Greater Manchester has dominated the North West category in the list of finalists for this year’s British Takeaway Awards.
We’ve arguably relied on takeaway services more than ever over this past year, and now thousands of takeaways from right across the country have been narrowed down to just five independent businesses in each of the 12 regional categories.
And when it comes to the North West category, three food businesses in the borough of Stockport have been named as fan-favourites following a public vote.
Takeaways in Liverpool and Warrington have also been shortlisted.
Who’s made the cut then?
Sitting proudly on the list of finalists at the 2021 edition of “the Oscars of the takeaway world” – which aims to celebrate Britain’s best local takeaways and the people behind them – is Gatley- based restaurant The Spinn, which is headed up by Emmerdale Star Adam Thomas, and is loved by the region’s foodies thanks to its extensive menu of burgers, wraps, small plates and brunch offering.
You may remember that the restaurant hit headlines late last year when it poked fun the government with a three-tier ‘Boris Burger’ and paid to have it advertised on local billboards.
Stockport takeaways have dominated the list of North West finalists / Credit: The Spinn | LAPD Food
Also listed as a North West finalist is LAPD Food – a delivery-only joint that sells burgers, pizzas and fried chicken, and delivers it to hungry residents across Stockport in a head turning American-style police car.
Rounding out the top three Stockport takeaways in the North West section of the finals is the Bun & Bones Club in Hazel Grove, which specialises in everything from burgers and wings, to loaded fries, a wide range of sides, and even the stand-out foodie favourite ‘Mancake’ – which is two beef patties, American cheese, smoked streaky bacon and maple syrup on top of two fluffy American pancakes.
Bun & Bones Club in Hazel Grove has also made the list of finalists / Credit: Bun & Bones Club
Speaking on the shortlist of finalists for this year’s British Takeaway Awards, Andrew Kenny – Managing Director of Just Eat – said: “We’re thrilled to be back with the British Takeaway Awards for the sixth year running.
“Each year we’re amazed by the standard of entries and this year is no different, with a huge range of restaurants up for the awards, from family run takeaways to small chains.
“Celebrating the fantastic takeaways across the UK is particularly important this year after many turned to their local restaurants for a lift throughout the lockdowns [so] the UK has been voting in force to give back to their local takeaway heroes and we can’t wait to honour the winners at the awards ceremony in September.”
___
The British Takeaway Awards 2021 will take place in September, with a £1,000 prize for each regional winner, and a whopping £5,000 for the business crowned the ‘Best Takeaway in Britain’.
Manchester restaurant to give out FREE katsu curries to people called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’
Emily Sergeant
In what is a small stroke of genius, a restaurant chain has decided to give out free katsu curries to anyone called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’.
Throughout September, award-winning restaurant chain Banana Tree – which has a Greater Manchester site down at Salford Quays – is shining the spotlight on its popular katsu creations, and as a clever way of celebrating National Katsu Day on 27 September has announced a pretty unique giveaway.
That’s right – the restaurant will be serving up katsu dishes to people called Kat, Sue, and every delicious variation of the names in between.
Anyone named Kat, Katie, Katherine, Sue, Suzy, Susan, Suzanne – or close enough to qualify, the list goes on – can head to their local Banana Tree restaurant, and all they’ll need to do is show proof of name and they can enjoy a free katsu dish of their choice, worth up to £16.75.
The chain’s kastu lineup includes three star dishes.
First there’s the much-loved Katsu Curry, as well as the all-new Katsu Burger, which is made from either a crispy chicken or veggie fillet, spicy mayo, puffed noodle crunch, and a drizzle of Katsu sauce tucked into a soft Shokupan bun with a side of salt n pepper chilli chips.
Then there’s also the intriguing newcomer, the Katsu Carbonara – which is described as being a daring East-meets-West mash-up and ‘unapologetically’ Banana Tree.
Banana Tree is giving away free katsu curries to people called ‘Kat’ or ‘Sue’ / Credit: Banana Tree
With each of these dishes usually priced around the £16 mark, the giveaway isn’t just a way of marking National Katsu Day, but it’s also a way to sample the some of the restaurant’s biggest crowd-pleasers entirely free of charge.
To avoid any confusion on who makes the cut, Banana Tree will reveal the full qualifying list of name variations on Instagram soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
“Our Katsu range is one of our proudest creations, so National Katsu Day felt like the perfect moment to have some fun with our fans,” a Banana Tree spokesperson said ahead of the giveaway.
The free katsu offer is available for four days only from Monday 22 to Thursday 25 September, and you just need to head to the Banana Tree website to sign up to the Big Flavour Club here.
Featured Image – Banana Tree
Eats
Bar Shrimp announces opening date as Higher Ground team gear up for new project
Daisy Jackson
Bar Shrimp, a new seafood and cocktail bar in Manchester from the team behind Higher Ground, has officially got itself an opening date.
The hotly-anticipated newcomer will be serving cocktails, beers, and British seafood and snacks from its spot on New York Street.
As well as confirming an October launch date, the team have also shared a glimpse of the menu Mancs can expect from next month.
Bar Shrimp will be offering an Oyster Happy Hour every weekday, as well as caviar with house-cut crisps, devilled eggs, and Sussex smokie fritters.
Expect shellfish over ice, Cornish crab cocktail, bar snack classics and even beef burgers.
It comes from the same team behind Higher Ground and Flawd, headed up again by hospitality dream team Joseph Otway, Daniel Craig Martin and Richard Cossins.
And they’ve partnered with Stockport-based MasterSounds, to install a state-of-the-art custom-designed sound system with music director Lukas Stankunas curating the music programming on a weekly basis.
They say the venue will be a ‘dynamic space where the music and energy evolves throughout the evening’.
The team behind award-winning Higher Ground are opening a new seafood bar, Bar Shrimp, in Manchester
Inside, it’ll be decorated with plush-red banquettes, floor-to-ceiling drapes, and table service throughout.
Matt Pazos, Bruntwood SciTech Retail Commercial Manager, said of the announcement: “Bar Shrimp promises to be another big success for the team and we can’t wait to welcome them to Faulkner House.
“This exciting new concept, bringing together the team’s exceptional knowledge and experience of food and hospitality combined with their passion for music, will further complement the thriving community in this part of Manchester city centre.”
Walk-ins will be welcomed for drinks but reservations are encouraged for dining.
Reservations for Bar Shrimp have gone live today ahead of its official launch on Wednesday 22 October – sign up HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
28th May 2021 
