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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
Chinatown restaurant pleads for help after dine-and-dash customer leaves staff member in A&E
Daisy Jackson
A brilliant restaurant in Manchester’s Chinatown has shared CCTV and a heartfelt appeal after one of its staff members was left in A&E.
Noodle Alley shared that one of its young staff members chased after a group of dine-and-dash customers who’d left without paying for their meal.
The restaurant then said that she was ‘assaulted’ at some point in the chase and ended up in A&E.
In their statement, Noodle Alley said that the staff member ‘had treated them kindly and never expected that kindness to come back to her like this’.
They wrote: “What has this world come to? A violent man sent our staff to A&E over an unpaid meal.”
The CCTV shows a group of three young men, all carrying Selfridges shopping bags, entering the restaurant.
They sit and enjoy a meal, before two of them slip out of the restaurant. The third man then exits but is chased by a Noodle Alley staff member.
It’s at this point – out of the range of the restaurant’s CCTV – that they said she was assaulted ‘after going beyond her duty to try and recover what had been taken’.
The family business said that she has been ’emotionally affected’ by the incident.
The police are involved and the restaurant has appealed for anyone who can help with their investigation to get in touch.
It’s also the second time they’ve appealed about a dine-and-dash customer in the last few months, but this incident went ‘far beyond’ previous incidents.
In their full statement, Noodle Alley said: “We’re a small family business, and lately it feels like small businesses are being targeted again and again.
“But this time, it went far beyond anything we have experienced before.
“One of our young staff members — a girl simply doing her job — was assaulted after going beyond her duty to try to recover what had been taken from our restaurant. She ended up in A&E.
“What hurts us most is seeing how emotionally affected she has been by what happened. She told us she had treated them kindly and never expected that kindness to come back to her like this.
“We work hard to look after our staff and our customers, and nobody should have to go through this simply for doing their job.
“We have reported the incident to the police.
“If anyone recognises these individuals or has any information that could help the police with their investigation, please contact us or the police directly.
“We’re sharing this because we believe our staff deserve to feel safe at work.”
Celebrity chef James Martin closes Manchester restaurant after more than a decade
Daisy Jackson
James Martin Manchester has closed its doors, bringing an end to the chef’s decade-long restaurant partnership with casino Manchester235.
Metropolitan Gaming announced on 1 October that its partnership with James Martin and his team had concluded, with the restaurant operation at the city centre venue ending on the same day.
The partnership dates back to 2012, meaning James Martin Manchester had been part of the Manchester235 experience for more than 14 years.
During that time, the restaurant became an established part of the venue’s food and drink offering, with Metropolitan Gaming describing the collaboration as ‘successful and valued’.
The company also credited James Martin and his team with contributing to Manchester’s wider food and dining scene, as well as providing high-quality dining for Manchester235 guests.
Maxine Gibbons, Venue Director at Manchester235, thanked the chef and his team for their contribution to the venue.
She said: “Our partnership with James Martin and his team has been an important part of Manchester235’s story since 2012.
“We would like to thank James and everyone who has been part of the James Martin Manchester team over the years for their commitment, hard work and the memorable experiences they have created for our guests.”
Gibbons added that the team had made a ‘significant contribution’ to Manchester235’s food and beverage experience and wished James Martin and his colleagues ‘every success for the future’.
The closure will not result in affected employees losing their jobs, with Metropolitan Gaming confirming that any employees impacted by the restaurant’s closure have been retained within the business.
Customers with existing restaurant reservations will also be contacted directly by Manchester235 regarding cancellations.
Danny Jones -
16th February 2024 
