Not the news we wanted to go into the weekend writing but, sadly, we have word of yet another loss to Manchester hospitality as The Hip Hop Chip Shop have announced they will soon be closing.
Rated not just one of the top-rated chippies in Greater Manchester but having been named the second beast in the UK back in 2023, Hip Hop Chip Shop‘s success story is one we’ve loved watching.
First opened back in 2014 (how time flies), the chippy started out as nothing more than another street food stall serving out of a converted trailer designed to look like a boombox; it was cool, great value for money and absolutely delicious.
However, now over a decade later and having opened their brick-and-mortar site in Ancoats, the present financial pressures of the sector have taken their toll just like they have so many others and Hip Hop Chip Shop confirmed they will be early closing next month.
Bidding an emotional goodbye on social media, they wrote: “After 11 years, we’re unfortunately joining the chorus of independent businesses in Manchester and beyond, calling it a day.
ADVERTISEMENT
Although Ancoats was an amazing area for us to embark on our bricks-and-mortar dream, the cost increases from Brexit, Covid, energy, VAT (halving it would save a lot in the industry), BB Loans etc. has meant it’s unviable in its current form – we would’ve had to increase prices much more than we’d be comfortable with to get the margins we need to keep going.
“It’s an extremely tough decision given it’s 15 years since the idea was born in my early 20s – then three mates whilst working other jobs began building it from scratch every weekend, to then quitting our jobs and taking a leap of full-time faith. Ultimately, we need to listen to the head, not the heart.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Founder Jonathan ‘Ozzie’ Oswald goes on to add, “We wanted to give enough notice to support our amazing team in finding new jobs, making sure all our suppliers are paid up and provide our supportive customers with the last chance to eat/drink/party with us.”
Although they started they are exploring the possibility of keeping their trailer (which made its Christmas Markets debut just this past year) going at regular locations like the Etihad Stadium, the rest of the business as we know will be shutting down in a matter of weeks.
How it all started.The food’s been unbelievable since the start.Credit: The Manc Eats
Sharing a lengthy farewell message in honour of their fellow contemporaries and competitors, equally lauded Chips @ No.8 in Prestwich said: “We honour those who dared to do it differently. The Hip Hop Chip Shop in Manchester city centre were inspirational to us when we were setting out.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They turned fish and chips on its head and did it how no one else thought possible. Centred on community with a high-quality product that championed sustainability and the alternative, we deemed them Gods of the fish and chip world and untouchable…
“Yet another independent food-based business to succumb to the economic crisis that has enveloped us and to date, the one that has hit us hardest. This latest closure most certainly won’t be the last. The government need to wake up fast and support small independent businesses before there are no more…
“If you haven’t been before then you really should, before it’s too late.”
You can find their remaining opening hours in the full Instagram post and the staff have assured all they’ll be open as normal in Manchester and at the Carlton Club in Whalley Range until their closing party on Saturday, 2 March, where guests can come along and have one last bite – and more than a few beers.
Responding underneath the post, one person commented: “The doors might be closing, but what you’ve done for us will never ever be forgotten. It’s impossible to talk about Manchester Hip Hop without talking about the Chippy.
ADVERTISEMENT
“From Manchester to Vegas, tales of a Chippy that supported a culture, community and served dam good food will be told with smiles on our faces and heavy hearts.”
As for the Hip Hop gang, they signed off simply by saying: “It’s been a privilege to be able to feed you all whether it’s been at a music festival, kitchen takeover, wedding, corporate party and also put on some top events in a chippy! HUGE thanks for your support!
RIP to HOP, you were the modern Manchester chippy OGs and we sincerely hope it’s not forever.
Nothing short of a perfect plate – you will be missed x
The Manchester restaurant serving bottomless curry for just £20 during National Curry Week
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s leading curry houses is bringing back its bottomless curry offering very soon.
For just £20, diners can tuck into unlimited curry, rice and naan at Zouk Tea Bar & Grill, stuffing yourself silly on authentic dishes from from all over the Indian subcontinent.
There’s nothing quite like getting the gang together for a proper curry, and Zouk is making it even easier to do exactly that this October.
They’ll be bringing back the £20 Bottomless Curry deal for National Curry Week 2026, running for five nights only, from Monday 5 October to Friday 9 October, with tables available between 5pm and 10pm each evening.
Guests can choose one curry from a daily selection of four, with meat, vegetarian and vegan options available throughout the week.
Once you’ve picked your curry, you can then order as many portions as you fancy during your 90-minute booking.
Rice and naan are unlimited too, so there’s no shortage of carbs to mop up the curry with.
The dishes on the menu include some of Zouk’s favourites, such as Chicken Karahi, Lamb Rogan Josh, Chicken Tikka Masala, Dall Makhani, Chicken Handi and Gobi Manchurian.
The exact four-dish selection varies by day, giving curry fans a reason to head back more than once during the five-day promotion.
And yes, you can go back for another helping.
Zouk owner Tayub Amjad said: “National Curry Week is always a great excuse to celebrate the food we love.
“Bottomless Curry has become a real favourite with our customers, so we’re excited to bring it back for five nights. It’s relaxed, great value and perfect for getting friends together for a proper curry night.”
Advance booking is recommended – you can book your table for the Zouk Bottomless Curry nights HERE.
The best Oktoberfest events in Manchester where you can drink steins, toss pretzels, and dance on tables
Daisy Jackson
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. 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.
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
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.
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. Credit: Supplied
When Oktoberfest and bottomless brunch collides, it could only be Lawn Club.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
Danny Jones -
7th February 2025 
