Eats

Surprise honour from GMB leaves beloved Stockport takeaway boss in tears

Stockport community hero Mama Flo was honoured on live TV with a special award

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 29th December 2022

A Stockport takeaway owner who is a treasured part of her community burst into tears live on air after receiving a surprise honour from ITV‘s Good Morning Britain.

A camera crew from the show appeared at Mama Flo’s Burton Road takeaway alongside weatherman Alex Beresford and I’m A Celebrity star Owen Warner, who presented the community icon with a special award in recognition of all she does for others.

The show’s One Million Minutes award, which surprises deserving loneliness heroes up and down the country, is part of a special campaign designed to acknowledge those who go the extra mile for the loneliest in their communities.

Alex Beresford presented Mama Flo, real name Florence Coke, with the award at her eatery alongside I’m A Celebrity star Owen Warner, live on TV leaving the big-hearted takeaway owner overwhelmed with gratitude.

Image: Mama Flo Facebook
Owen Warner signing autographs at the Stockport takeaway. / Image: Mama Flo Facebook

Fighting back tears, Flo, who has been feeding local pensioners for free over the Christmas holidays, told the pair: “I get up at four o’clock in the morning every morning, and when the pandemic struck, I said I felt sorry for those people who didn’t have a job, and I said I have to get out and cook for everybody in the community, and I’ve been doing that since.”

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Read more: Stockport residents take to social media to share the love for ‘community hero’ Mama Flo

From feeding local children for free during the school holidays to giving away hundreds of free meals to key workers during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Flo, who celebrated her birthday on Boxing Day, has long been praised by people here in Greater Manchester for her work in the community. Now, she has been recognised on a national scale.

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Read more: Stacey Solomon announces baby news with adorable – and slightly chaotic – video

GMB presenter Susanna Reid compared the takeaway owner to Santa, whilst Alex Beresford said she was a ‘real life hero’.

“In a perfect world, there would be no need for you to do what you do,” Reid added. “But we live in a far from perfect world, and thank goodness for all of your goodness.”

Feature image – Mama Flo / Iain Digglr

Eats

Vegan restaurant in Manchester pleads for ‘understanding and support’ after sharing ‘heavy news’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Wholesome Junkies has announced some 'major changes' after struggling with the rising costs of running the vegan restaurant

Wholesome Junkies, a vegan restaurant in Manchester city centre, has asked for ‘understanding and support’ after announcing that they were having to overhaul their menu prices.

The restaurant is famed for its plant-based takes on classic junk food, whether that’s hoisin ‘duckless’ bao or a towering meat-free burger.

You can even get an incredible Sunday roast with all the trimmings, for an ethical twist on the British classic.

But now in a heartfelt statement shared this week, Wholesome Junkies has said it has some ‘heavy news’ to share.

The colourful restaurant beneath the arches near Manchester Victoria said it’s had to take ‘a hard look’ at its menu prices after ‘recent struggles with rising costs’ – an issue plaguing just about every business in the hospitality industry.

In their statement, Wholesome Junkies said that rising rents, wages, stock prices, utilities and VAT (‘the biggest battle of all’) has left them barely breaking even.

Wholesome Junkies, a vegan restaurant in Manchester
Wholesome Junkies, a vegan restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Vegan roast at Wholesome Junkies, a vegan restaurant in Manchester
Wholesome Junkies, a vegan restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

And so they’re having to action ‘big changes and a massive restructure’ in order to survive, from streamlining their menu to removing some items for more cost-effective options.

The restaurant then wrote: “We’re asking for your understanding and support. If you’ve enjoyed your time with us, please consider leaving a review or sharing your feedback.

“Every little bit helps as we navigate these choppy waters and it makes such a difference to our team who work tirelessly to keep this engine alive.

“We know times are tough, but we’re committed to weathering this storm together. Thanks for sticking with us through thick and thin. Here’s to brighter days ahead!”

Wholesome Junkies’ statement in full

Hey, Wholesome Crew! We’ve got some heavy news to share. Our recent struggles with rising costs have forced us to take a hard look at our menu prices. It’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly, but we’ve hit a point where we need to make some changes just to even keep the lights on. Some of the dishes and prices just aren’t working anymore, it’s not fair on our customers or on us.

From rent hikes, wages rising to soaring stock prices and utilities, and the biggest battle of all… VAT, the numbers just aren’t adding up. Despite our best efforts, we’re barely breaking even and I honestly don’t know how long we can keep going. Some days I do wonder why I’m even doing this at all, but I’m not throwing in the towel just yet. My love and passion has got us this far.

Starting next week, you’ll notice a big changes, I’m going to have to do a massive restructure of the business and menu for a chance to survive. We’ll be massively streamlining our menu, saying goodbye to some of our pricier items, and exploring new, more cost effective options. It’s all about trying to find that delicate balance between quality and affordability.

We’re asking for your understanding and support. If you’ve enjoyed your time with us, please consider leaving a review or sharing your feedback. Every little bit helps as we navigate these choppy waters and it makes such a difference to our team who work tirelessly to keep this engine alive.

We know times are tough, but we’re committed to weathering this storm together. Thanks for sticking with us through thick and thin. Here’s to brighter days ahead!

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Luxurious Manchester bar Sexy Fish named as one of the best in the entire world

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Sexy Fish in Manchester has been named among the best bars in the world. Credit: THe Manc Group

A luxurious bar in Spinningfields has been named among the best in the world in a brand-new bar guide.

Sexy Fish, the Manchester bar and restaurant that’s filled with bold and bright interiors and giant sea creature sculptures, has been named as one of the best on the planet.

The bar was hailed for its ‘down-to-earth gracious service’ and for having ‘premium hospitality with a northern tint’.

Sexy Fish Manchester was singled out in the new The Pinnacle Guide, which labels itself as ‘the drinks industry’s answer to Michelin’.

The guide will award ‘Pins’ (much like how Michelin awards Stars) to bars across the planet, with a maximum of three Pins handed out to truly exceptional establishments.

The Pinnacle Guide has been conceived by a trio of talented drinks professionals; Hannah-Sharman Cox, Siobhan Payne and Dan Dove.

Of Sexy Fish Manchester, they acknowledged the ‘wow-factor’ of the bar, helped along by huge artworks by the likes of Damien Hirst, Frank Gehry and Michael Roberts.

Inside Sexy Fish Manchester
Sexy Fish Manchester has a huge bar in the heart of the building

They also said: “While the decor sets the tone, the service and drinks at Sexy Fish Manchester are up to the task of continuing it. Drinks menus are a reflection of the creativity and innovation of the team and the cocktail list is a collaboration across the global group.

“Flavours are dreamt up, and trialled and tested by the team before being approved and every drink that makes it to the menu tends to have some form of prep involved which takes place off-site in a group beverage lab, be it infusion, distillation, oleos, sous vide or casein clarification.

“Cocktails across the group are therefore very modern, often innovative and presented with extreme flamboyance.”

The guide continued: “Located as this venue is in Manchester, the blend of Sexy Fish glamour with the down-to-earth hospitality style of the north England may feel incompatible but the staff here prove otherwise.

“In a venue that is all about opulence, they are committed to guiding guests through the offering and relaxing them into the high-energy venue.”

Congratulations Sexy Fish Manchester – what a bar!

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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