We’ve tried a lot of Indian restaurants around Greater Manchester in our time, especially in this very lucky line of work we find ourselves in, but very few meals have compared to the feast the fine folks at Asha’s served up when we tried their new ‘Live Like a Maharaja’ menu.
This limited-time-only offering from the much-loved Manchester restaurant, bar and globally renowned Indian franchise is inspired by the royal cuisine of Rajasthan and it certainly lived up to that billing on our visit.
Located just below the boutique hotel, Forty Seven, Asha’s boasts seven sites worldwide including their location here in the city centre and has regularly attracted glowing reviews and famous faces in equal measure as their reputation has grown.
Countless celebrities such as Heston Blumenthal, Amir Khan, The Rolling Stones; Priyanka Chopra and Tom Cruise have eaten at Asha’s since it was first founded back in 2002 and, more recently, Travis and The Killers stopped into the Peter Street site on their trips to Manchester.
With that in mind, it’s fair to say our hopes were pretty high. They didn’t let us down – not one bit.
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There’s no better way to start a meal, is there?Credit: The Manc Eats
From the moment you walk into the luxurious entrance of Asha’s Manchester, you’re immediately met with a sense that you’re not just here for a meal but something special; from the warm welcome to the cosy but classy and stylish surroundings, we should have guessed we were in for a little something extra.
Namesake and founder, Asha Bhosle, deep-dived into how she came up with the menu through memories of her early childhood, where she spent years travelling around with her father’s theatre company.
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“The company all had food together”, she explained, “with my father presiding at the head of the table. I enjoyed watching the joy on the diners’ faces as they savoured tasty delights… Over the years, I attempted to learn the diversity of Indian food, which changes from region to region. India is the land of countless religions, cultures, languages, dialects and taste buds.”
But we won’t dilly dally around the dressings up for too long – we can’t lie: the thing that bowled us over the most was the pure indulgence of the spread laid out before us as we sipped on two delicately balanced and refreshing cocktails with just a hint of the South Asian spices we were about to sample.
We were fortunate enough to get to try the whole menu and we’re not exaggerating when we tell you these were some of the most plentiful, flavour-packed and beautifully presented plates we’ve had at a curry house in a long while.
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Each dish had big notes that you could discern from the next; the gravy base for every sauce was as thick and creamy as the last, but with the first mouthful of each you could instantly tell how the profile of, say, the rich chicken Jodphuri was entirely different from the lighter, more aromatic prawn Jaisamandi.
A ridiculous amount of punch with every bite.
We spent most of the meal trying to decide what we preferred most and it was genuinely overwhelming at times with the embarrassment of Rajasthani riches before us that we couldn’t help going back for more of. Even the rice options were so fragrant we kept grabbing another spoonful just for the sake of it.
And then there were sides and meat dishes that accompanied the curries: the Royal tandoori chicken, the larger Rampuri chicken biryani for sharing (complete with dried fruits, lentils, whole eggs and all), the frankly addictive almond patty battles, and not forgetting the saffron-stained tail-on Jaipuri prawns.
The Jungli maas was certainly the most fiery item on the menu, with some genuine heat going on amidst the slow-cooked pieces of lamb and spicy sauce, but we have to say that it was another lamb dish that proved to be the ultimate showstopper: the parda biryani.
Comfortably up there not just with the best biryanis but the best dishes we’ve ever had at an Indian restaurant full-stop, if this menu is supposed to be fit for a king or a queen, then this is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown.
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From the sheer pageantry of lifting back the dough lid to reveal the steaming gold pot of succulent meat, spices, yoghurt and fluffy basmati rice, to peeling off a piece of that crust kissed with the perfect amount of char and caramelised sugars that made for a perfect mini-flatbread wrap, it was exquisite.
A mouthful so good we couldn’t include the video due to NSFW noises.
Our mouths are genuinely watering just reliving what we’re now calling a culinary core memory and though the whole grand banquet may have been designed for India’s bygone royalty and their endless stomachs, even trying one of the dishes with a side or two would leave you beyond full and content.
ButAsha’s ‘Live Like a Maharaja’ menu isn’t just about serving up very good food, it’s a whole experience where the description of the background, herb and spice blends, as well as the all-round attention to detail, is just as much a part of your meal as the eating is.
Even the cookware and crockery were specially crafted not just for this restaurant but for this menu only, designed, burnished and maintained to the highest standard as only a Maharaja or Maharani would expect. We’d happily eat all of this out of a takeaway box but getting the full treatment was a real treat.
Asha’s has created seven truly divine dishes to be served up in the most decadent manner with the Maharaja menu and you won’t be disappointed whatever you decide to order, but this special selection of Rajasthani gems is only available for a limited time only, so we urge you to try it while you can.
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As the lady herself puts it: “The menu is inspired by the offerings of great chefs that I have met and I sincerely hope that you, your family and friends share in my family secrets and enjoy the recipes of my heart.” You can enjoy ‘Live Like a Maharaja’ now – bookings are advised.
Coffee Rules: The Greek-born cafe that’s gone on to become a beloved Greater Manchester brand
Danny Jones
It’s rare that you find a place in an already saturated food and drink scene like Greater Manchester’s that genuinely comes across like a local community cornerstone, but that’s exactly what we got when we visited Coffee Rules in Salford.
We went for a brew, one of those viral iced coffee we’ve seen on socials, and maybe a nice bite to eat – but we left with much more and the impression that these lot are onto something big.
Opened in Arta back in their home country (also up in the northwest, by the way), they’ve never struggled to get queues out the door, and it’s no different here. This one is run by two siblings, 23-year-old Thomas and his big brother Marios, 30, who have been smashing it since 2023.
Since launching their growing UK brand in the likes of The Meadows neighbourhood – one of two they have in the city of Salford alone, the other being Swinton – they’ve brought the lines with them. With authentic Greek food and drink like this, it’s not hard to see why.
They’ve now expanded to more than eight sites total, including one still keeping their own local reputation alive over in Athens, and this looks to be just the beginning.
Having not only spread across the ten boroughs but further out into the region with their Liverpool locations as well as a Yorkshire stronghold up in Sheffield, there’s more to come from Coffee Rules, both in terms of premises and their plans to take on the rest of the brunch game and beyond.
Suburban Mancs may have already seen the regular midday and weekend crowds that pack out their Chorlton venue, the Rusholme one is often filled with fresh-faced uni students in need of their caffeine fix, and it’s an increasingly similar story for those based in Bolton.
Or maybe you’re one of the many people based in Manchester city centre, who nip to their quiet, tucked-away corner of Ancoats for a fresh bake or even to have your eye caught by some of their merch with that modern mythological-inspired logo.
Whichever one happens to be closest to you, you’ll have the same satisfying experience, from sipping on speciality coffee and the scran, to the service and all-around atmosphere.
They’re also about to start hosting board game nights over at their Salford site, where they’ll be making the most of their large terrace with plenty of seating, which also has the added bonus of a retracted pergola – perfect for sunny days or simply sheltering from the Manc rain.
One thing we also noticed was just how many locals not only popped in throughout our time there, but the sheer number that had chosen to start their day at this particular spot.
There’s a regular Greek crowd, of course, but there’s also the native Salfordian and those currently residing in and around the up-and-coming area, who were pulling up in the large car park and taking a pew, or even those just looking for quick and top-quality grab-and-go stuff.
In fact, it’s one of the quickest venues we’ve seen fill up that fast in a hot, Med minute.
Speaking of, whether it be one of their superb Spanish lattes, or the equally sweet, sultry and viral ‘Freddo Cappuccino’, or their traditional spanakopita, not to mention their many Mediterranean pastry variations, there’s a big call for pretty much everything on the menu.
We could go on at length in listing what impressed us about just this one Coffee Rules branch, and we’ve made many trips to their Chorlton one in the past already, but it’s probably best that we just urge you to give it a try sometime soon. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
This is one of the fastest-growing franchises in the UK, and it’s no wonder they keep pulling in plaudits and invites to bigger and better industry within the industry as time goes on events over the past few years.
Oh, and one more thing, there’s plenty of savoury stuff that you’ll likely fall in love with, but we highly reccommend ordering the red velvet. Wow…
Everything you need to know about the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup before it comes to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
The countdown is really on now to one of the biggest sporting events of the year – the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will land in Manchester in just a few weeks’ time.
The upcoming cricket tournament has already shattered all previous ticket sales records, ahead of what promises to be the biggest Women’s T20 World Cup ever staged.
With just two weeks to go to the opening match between England and Sri Lanka, ticket sales have already surpassed 155,000.
And anticipation is growing for the sporting event of the summer, a 24-day spectacle played across seven iconic venues in England and Wales.
Manchester will play its part in this record-breaking tournament this summer, hosting several major games at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
The action kicks off here in Manchester on Saturday 13 June, with a double header of matches between Scotland and Ireland, and Australia and South Africa.
So if you’re planning to go down for all the action, or just want to know what’s in store, here’s the essential info you need for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Manchester dates for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
The Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground will welcome seven teams across five fixtures in June, including Scotland, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, and India.
Saturday 13 June – Scotland vs Ireland 10.30am
Saturday 13 June – Australia vs South Africa 2.30pm
Sunday 21 June – South Africa vs India 2.30pm
Thursday 25 June – India vs Bangladesh 2.30pm
Friday 26 June – Sri Lanka vs Scotland 6.30pm
Tickets for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
This year’s ticket sales have surpassed the total fan attendance of 136,549 recorded across the entirety of the 2020 edition in Australia, highlighting the extraordinary momentum behind women’s cricket and the growing global demand for the women’s game.
Adult tickets start from just £15 in Manchester, you can grab tickets for games HERE.
What else is on?
Spirit Week has been driving up the excitement even further, with the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy currently on a tour around the UK – including a great day out here in Manchester.
The ICC and UNICEF will also be delivering Cricket 4 Good clinics in local communities, with cricketing stars giving young cricketers tips and skills training.
What the ICC have said
ICC General Manager – Events and Corporate Communications, Gaurav Saxena said: “The 2026 edition becoming the highest-selling ICC Women’s T20 World Cup ever is another milestone for the women’s game.
“It not only highlights the incredible momentum behind women’s cricket but also reflects the strong cultural pull of an ICC pinnacle event, appeal for which is not limited to only the sports fans.
“This edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be our biggest tournament till date and is expected to smash attendance and viewership records in the UK and around the world. This milestone is a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved and has been almost a year in the making.
“The response from fans is a testament to the bold, creative and well-executed marketing efforts of both the ICC and the ECB in the run-up to the tournament, more of which are to follow over the next four weeks.
“We look forward to welcoming fans from across the globe to England and Wales for what promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Tournament Director, Beth Barrett-Wild said: “Surpassing 155,000 ticket sales is an incredible milestone and a powerful signal of the momentum behind the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. To have exceeded the previous record set in Australia, before a ball has been bowled, shows just how much excitement there is for this tournament and for women’s cricket globally.
“We’ve always believed this tournament has the potential to be the biggest women’s cricket event in history, and the response from fans has been extraordinary. It reflects the growing profile of the women’s game, the strength of the teams and players on show, and the appetite for world-class sporting events across England and Wales as we build towards an unforgettable summer in 2026.”
Danny Jones -
18th July 2024 
