A cafe in Manchester is giving away free loaf cakes today to celebrate its arrival on Oxford Road.
Loaf Manchester, which opened its doors on the busy street last week, will be handing out one hundred of its cakes for free to sweet tooths from 12pm.
Available on a first-come, first-served basis, the giveaway marks the arrival of the retro pink cake cafe.
Loaf’s Pina Colada special. / Image: Loaf Manchester
Loaf on Oxford Road. / Image: Loaf Manchester
The cafe is itself the indirect result of the pandemic, born after its founder started baking from home to raise money for the NHS to tackle PPE shortages and a lack of staff food on-site during lockdown.
Whilst furloughed from his fashion retail job, Loaf founder Aiden Ryan raised £1,000 selling just 120 sweetie and chocolate-loaded loaf cakes in a month – and has carried on baking ever since.
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Sharing the news of the free cake giveaway on Instagram last night, founder Aiden wrote: “ONE HUNDRED FREE CAKES TOMORROW
“To celebrate the launch of Loaf Oxford St, we’re giving away 100 of our cakes! First come, first served.
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Loaf founder Aiden Ryan. / Image: Loaf Manchester
Vegan Oreo Chocolate Loaf. / Image: Loaf Manchester
“We can’t wait to finally open our doors and welcome you to your retro pink cake cafe.
“12 PM OPENING! See you then!”
Fans heading down today can expect to find a range of cakes loaded with sweet treats like Lotus Biscoff, Jammy Dodgers, Kinder Buenos, figs, creme eggs and Bourbon biscuits.
Classic loaf cakes are the order of the day here, with recent specials including Manchester Tart, Solero, Lemon Meringue Pie, Pina-ca-Loafa, and Chocolate Vimto with ice cream.
The cafe also serves Loaf Au Choc and Brioche Loaf by the slice with a choice of different toppings, as well as a selection of hot drinks to wash it all down with.
Feature image – Loaf Manchester
Eats
Beloved Manchester Italian restaurant unveils big refurb
Thomas Melia
Much-loved Italian restaurant Italiana Fifty-Five has just unveiled a beautiful refurbishment at one of its Manchester sites, along with a new menu of fresh, handmade pasta.
Gone is the famous yellow colour palette of this Italian eatery as they swap in a sophisticated and regal turquoise blue at their Liverpool Road restaurant.
This establishment is known for its impressive shop-window pasta making stations where you can see your food prepared live in-store and while walking past outside the venue.
They’re continuing their foodie legacy serving carby creations, like a flaming cheese wheel pasta where staff blowtorch the cheese to ensure it’s as melty as possible.
One of the biggest menu highlights at Italiana Fifty-Five is the cappellacci, which comes in two equally gorgeous forms and much like its English translation, emulates tiny hats.
These cute little plates come in two delicious stuffed pairings – the burrata, combined with a tangy tomato and beef filling, and a salmon with cream sauce and fresh lemon for a match made in heaven.
Beloved Manchester Italian restaurant Italiana Fifty-Five unveils big refurb. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Italiana Fifty-Five as it unveils a new look on Liverpool Road. Credit: The Manc Group
How can you think of anything more ideal than a table full of hearty and home-comforting meals than one that also features an array of beautiful sides?
Usual delights like the burrata on a bed of rocket, tomato and finished off with a balsamic vinegar glaze area great addition to your already faultless food.
Cheesy garlic pizza bread is quintessential when dining in an Italian restaurant, and Italiana 55’s lovely flavour-packed favourite is a go-to when ordering here.
The Liverpool Road restaurant also has a tonnata pizza which uses toppings that are an exact ingredient breakdown of the Mediterranean sauce, which it shares its name with.
In photos: Italiana Fifty-Five has undergone a refurb. Credit: The Manc Group
What better way to wolf down some incredible Italian feasts than with some perfectly paired alcoholic offerings like the classic Aperol spritz, trusted espresso martinis and a selection of fine wines.
Their menu is staying as tasty as ever with their delicious pizzas and pastas, with the new fresh pasta menu available at their restaurants on Liverpool Road and in Didsbury.
Bakery chain Gail’s is attempting to win over Prestwich after spelling mishap
Daisy Jackson
Gail’s has announced a plan to try and make amends with Prestwich after spelling the village’s name wrong on the new bakery’s signs.
The massive bakery chain finally confirmed that it would be moving into the suburb on the fringes of Bury and Manchester, but made a fatal flaw at the first step.
The huge posters are missing the letter ‘T’, instead saying ‘Hello Preswich’.
More than a few eyebrows were raised locally, with people saying it’s ‘not a great first impression for the locals…’.
And now Gail’s is attempting to put things right by offering free tea to Prestwich residents.
In new material released today, they wrote: “Oops… people of Prestwich, we owe you a ‘T’.
“You may have seen how we missed out a ‘t’ in our new bakery signage.
“We’re sorry for the mistake, and to make up for it we’d like to brew you a tea when we open.”
The new advertising has a QR code which people can scan to claim their free cuppa.
Gail’s has also passed its thanks on to ‘local resident Clair’, who actually came up with the suggestion on The Manc’s LinkedIn post here.
With this development, Gail’s has now confirmed it’ll be opening in Prestwich – directly opposite the new Rudy’s – in early 2025, with free tea served then to those who scan the QR code.
Gail’s will hand out free tea in Prestwich to apologise for spelling the village’s name wrongHuge bakery chain Gail’s confirms move to Prestwich – but spells village’s name wrong in signage
Georgina Pellant -
4th November 2022 
