Eats

This Manchester cafe is giving away free loaf cakes today

Loaf will be giving out 100 of its cakes for free on Oxford Road this afternoon.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 4th November 2022

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.

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Read more: Manchester man who started baking in lockdown to raise money for NHS is opening his own ‘loaf cake’ cafe

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

The best Oktoberfest events in Manchester where you can drink steins, toss pretzels, and dance on tables

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester Bavarian bier palace Albert's Schloss will pull out all the stops for Oktoberfest

September is the month where beer fever grips Europe, as the annual Oktoberfest celebrations get underway in Germany.

The tradition has spilled way beyond its native Bavaria in recent years, and cities across the world host their own Oktoberfest celebrations – including Manchester, naturally.

As you might expect, our city’s own Bavarian Bier Palace, Albert’s Schloss, is going big on the festivities for the coming weeks.

But there are plenty of other venues throwing open their doors, pouring steins, and getting the bratwursts going.

Here are some of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in Manchester for 2026.

Albert’s Schloss

Manchester Bavarian bier palace Albert's Schloss will pull out all the stops for Oktoberfest
Manchester Bavarian bier palace Albert's Schloss will pull out all the stops for Oktoberfest
Manchester Bavarian bier palace Albert’s Schloss will pull out all the stops for Oktoberfest. Credit: Supplied

Oktoberfest is back at Albert’s Schloss Manchester, and it’s bigger than ever.

From 19 September to 25 October, the Bier Palace will serve up five weeks of, Bavarian feasting, live entertainment, and Munich’s Big Six biers – the only venue in only venue in Manchester pouring all six official Oktoberfest biers.

Expect Oompah bands, stein-holding competitions, competitive pretzel tossing, cabaret, late-night parties and new-for-2026 Bier Masterclasses.

You can also dig in to a proper Bavarian feast with Schweinshaxe, currywurst, paprika roasted half chicken and new slow cooked beef goulash.

No ticket is required, so grab a stein and join the celebrations.

Freight Island

Freight Island's huge Oktoberfest celebration is back in Manchester
Freight Island’s huge Oktoberfest celebration is back in Manchester

This one will be Manchester’s biggest Oktoberfest celebration, inspired by the world’s biggest beer festival. 

Taking place over a whopping eight days from 1-4 October, and 8-11 October, Freight Island will feature great beer, and entertainment including live music, comedy, drag performances, DJs, and immersive entertainment. 

As for drinks there’ll be Paulaner Oktoberfest, Hacker-Pschorr Gold and Steigl Grapefruit on the menu, alongside party kegs and specialty cocktails.

And on each Sunday, children can enjoy arts and crafts, shadow puppet making and a Brothers Grimm-inspired trail.

Tickets are available now HERE.

Society

Society Manchester's Oktoberfest includes a menu of Bavarian specials from their food traders
Society Manchester's Oktoberfest includes a menu of Bavarian specials from their food traders
Society Manchester’s Oktoberfest includes a menu of Bavarian specials from their food traders. Credit: The Manc Group / Supplied

The Manchester food hall with a seriously impressive beer range will be ranging a stein this September, transforming its waterside venue into a Bavarian-inspired celebration.

There’ll be live performances from The Bavarian Trumps, who’ll be bringing oompah beats from classic Bavarian tunes to pop favourites with a German twist.

Society’s many food traders will all be putting their on spin on Oktoberfest classics, like a bratwurst bao dog, a pretzel special burger, and loaded currywurst hash browns.

Everything will kick off on 24 September, with your £10 deposit for a table including a stein of one of Society’s exclusive Oktoberfest specials.

Lawn Club

Lawn Club will host an Oktoberfest bottomless brunch in Manchester
Lawn Club will host an Oktoberfest bottomless brunch in Manchester
Lawn Club will host an Oktoberfest bottomless brunch in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

When Oktoberfest and bottomless brunch collides, it could only be Lawn Club.

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The Spinningfields venue will be getting into the spirit of the Bavarian celebrations with a month-long menu of food and drink specials like frankfurters, currywurst-loaded fries, a German pulled pork bun, and giant pretzels.

The Oktoberfest-themed bottomless brunch features one main and one side dish, plus 90 minutes of themed entertainment and bottomless drinks, where guests are encouraged to dance on the tables.

Find out more HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

Eats

Entire Blossoms band rock up to independent takeaway for ‘best sandwiches in Manchester’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Entire Blossoms band rock up to independent takeaway for 'best sandwiches in Manchester'

Blossoms have hailed a Manchester takeaway as having the ‘best sandwiches’ in town.

The Stockport band popped in – all five of them – to Ad Maiora in the Northern Quarter, to sample one of their authentic Italian sandwiches.

Ad Maiora shared a picture of the five-piece outside their Tib Street sandwich shop, saying it was a ‘special’ moment to have the band visit.

The humble sandwich business started life in the apartment of Sardinian couple Daniela Steri and Enrico Pinna, who quit their jobs to dedicate their lives to sandwiches.

It then expanded to open its first proper site in February last year, where they create beautiful butties with freshly-baked schiacciata – a Tuscan flatbread – and top-quality Italian ingredients.

It’s not just Blossoms who have fallen for Ad Maiora’s incredible food.

The sandwich business is also a firm favourite with several Manchester City stars, including Erling Haaland, who even has a sandwich on the menu named after him.

Blossoms hailed Ad Maiora as having the 'best sandwiches in Manchester'
Blossoms hailed Ad Maiora as having the 'best sandwiches in Manchester'
Blossoms hailed Ad Maiora as having the ‘best sandwiches in Manchester’. Credit: The Manc Group

They’ve had several visits from Pep Guardiola, too, while he was manager of Man City.

Sharing the picture of Blossoms, Ad Maiora wrote: “A special visit from Stockport’s finest.

“It was an absolute pleasure welcoming @blossomsband to Ad Maiora for some proper Italian schiacciata!”

Blossoms commented to say: “I migliori panini di Manchester!! Grazie mille ragazzi” – which translates as: “Best sandwiches in Manchester!! Thank you so much guys.”

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Featured image: Instagram, Ad Maiora

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