Northern Quarter institution Koffee Pot has just launched a brand new breakfast plate, and it’s not for the faint of heart.
The Oldham Street greasy spoon, which has been serving some of the best breakfasts in Manchester since all the way back in 1976, is proudly presenting ‘The Flopper’.
This monstrous new £28 brekkie features all the usual bits of a Full English, but multiplied. There are no less than six different forms of pork on your plate.
It’s so big, it spills over a normal place setting and is on a plate I’m pretty sure is actually a sharing platter they’ve nabbed out of their Aunty Shirley’s Christmas crockery collection.
Koffee Pot has never been one to disappoint with portion sizes – you only need to have ordered a full English or ‘Manc Muffin’ before to know that — but this thing is an absolute beast.
Thankfully, they called in the demolition crew, a.k.a. The Manc office, to give it a proper go. Good job we’ve developed massive stomachs in this job.
We’ve come across plenty of ridiculously large items on Manchester menus over the years but we’ll admit, this one was quite something.
Koffee Pot’s huge new breakfast, ‘The Flopper’Koffee Pot’s huge new breakfast, ‘The Flopper’To anybody already cockily saying ‘I could smash that’: good — we dare you.
A lot of the NQ might be more for brunching than good old-fashioned brekkies these days but this absolute unit of a plate is a reminder that there are still plenty of gaffs in the city centre doing the no-nonsense early-morning eats.
Here’s what you have to contend with: four rashers of bacon, two sausages, one haggis, white pudding and black pudding; one Lorne sausage, a big slice of spam; eggs, beans, tomato, mushrooms, fried bread, one tattie scone, two hash brown and four rounds of toast.
They also cut them in half so it somehow looks like more — don’t ask us how, it just does and we’re convinced it’s more mind games on their part but we refuse to be wobbled.
But we’re embarrassed to say we were well and truly defeated by The Flopper. It took two of us in the end, with Dean getting things started before tapping out and having to call in this wrecking ball (me) to finish things off. Between us, we got it done.
It’s also worth noting that it was utterly delicious and no matter how hard it got, we enjoyed every bite; it was also our first try of Lorne sausage (square Scottish slices of minced meat, rusk and spices) and Koffee Pot might be one of the select few places you’ll find serving white pudding in town.
Now, this isn’t technically a challenge and the only real prize is making yourself incredibly full, but having been among the very lucky few to have tried it first, it feels like you’re going into battle when you sit down to eat this. The question is, are you up to the £28 task?
Last but most importantly, the staff here are real grafters and always so sound no matter how busy they get morning, noon and night, so we sincerely hope some of you give it a go and even if not, you won’t be disappointed with your food, drinks or service.
We recently tried their new Birria Brothers specials and just like us on our bellies after just about managing to polish off The Flopper, they absolutely slapped.
Mancs slam ‘glow down’ of beloved Northern Quarter book shop cafe
Daisy Jackson
One of the Northern Quarter’s cosiest cafes has gone through some big changes – and people aren’t happy about it.
Chapter One has traded for years as a cosy cafe-book shop hybrid, with cosy couches and quiet corners where people often sit and study, work or read.
But in recent months, it’s joined forces with the outdoor food and drink spot, Mala, just next door.
It means that a lot of the cosy couches and peace of Chapter One have been replaced to create one open-plan mega-venue.
As you enter Chapter One now, you’ll find the usual quirky mismatched furniture has been joined by picnic tables and benches, to match the maximalist beer garden Mala outside.
The two venues now seamlessly blend into one another – including the loud music.
And Mancs have got something to say about it.
When we shared a video walk-through of the new layout, one person commented: “Name a bigger glow down. I’ll wait.”
Another said: “I loved chapter one for the calm, space to read on my own or chat with a friend. Not anymore. Farewell chapter one.”
Someone else posted: “I’m so sad they got rid of the library… It used to be special and my absolute favourite place in the city centre.”
And one person wrote: “Completely ruined it. Got rid of the cosy sofas and hidden nooks, just for more tables and music far too loud. Overpriced and lost her charm, it seems :(“
Somebody else said: “Haven’t been since it changed, chapter one used to be a sober safe haven in the city centre to find peace and they’ve got rid of exactly the reason why it was so loved! So sad.”
Over on Reddit, one local posted: “I am so so so disappointed with what they’ve done, why does every after hours social space have to involve an ungodly amount of noise and alcohol these days? It was my favourite place to go to hang out with friends, we’re mostly introverted and like a relaxing place.”
One person posted on TikTok: “Where do we go now Chapter One Books has been absolutely destroyed? I just want my cosy, peaceful coffee shop back where I can read my book and not have to wait half an hour for a drink – I actually cannot understand why they’ve done this.”
The first new tenant of the old Debenhams department store on Market Street has been confirmed
Danny Jones
The first new resident of the Rylands Building on Market Street in central Manchester has been revealed, and it’s a foodie one.
Set to be the maiden opening inside the old Debenhams department store, which closed after more than three decades back in 2021, Rylands’ debut won’t be for another year or so, but it will soon welcome Mancs with an increasingly popular food hall operator making its way up north.
Simply called Market Place, the ever-growing brand is fast becoming a well-established name, with four venues in the capital already and a fifth coming soon.
Rylands will be their first location outside of London, and with 1,300 sqm of space at their disposal, Market Place Manchester is set to make a significant splash on the high street.
A look at Market Place Peckham.A rough idea of what the Manchester branch could look like.
Developers managed to green-light plans for the Grade II-listed building last November, sharing the first details and glimpses of their vision for the instantly recognisable city centre spot, including a whole new rooftop terrace.
Currently earmarked for a late 2026 launch, the former department store (previously Paulden’s) consisted of seven floors but is now set for a four-storey extension that promises to be a massive and varied retail, leisure and business destination that makes the most of the expansive structure.
Not to be confused with the famous John Rylands Library – a much older, more gothic, historic and hallowed hall over on Deansgate – this task of ‘revitalising a Manchester icon’, to quote property firm AM ALPHA, is a huge undertaking.
In charge of the redevelopment since 2023, the group have been outlining a pretty complete overhaul, with plans to convert the upper floors into premium office space, and the creation of a retail arcade at ground level, on which Market Place Manchester will sit.
This particular Manc corner was a bustling food, drink and shopping complex for the longest time, but has been derelict and covered up by boards for what feels like forever, with urban explorers even roaming the large, abandoned building.
Credit: Supplied
Now, though, the new long-term 15-year lease agreement will see the latest food hall kick off a new era for Rylands, delivering socially focused venues and the range of flavourful, vibrant choices of scran that Market Place have become known for.
With sites in St Paul’s, Vauxhall, Peckham, Harrow and soon Baker Street – as well as their eventual Manchester outpost, of course – the chain is getting bigger and better, meaning its arrival in the North West is an exciting one.
AM ALPHA manager Paul Hodgkiss said in an official statement: “Manchester is a city with a vibrant cultural scene – the perfect environment for forward-thinking concepts like Market Place Food Hall…
“The early commitment to Rylands is no coincidence: it reflects the strength of our strategic and forward-looking approach to development. We are not just creating high-quality space – we are setting new standards for urban mixed-use concepts. Interest from further prospective tenants is strong.”
It was only last week that Greater Manchester’s latest market hall, Campfield Studios, said hello to the general public and with House of Social also opening this summer, among several other similar projects, soon you won’t be able to move for more social hospitality scenes like this:
Danny Jones -
16th February 2024 
