Another month, another list of new Manchester restaurant and bar openings – and what a list it is.
Not only do we have the return this month of Manchester’s Christmas markets, which bring with it a host of exciting and varied food and drink stalls, we also have a host of new wine bars, bakeries, pasta restaurants and food halls to shout about.
Keep reading to discover where to put on your list this month.
The Manchester Christmas Markets, City Centre
Image: Panc Foods
Image: The Manc Eats
This month sees the return of the Manchester Christmas Markets and with it an array of food and drink stalls. Expect all the classics from the Bavarian Bratwurst, beer and Glühwein stalls, to the crepes and mini-pancake stalls to be there as usual.
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Old favourites the Pig and Barrel will be making a welcome return to the Winter Gardens offering up their delicious pork barms and cosy seating area with entertainment on most nights, whilst on King Street Habas, part of the El Gato Negro group, will bring its Middle eastern-inspired menu out into the streets.
Market newcomers Parmageddon will join a mouth-watering line-up of food and drink that also includes vegan bratwursts from Panc, plus cookie dough, Amsterdam Frites, and two bars serving a selection of international ales.
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There’ll also be appearances from the likes of Northern Soul Grilled Cheese, Great North Pie Co., and Porky Pig — a.k.a. the home of the famous Yorkshire pudding wrap.
10 November
Little Blonde Bakes, Ancoats
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Image: Little Blond Bakes
Image: Little Blond Bakes
Cupcake and bespoke cake bakery Little Blonde Bakes is opening its doors in Ancoats this month, taking over the former Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria kitchen with sweet treats like sticky toffee blondies with hot custard, school cake and Cadbury caramel cookie cubes.
November, TBC
Exhibition, Peter Street
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
New food hall Exhibition is set to open on Manchester’s Peter Street this month, adding three new kitchens and two new bars to the area’s already thriving food and drink scene.
Put together by the team behind the aperitivo and coffee bar Haunt, which opened in the same building last summer, the new opening Exhibition will bring together three of Manchester’s best chef operators inside the iconic St George’s House.
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11 November
Pastan, Cross Street
Image: Pastan
Image: Pastan
Pastan, a plant-based pasta kitchen that first began life in London’s Covent Garden in April 2021, is taking over the former Vertigo site on Cross Street this month.
The new restaurant will focus on simple, fresh pasta dishes, serving up the likes of fried gnocchi loaded with a choice of sauces including BBQ jackfruit, cheese, pepper or pomodoro, alongside time-tested Italian classics like cacio e pepe and carbonara at lunch.
Elsewhere, you’ll find cavatelli mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs and crispy onions, plantshakes loaded with donut skewers, Lotus Biscoff mini doughnuts and scoops of ice cream.
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4 November
Loaf, Oxford Road
Image: Loaf
Image: Loaf
Whilst furloughed from his fashion retail job, Loaf founder Aiden Ryan started baking from home to raise money for the NHS to tackle PPE shortages and a lack of staff food on site. Now, he’s opened his own cafe on Oxford Road.
Here you’ll find a range of classic loaf cakes alongside loafnuts, Loaf Au Choc and Brioche Loaf served by the slice with your choice of toppings.
Open now
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Nonna’s, Deansgate Square
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Taking over the kitchen at The Green Lab from now until Christmas, at Nonna’s you’ll find mouthwatering pasta dishes infused with red wine, white wine and vodka.
Think: taleggio and pesto arancini, white wine gamberoni, red and white seafood linguine, truffle malfadine with wild mushrooms and parmesan, and rigatoni alla vodka, plus classic cocktails like espresso martinis and negronis.
Open now
Indian Affair, Chorlton
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A newcomer to the South Manchester neighbourhood of Chorlton, at Indian Affair you’ll find a selection of sumptuous small plates alongside dishes from the tandoor, biryanis and classic mains like butter chicken, lamb nihari and prawn masala.
Open now
Juicebox, Didsbury Village
Situated between Saints & Scholars and the former CAU restaurant, this new natural wine and craft beer shop and bar offers bottles and cans to drink in alongside a short list of snacks featuring tasty local produce.
Open now
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Gooey Cafe, Selfridges, Trafford Centre
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Manchester’s instagram famous, queue-round-the-block, bakery and café is heading to Trafford this Christmas opening a 30 seat Gooey Café within Selfridges.
The pop up will be home to the brand’s insta-famous warm, gooey cookies and sugar coated stuffed brioche donuts plus a selection of barista served coffees, soft drinks and boozy hot chocolates.
Open now
Project Halcyon, City Centre
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Image: Project Halcyon
Image: Project Halcyon
This speakeasy-style cocktail bar and arts venue was first opened before the pandemic by local craft gin distillers Zymogorium.
Following a lengthy closure, it has reopened in the refurbished 1800s red brick warehouse on the Old Granada Studios site, beneath the original Coronation Street cobbles.
Open now
Ewe Restaurant & Bar, Bolton
From the team behind Deansgate restaurant ‘Yours’, Ewe Restaurant & Bar is set to replace India Gate in Westhoughton.
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Opening later this month, the million-pound project has a capacity of 150 and will serve a modern, British and globally inspired menu using quality, local suppliers. It will feature a private dining room, garden room, open plan bar area, and baby grand piano.
18 November
Provence, Spinningfields
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Provence is a new independent wine bar that has opened in Spinningfields selling Manchester-made charcuterie and cheese boards, alongside a selection of carefully-chosen wines.
With a menu of nibbles like olive tapenade, bread and oil, olives, hummus and a handful of veggie small plates, alongside craft beers, soft drinks and a small cocktail list,, it’s well worth a visit.
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Open now
Rudy’s, Didsbury Village
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Rudy’s has opened a new site in Didsbury, taking over the old Mad Giant food hall which has lain empty since 2020.
Fulfilling its promise to lockdown launch more satellite restaurants in the suburbs, the smash hit pizza house is now serving its award-winning Neapolitan pies on Wilmslow Road.
Open now
Feature image – The Manc Eats / The Manc Eats / Supplied
Eats
15 places kids can eat for £1 or FREE throughout the summer holidays
Thomas Melia
With the summer holidays just around the corner, we’ve rounded up 15 places kids can eat for £1 or free across the UK.
In case the ongoing heatwave didn’t remind you, summer is in full swing, and that means the inevitable school holidays are nearly here.
If you’re after ways to enjoy some quality family time without having to break the bank, we’ve found lots of places where kids can eat for £1 or free – 15 of them, to be exact.
So, whether you’re in the mood for a hearty Italian, a bit of brekkie, or even a big Greek feast, just because you’re on a budget shouldn’t mean you have to limit your and your family’s taste buds.
Here are 15 places you can take the kids to eat for £1 or even free this summer holidays.
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15 places kids eat for £1 or free throughout the summer holidays
Asda Café
Any child aged 16 or under can eat for £1 when dining at any Asda Café location, and every meal comes with a piece of fruit. There’s no minimum spend required and this deal is running all-day, seven days a week.
Bill’s
Brunch spot Bill’s is offering two free kids’ meals to any child aged 10 or younger when purchasing an adult main meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner). This free meal includes a main, side and dessert, but is only applicable Monday to Friday. They’ve even got a special deal built for teenagers, too.
Turtle Bay
This Caribbean-inspired chain entitles one free kids’ meal per each adult, who spends £15 or more and presents a code via its app. Children paying a visit to Turtle Bay, who are 10 and under, will receive a kids’ meal and small soft drink.
The Real Greek
Every Sunday, The Real Greek is offering one free kids’ meal for each adult that spends £15 or more on any menu items. This deal will be automatically applied to the bill with the child getting to choose between a souvlaki wrap or mezze selection.
Beefeater
Two children under 16 are entitled to a free breakfast with any adult who purhcases an unlimited cooked breakfast for £10.99. There’s no specific end date for this one, and it applies to Premier Inn hotels as well as further Whitbread restaurants: Table Table, Whitbread Inns, Bar + Block, and Brewers Fayre.
There are lots of locations offering kids eat free or for £1 across the UK / Credit: Tesco (Supplied)
Bella Italia
Any adult dining at a Bella Italia location who purchases a main meal can get a free starter, main, dessert and juice for their child. Kids eat free all-year-long between Sunday to Thursday. This offer will be automatically applied to the bill. Subject to venue.
Morrisons Café
At Morrisons Café locations, when an adult spends £5 or more on a main meal, little ones can get a free hot meal including a main, side and veg or pick ‘n’ mix meal which contains a sandwich, snack and drink.
Tesco Café
Running in over 330 participating Tesco Café sites, kids are allowed a free hot meal, breakfast or pick ‘n’ mix meal when purchased alongside a full price adult meal. A valid Tesco Clubcard must be scanned, with this offer working on weekends too. The supermarket is also bringing back free fruit in 800 Tesco stores.
Sizzling Pubs
When visiting with a Sizzling Pub on a Monday after 12pm, children can eat for £1 alongside any adult buying a main meal. This discount will be automatically applied and will work at all their restaurants.
Travelodge
If an adult purchases an unlimited breakfast for £9.99, two kids aged 15 or under can eat for £1. This deal is running for anyone, and you don’t even have to be staying over at one of their hotels – you can simply walk in.
Dunelm Pausa Café
A child can eat free with every £4 spent by an adult at Dunelm Pausa Café. The deal guarantees kids a main, two snacks and a drink. If an adult spends £8, two kids could eat for free and so on.
Brewers Fayre
Just like Beefeater and other Whitbread restaurant brands, two children under 16 can get a free breakfast when an adult purchases an unlimited cooked breakfast for £10.99.
Table Table
As mentioned above, two children aged under 16 are entitled to a free breakfast when dining with a paying adult who buys an unlimited cooked breakfast for £10.99.
Dobbies
When an adult purchases a main meal of £8.75 or more, kids can dine-in for 88p. The offer applies to the children’s breakfast and lunch menu with the option of hot food or a pick and mix box, both including a drink. Only applicable in Dobbies; the offer isn’t valid in ‘Little Dobbies’ stores.
IKEA
Although there isn’t an official offer, Swedish furniture chain IKEA is recognised for its affordable menu serving up delicious dishes like pasta and tomato sauce for children from 85p. The adults’ menu is pretty reasonable too, with a mixed vegetable rice meal for just £2.50. Breakfast rolls are £1.75, and individual breakfast items start from 75p.
Featured Images – Press Shots (Tesco, Bill’s, IKEA via supplied)
Eats
Viral internet sensation SpudBros to launch pop-up at Trafford Centre this summer
Emily Sergeant
Viral internet sensation SpudBros are popping up at the Trafford Centre this summer.
The UK’s most-followed jacket potato creators, SpudBros – also known as Jacob and Harley Nelson – will officially launch their hotly anticipated summer pop-up the iconic retail destination next week as part of Trafford Centre‘s annual summer fair.
Shoppers can get ready for freshly prepared, fully loaded jacket potatoes served up in minutes, all without compromising on quality, flavour, or portion size.
You can pick from fan favourites like the Tram Classic, which is loaded with garlic butter, the signature three-cheese mix, beans, crispy onions, and world-famous ‘tram’ sauce, to the Spudfather topped with chilli con carne, tuna, and coleslaw.
There’s also a range of other flavour-packed options to tuck into, alongside the option to build your own potato, allowing every customer to create their perfect lunch.
Viral internet sensation SpudBros are launching a special pop-up at Trafford Centre this summer / Credit: The Manc Group
“Manchester is by far the most requested location we’ve had since we started sharing our journey online,” explained SpudBros co-founder, Jacob Nelson.
“It’s a city that has always seemed to elude us despite the incredible demand, so bringing SpudBros to Trafford Centre feels particularly special.
“Both Harley and I grew up visiting Trafford Centre, so to now be bringing the tram here for a week-long pop-up is a genuine full-circle moment. We’re excited to give people in Manchester a taste of what we do, whether they’ve followed our journey from the beginning or are discovering us for the first time.”
To mark SpudBros’ Trafford Centre debut, some lucky early visitors could be in for a surprise on opening day, as Jacob and Harley have built a reputation for rewarding their community.