xmas a bit prematurely.
“We’ve been lucky to build a truly incredible and talented team. So we don’t plan on stopping for good (but who knows) hopefully just taking a little break whilst we sort out a space we can call home.
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“So for this week come say hello/goodbye. Grab a sandwich, a bake or a burger and see us off in style.”
Super Happy bake all their bread daily, from house-made hoagie rolls to potato brioche buns, as well as making the own pickles, burger ‘super sauce’ and buttermilk-fried chicken.
Their sweet bakes are also the stuff of legend, including a fudgy chocolate cake and choux pastry crullers.
Since they shared the news, Super Happy has been bombarded with comments from fellow business-owners and customers.
They wrote: “ONLY FOUR DAYS LEFT TO GRAB A FRESHLY BAKED HOAGIE AND SOME TOP FILLINGS FROM US.
“We have had such an amazing response to our other post so we think there’s a high chance we’ll be back in the new year, but we can’t guarantee when. May even have a found a permanent spot for us and @nowthatsaburger – but we might need your help to make it happen…
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“In the meantime, come enjoy this menu with us and say an early farewell to 2022. It’s been a trip.”
The Manc has approached Ducie Street Warehouse for comment.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Bangkok Diners Club moves out of Ancoats just months after Michelin Guide win
Daisy Jackson
Bangkok Diners Club, the critically-acclaimed restaurant above the Edinburgh Castle pub, has closed its restaurant space.
The Thai restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide last October, not long after taking over the upstairs of the popular pub.
It also received a rave review in The Guardian from restaurant critic Grace Dent, who said it would be ‘one of Manchester’s hottest dining tickets’.
But now Bangkok Diners Club has decided its time in Ancoats is up, and has closed its beautiful restaurant space with immediate effect.
In an email sent to customers with reservations, they wrote that Bangkok Diners Club ‘sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle’.
Owners and husband-and-wife team Ben and Bo Humpheys aren’t leaving things there though, announcing plans to move into the Exhibition food hall on Peter Street.
Co-owner Ben Humphreys outside Bangkok Diners Club. Credit: The Manc GroupThe food earned them a place in the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
They’ll be joining MoreJoy and pasta concept Anatra in the space, but bidding farewell to their own dedicated restaurant for now.
The email sent to customers reads: “We have just noticed that the system has allowed you to make a reservation during a time that we are closed. We apologise that this has happened.
“Ben and Bo are cooking at Exhibition during 2026 and Bangkok Diners Club sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle.
“Sincerest apologies for all the inconvenience caused.”
Doux Chaton debuts in Manchester: Vietnamese and French cuisine meets the North West
Danny Jones
Regardless of our rivalry, the Scousers have given us a lot: The Beatles, two Premier League football clubs for us to get regularly riled up against, even the Bold Street brand – and now it’s the turn of Doux Chaton, who just landed in Manchester.
Vietnamese food right in the heart of town, but like you’ve never had it before, Doux Chaton is the Southeast Asian spot with a European twist that’s already turning heads.
In fact, despite quietly opening on the main Deansgate strip over the festive period, there was already plenty of passion for this place down the Mersey, as this Liverpool-founded business has developed a foodie favourite following here in the North West.
Run by owners Jimmy and Jennifer Ly, whose parents Ko and Linda moved to the UK back in the 70s, this place might be regionally born and bred, but it’s still deeply rooted in the rich heritage of two ex-pats helping bring some seriously incredible flavours to our shores.
Walking past the old unit on the ground floor of Great Northern Warehouse – during a real ghost town period for the city centre this past Christmas – we saw a team hard at work putting together their first Manc venue.
This was at around 10/11pm from memory, as we saw a man on ladders finishing the hand-lettered sign by lamplight; this is all relevant because, before anything, it’s worth noting that this place from 9am until 9pm all week round.
Yes, as in every single day.
Since they’re still relative newcomers, we’re not entirely sure when they take any time (if, indeed, they do at all), but one thing we can already vouch for is that hard work can well and truly be tasted in the food and drink they put out.
Expanding their traditional Vietnamese menu in Merseyside, Doux Chaton Deansgate has seen them create a whole new selection of sweet treats, doubling not only as a neo-French patisserie but as a platform to showcase both traditional and modern bakes from their home country.
There is a long history of their national cuisine being deeply influenced by the classical culinary culture in France, but when we tell you their bahn mi sandwiches and clever take on a sausage ‘pho’roll were even tastier than their decadent croque monsieur croissant, you know you’re on to something special.
And then there are the bowls of broth and noodles themselves; we tried plenty of pho in and around Greater Manchester, with plenty purporting to be ‘authentic’ – and many of them are – but there can be a question about this first and second generation team.
Taking ‘Mama Hong’s treasured recipes from the streets of Hanoi and elevating them ever so slightly in certain spots, whilst still letting the flavours, textures and smells speak for themselves, it’s comfortably some of the best Viet scran we’ve had in these parts.
The cute little cat in a bowl logo almost feels like the most warm and fitting welcome you could hope for.
Service with a smile, simply fantastic food, a bloody GREAT cup of stylish drip coffee and a big chalkboard where you can even leave your own message, not to mention unrelenting opening hours – this could be our new go-to at any given time of day.
Daisy Jackson -
15th December 2022 
