A much-loved community cafe in Levenshulme has announced it will close its doors for good later this month.
Aunty Ji’s on Stockport Road, legendary for its cups of chai and South Asian food, broke the news on Wednesday evening with owners blaming rising costs for the decision in a statement posted on its website and social media pages.
The popular South Asian cafe has become a treasured part of the local community since opening in 2020, but now owners say it ‘just isn’t feasible’ to continue operating in its current form any longer.
Revealing that, over the past few months, the team had ‘tried a number of different things to turn things around,’ owners went on to say ‘sadly, they haven’t been enough to save Aunty Ji’s.’
However, it’s not all doom and gloom as the Asian fusion kitchen has also revealed plans to launch a new condiments brand, Raju.
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Owners also hinted that Aunty Ji’s could ‘be back in some form’ further down the line ‘as Raju’s comes to fruition’, although they ‘can’t be sure for the moment’.
Image: Aunty Ji’s
Image: The Manc Eats
The full statement reads: “Hello, This is difficult to say, Aunty Ji’s is closing.
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“Rising costs have led to a situation where it just isn’t feasible to be operating in our current form anymore.
“One of the things I’ve loved most since opening is talking to you, our customers. Since opening, we’ve shared so many great conversations, laughs, forged connections, developed friendships and more.
“The team and and I have tried a number of different things to turn things around over the past few months, sadly, they haven’t been enough to save Aunty Jis.
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“I hope that the memories and experiences you had in Aunty Jis will forever hold a special place in your hearts, as they will in mine.
Image: Aunty Ji’s
Image: The Manc Eats
“While this chapter is coming to a close, I believe that every ending brings the promise of a new beginning. For me this will be Raju, a new home condiments brand that I’ve been working on over the past few months. Raju will posses many of the same passions and ideals of Aunty Ji’s and I’m really looking forward to getting started with it.
“There’s a chance that as Raju’s comes to fruition that we may be back in some form. But I can’t be sure for the moment.
“Aunty Ji’s is open till Tuesday 20th June. I’d love to see you before we say bye.”
A third added: “So so sad to hear this. Such fond memories in AJ’s and really sorry to hear things have been so tough. But excited for the future and Raju too. Keep us posted xx”
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A fourth commented: “so sorry to hear this, wish you all the success in the world for Raju. I will miss your masala chai, which is the best I’ve had since laying on the beaches of India and a lovely old lady supplying me with endless chai and calling me a chicken lollipop.”
A fifth said: “I hope you do return in another form. I loved dining with you when I lived in Levenshulme. Best of luck! Thanks for the amazing Chai.”
Featured image – Aunty Ji’s
Eats
Rudy’s toy-swap – You can swap toys for pizza in Manchester this Christmas
Daisy Jackson
You’ll be able to claim a free pizza in exchange for donating a toy to charity this Christmas, with the return of Rudy’s toy-swap initiative.
The popular pizzeria is teaming up again with Cash for Kids, for a community-led toy-swap initiative.
Mancs who take an unwrapped, new toy (worth £10) into any Rudy’s pizzeria will be able to claim a pizza on the house as a thank you.
One toy = one free Neapolitan pizza.
The toys collected in the charity drive will be donated to the Cash for Kids charity, spreading a little festive cheer to children in need.
When Rudy’s held a similar toy-swap scheme last year, they gathered 6,500 toy donations.
The donations and free pizza will be available from Monday 1 December to Thursday 4 December between 12pm and 5pm.
Commenting on the toy-swap initiative, Managing Director of Rudy’s Pizza Neal Bates, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing back our festive toy swap this Christmas in partnership with Cash for Kids.
“The campaign is a simple way for our guests to give back and help bring a little joy to children who might otherwise go without.
“Community has always been at the heart of Rudy’s, and this initiative is a small way for us to say thank you and spread kindness throughout our community, all with delicious pizza in hand.”
The Rudy’s toy-swap initiative is back in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
There’ll be new festive pizzas to try in every Rudy’s too, including the Porchetta (with Emilia-Romagna porchetta, sage-roasted potatoes and cranberry sauce); the Pesto Rosso (homemade sundried tomato red pesto base with capers and tomatoes); and the Pizza Sorbillo, inspired by Naples’ legendary Sorbillo Pizzeria.
There’ll also be seasonal cocktails including the spiced red berry spritz, the white Christmas margherita, and a winter spiced negroni.
Rudy’s toy swap initiative will run from 1 – 4 December across all of Rudy’s pizzerias in the UK – Manchester pizzerias include Ancoats, Peter Street, and Portland Street, plus branches in suburbs across Greater Manchester.
Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Georgina Pellant -
15th June 2023 
