One of Greater Manchester’s grandest spaces has been reborn as a food hall and bar, with six traders inside.
This part of Oldham’s Old Town Hall, now with an ultra-modern new extension standing alongside its historic porticoed frontage, is now home to the 150-capacity space.
The old Egyptian Room’s original features, like its beautiful ceramic tiled walls and pillars, and its arched windows, have been perfectly preserved.
And now there are green leather booths and large tables sprawled around the space too.
The new food hall, The Egyptian Room, has traders serving everything from pizza and pasta to noodles and gyros.
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Ply Pizza are here serving heaped bowls of pasta, including beef shin parpadelle and carbonara, plus their signature pizzas like the pistachio pesto topped with a gooey burrata.
TukTuk has a menu full of Cambodian goodness like light bite street food items, sharing platters, spicy noodles and stir fries.
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TukTuk Cambodian food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
Seacoles is a new name, a Caribbean trader serving tacos and ‘splits’ (which are fried dumplings stuffed with fillings like Cajun spiced stripped beef steak and jerk chicken), and huge plates of curry and rice and peas.
Then there’s The Last Stop, with smash burgers, gyros and loaded fries, and Wings of Power, where there are crispy-coated wings, tenders and burgers.
Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: “The old town hall, what The Egyptian Room is part of and this whole complex here, was a really derelict, unloved building.
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Pizzas by Ply at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc GroupSeacoles Caribbean food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc GroupTukTuk Cambodian food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
“Jim [McMahon MP] had a vision for this whole building and the one thing Jim and I do share is our passion for Oldham’s heritage buildings and he had a vision to make use of something that was unloved and derelict for a long time.
“The importance of that was not just the history and the contribution of what happened in these buildings before us but actually as a nod to say that even in the most difficult of times, because it’s been hard the last 14 years, it’s a nod to say how much we value our residents.
“How even in the most difficult times, this inspiration and the ambition of our partners is a nod to every single one of our residents and communities, no matter who you are or what your upbringing is.”
The Egyptian Room is open now in Oldham town centre.
You can swap Christmas toys for FREE pizzas at any Rudy’s in Greater Manchester
Thomas Melia
In an all new partnership, trusted pizza maker Rudy’s, are running a new campaign offering free pizzas in return for new Christmas toys.
From Monday 2 December to Friday 6 December, these pizza masters are offering Mancs and pizza lovers who visit any of their branches the chance to get their hands on some free doughy goodness.
This is thanks to Rudy’s teaming up with Cash For Kids to bring gifts and joy to children in need this Christmastime.
There are currently three sites across the city centre, and plenty more in the suburbs, meaning pizza lovers don’t have to travel to far to donate a new Christmas toy in return for some free gorgeous grub.
Take a job off Mr. Claus’s plate while filling your own and help him load his sleigh this festive season by taking your toy to any Rudy’s location between 12pm and 5pm.
This new deal comes in collaboration with child-focused charity solely dedicated to improving the lives of kids in need and disadvantaged young people across the UK.
Alongside this unbelievable deal, their website has lots of other fantastic ways to donate to charity including their latest t-shirt sported by our two favourite cheeky jungle co-hosts Ant and Dec.
Titled ‘Swap Toys For Pizza Joy’ all the gifts brought into the pizza restaurants need to be sealed or unopened.
Rudy’s also request that these toys which diners bring into their various locations are suitable for all children aged between 5 and 12.
The Christmas tree as you enter the Peter Street site.Swap a toy for a pizza at Rudy’s.Look at all those gifts!
Not only is this offer ingenious, anyone who brings their toy in exchange for a pizza is helping make Christmas for a child in need that little more merrier.
This Christmas-inspired campaign is taking place at all Rudy’s branches from Monday 2 December to Friday 6 December and all you have to do is bring yourself… and a toy!
His post has generated a fair bit of reaction already, with one person replying: “Ridiculous advice! Loss of a table for 4 ! Empty tables for 2! Over ordered and over staffed, this stupidly from someone who should know better must corrected. Every customer counts in this day and age.”
Someone else wrote: “The amount of people booking 2 venues this year and cancelling is on the increase too!! We are now taking deposits for groups over 6 to try and eliminate this! When space is an issue booking more than you need is not fair on the venues!!”
Another commented: “A table of 3 is actually sat on a table for four. So you’re denying the business of 50% of its potential turnover. Do not do this.”
Sacha Lord – Night Time Economy Adviser to Greater Manchester.
CREDIT – Darren Robinson Photography
Daisy Jackson -
6th November 2024 
