And so to celebrate this milestone age, the Spinningfields stalwart is throwing 10 parties with the aim of raising £10,000 each for 10 worthy local charities.
Starting out life all the way back in 2011, The Oast House originally opened its doors as a pop-up pub, but after Manchester locals and those further afield took it to their hearts, the owners decided to sign a long-term lease and cement its as a popular place in Manchester social scene.
The much-loved restaurant and eatery – which is known for its large suntrap beer garden – wants to look back at its favourite moments over the past decade as it counts to its 10th birthday on 29 October.
But why have just one “birthday bash” when you can have 10?
So, from this Friday 27 August, The Oast House is getting the party started with a bonus edition of Manchester’s favourite free Bank Holiday music festival SpinFest, featuring a takeover by The Family Gorgeous, before celebrating The Oast House’s two Guinness World Records for ‘World’s Largest Cider Tasting’ and ‘World’s Largest Beer Tasting’ on Friday 3 September.
The Oast House’s newly-launched street food menu will be served up throughout the celebration, with something for everyone to tuck into.
A further eight celebratory events are to be announced in the coming weeks.
And it wouldn’t be a birthday party without present, which is why The Oast House is hoping to donate £10,000 to 10 local charities to help fill the gap in much-needed local funds.
The funds will be raised through the sale of £5 guaranteed entry and £10 tables tickets – where all the ticket cost will be donated to charity.
The Spinningfields stalwart is throwing 10 parties to raise £10,000 each for 10 worthy local charities / Credit: The Oast House
When you book a ticket for the ‘SpinFest Weekend’, your seat reservation, a pint of Goose Island, and a donation to HIV support, advice and advocacy charity George House Trust is included in the ticket price.
Your seat reservation, a pint of Aspall, and a donation to Ancoats’ independent community theatre Hope Mill Theatre is included in the ticket price for ‘Guinness World Records’.
You can find more information about The Oast House’s ‘Cheers To 10 Years’ here.
Featured Image – The Oast House
Eats
Historic Manchester pub issues apology for ’embarrassing’ toilets and asks for support
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s most iconic pubs, Mr Thomas’s Chop House, is finally undergoing a major upgrade after admitting its building has become an ’embarrassment’.
The historic Cross Street boozer has shared a public apology for the ‘deteriorating’ state of its stunning building.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is now pleading for support from punters as it undergoes the weeks-long scheme of improvements.
Visitors will find a reduced menu while renovations are taking place.
The pub said that it’s aware that the Grade II-listed pub has been in need of improvement for a while, but explained these works have been hampered by leasing issues.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House explained that it’s been ‘existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord’.
It’s left them unable to invest into the building – until now.
The pub will be adding brand-new toilets downstairs (they said the old ones were ‘an embarrassment’), as well as improving the kitchens and adding a new beer cellar.
In their statement, Mr Thomas’s Chop House said: “First of all, we owe you, our loyal customers, an apology.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is undergoing a refurb
“Over the past few years bits of our stunning building have deteriorated. The toilets have become a bit of an embarrassment. We are sorry.
“The fact is, we (The Victorian Chop House Company) have been existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord.
“As a result of this uncertainty we haven’t been able to invest into the fabric of the building.
“But now the wait is finally over. And together with our landlords we are finally beginning a scheme of renovations which will return Tom’s to the state it should be in!”
Work began last week and is expected to last for around three weeks.
They also wrote: “Things will be slightly different but we are so excited. Please help us stay afloat while we work to restore Tom’s.”
The brilliant Persian cafe in disguise as a greasy spoon that’s just had a star turn on TV
Daisy Jackson
A family-run, often-overlooked restaurant in Chorlton had a star turn on TV last night, when The Hotel Inspector paid a visit to the Chorlton Metro Cafe.
From the outside, this place looks very much like your run-of-the-mill greasy spoon, and it sort of is, with fry-ups and breakfast sandwiches up for grabs.
But beyond that, this is the spot to come for an authentic, hearty, home-cooked Persian food.
And it’s this strange dual identity that has caught the attention of Channel 5 this year, and given the business a full episode of The Hotel Inspector.
Alex Polizzi and her crew headed to Chorlton earlier this year to assist husband and wife Majid and Zahra in a rebrand to become The Persian Stop (the sign still hasn’t changed, but bear with them here).
During the episode, The Hotel Inspector tackled everything from a menu overhaul to a spruce-up of the restaurant’s frontage, and ran a cost evaluation, hoping to help Majid and Zahra to increase custom.
A full spread of the new Persian dishesMajid at Chorlton Metro Cafe with his new pancake dishFantastic pancakes at Chorlton Metro Cafe
And there were other familiar faces involved too – Channel 5 called on social media experts The Manc (oh wait, that’s us!) to help Majid understand the power of social media.
The couple moved to the UK from Iran more than 20 years ago, and Majid ran a successful construction business – until the financial crisis of 2008.
The pair then poured their life savings into the Metro Cafe, a greasy spoon just across the road from Chorlton tram stop.
Behind the scenes of The Hotel Inspector
They kept the full builder’s breakfasts and mugs of tea, but added a new string of Persian stews and fragrant rice dishes to the menu.
Now, with the help of The Hotel Inspector, the menu puts these ancient dishes front and centre.
Expect slices of syrupy baklava for only £2.80, and traditional stews like khoresh bademjan (slow-cooked aubergines with split peas and lamb) and khoresh fesenjan (saffron, ground walnut and pomegranate chicken).
This is a small business, run by a fantastic local couple, and one of those hidden gems that deserves to be a little less hidden.
Emily Sergeant -
25th August 2021 
