An Altrincham-based chef, who is proudly “made in Manchester”, is set to represent our region in the latest series of Great British Menu.
Ashwani Rangta is currently the executive chef at GupShup in Hale.
Originally hailing from Shimla in northern India and now a respected name in the Greater Manchester food scene, Ashwani was the chef in charge at the award-winning restaurant of the luxury ITC Gardenia hotel in Bangalore, and was headhunted to run much-loved Manchester city centre-based Indian restaurant, Asha’s, before assuming his role at GupShup in the affluent Trafford suburb.
He has won multiple food awards throughout his career, including City Restaurant of the Year 2017, Best Indian Restaurant in Manchester, and in 2018, he won Best in North West Asian Curry Awards at Asha’s.
Ashwani’s style of food is said to be pan-Asian with modern British influences.
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And he’s set to showcase this style of food as the smash-hit BBC show Great British Menu returns to our TV screens for its 16th series – which is tipped to be the most inventive one yet – next week.
Taking inspiration from early inventors in the world of computing – with 2021 marking the 30th anniversary of Sir Timothy Berners-Lee creating the world wide web – right through to modern-day medical pioneers and more, this series’ competing chefs will be demonstrating their culinary creativity through dishes that celebrate British innovation.
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There will be three episodes a week for the next eight weeks, covering each regional heat, and the chefs will have to prove their originality and technical flair to be in with the chance of serving their creations at thebanquet in the final.
In the North West heat, Ashwani will be up against Blackburn-born Kirk Haworth from Plates in London, Dan McGeorge from Rothay Manor in the Lake District, and Dave Critchley from Lu Ban in Liverpool.
Ashwani has described his time on the competition as an “exhilarating experience”.
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Speaking on the return of Great British Menu, chef Rachel Khoo – who will join long-standing judges Matthew Fort and Oliver Peyton OBE on the judging panel this year, alongside a different guest judge each week – said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of judge at the Great British Menu.
“We have some extraordinary chefs in the UK and the programme does a great job of showcasing that homegrown talent.
“I’m so proud to be part of the series and I can’t wait for viewers to see what’s in store”.
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Great British Menu returns to BBC Two on Wednesday 24th March at 8pm.
Food & Drink
Drinks prices revealed as Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub opens inside T2
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… Manchester Airport’s first-ever JD Wetherspoon pub has officially opened its doors inside Terminal 2.
The 300-seater pub – which welcomed its first customers earlier this week – is named The Belle Vue after Manchester’s historic showground.
Throughout the pub, you’ll spot design features that nod to the city’s sporting heritage – including vintage event posters and memorabilia, a ‘locker wall’ hosting trophies and other sporting exhibits, and a cricket-themed design in the carpets and bar panels.
Creating around 150 jobs in the process, The Belle Vue is the final planned new eatery to open in the airport’s redeveloped Terminal 2, marking one of the final steps in the super-terminal’s decade-long, £1.5bn transformation.
Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub has opened inside Terminal 2 / Credit: Supplied
According to the MEN, pints are priced from £6.20 for Carling and Coors lager, £6.45 for Budweiser, £6.60 for Guinness, and £6.70 for Poretti and 1664 Biere.
Prosecco is £9.20 for 175ml glass and £37.10 for the full bottle, while spirts and mixers are £6.80 for singles and £10.20 for doubles.
There’s also the classic Wetherspoons tea and coffee machines, where you can refill as many times as you like for just £3.60.
“It’s a proud moment to see the final new retail unit opening in our new-look Terminal 2,” commented Richard Jackson, who is the Retail Director at Manchester Airport.
“To be rounding off this 10-year programme by adding such an iconic name as Wetherspoon to the terminal is particularly special and we know that it will prove extremely popular with passengers. We think they’ll love the nods to Manchester’s heritage in the décor and design – and of course the name.”
The Belle Vue will be open from the first flight to the final flight each day, and food will be served from opening until 10pm.
Featured Image – Supplied
Food & Drink
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.
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2021 
