The creators of Manchester’s viral restaurants Brewski, American Pies, and Foldies are set to launch another new exciting concept.
Spanning 5,235 sq. ft and inspired by Brewski’s ongoing culinary tour of the US, the new concept at Quayside MediaCity will be called BIG TRAY BBQ and will be setting up shop at the bustling new food hall Kargo MKT this autumn, adding another exciting offering to the destination’s lineup of tasty food brands.
BIG TRAY BBQ is set to bring a counter-service smokehouse to Quayside, serving up BBQ by weight, alongside homemade sides and standout sauces, with inspiration from across the 52 states of the US and cutting-edge smoked meats and flavours.
With ‘smoke and spice’ set to be at the heart of the new concept, foodies can expect Brewski’s famous crowd-pleasing portions – but this time, with a twist.
New dishes to look forward to include 16-hour brisket, hot honey jalapeño cornbread, loaded trays of jerk chicken sausage, and smoked birria lamb shanks and ribs – with counter-side carving to give a true authentic experience.
“We’re delighted to be launching our latest concept BIG TRAY BBQ at Quayside later this year,” commented James Daly and Steven Stockton-King, who are the co-founders of Brewski.
“As a Manchester-based brand, it was important that our next chapter stayed true to our roots. We’re excited to bring something completely new to Quayside’s growing food scene and be part of what’s to come at the destination for the local community.”
Ben Hey, who is the Asset Director at Quayside, added: “We’re excited to welcome one of Manchester’s most loved food brands to Quayside.
“Their decision to open their new concept here is a real testament to the growth of the area and our exciting plans for the future. We know they’re going to bring something completely unique to our visitors, and we can’t wait to see the new concept thrive here at Quayside”.
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There is no confirmed opening date for BIG TRAY BBQ just yet, but what we do know is that it’ll be opening in the autumn, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – Supplied
Food & Drink
There’s a ‘not snobby’ cheese tasting evening coming to Manchester this autumn
Thomas Melia
An evening dedicated to celebrating all things cheese is coming to a Manchester city centre pub this autumn.
Leeds-based cheese company Homage2Fromage launched its cheese-focused company back in 2011 as a monthly service highlighting all the delicious dairy offerings.
Since this, Homage2Fromage has gone on to host incredible events and activities, including an all-you-can-eat cheese festival right here in Manchester back in 2023.
Now, the cheese fanatics return with a brand-new event titled ‘Extreme Cheese’, where it’s bringing lots of creamy and crumbly varieties to local Manchester city centre pub, The Wayfarer.
You can expect to sample eight dairy delights, with some expected to be ‘very strong’, as the company adds ‘fromage not for the faint-hearted’, so if you like your cheese strong, then this one’s for you.
Homage2Fromage host cheese tasting experiences across the country including Manchester / Credit: Supplied
This cheese provider offers tasting experiences up and down the country, including prime spots in the north like Halifax, Harrogate, Leeds, and Sheffield.
The newest cheese-inspired event is set to be no different, with an itinerary packed regarding all things cheese.
You can grab a drink on arrival, and as soon as you hear ‘CHEESE’ the tasting begins, followed by scoring and, most importantly, an informative chat where you learn all about this dreamy delicacy.
For those who are cheese aficionados, the company even lets you host your own cheese event and provides everything you could ever need – including that golden flavour-packed good stuff.
If you’d rather put your hosting skills to one side though, and just simply tuck into some of the best cheddar varieties there is, then you can do just that at this upcoming cheese testing evening this autumn.
Homage2Fromage is bringing an exclusive cheese tasting evening, ‘Extreme Cheese’, to Manchester city centre at The Wayfarer on 24 September, and you can find tickets HERE.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
Food & Drink
Greggs and KFC are giving away new gravy-drenched sausage rolls in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
The unstoppable force that is Greggs has teamed up with the immovable object known as KFC for one of the most British collaborations ever.
We’re talking sausage rolls and gravy.
There’s arguably no pastry more beloved in the UK than a Greggs sausage roll. While other sausage rolls are available, of course, they don’t quite hit the same as Greggs’ flaky pastry creations. And even though KFC is not British – the US state of Kentucky is literally in the name – what is very British, however, is gravy… not just British, northern.
Just like the Greggs sausage roll, KFC’s gravy is beloved among fast food fans, so what better way to celebrate both delicacies by combining them together.
That’s right, Greggs has teamed up with KFC to launch gravy-drenched sausage rolls for a limited time only, and it’s already feeling like a significant cultural moment is upon us.
Greggs and KFC have collabed on the comfort food creation of the year / Credit: Greggs and KFC
“We’ve joined forces with KFC to fuse our unmistakable flakey goodness with their iconic liquid gold and bring you a menu mashup that’s bound to make you wonder why you never thought of it before,” Greggs explained on its website this week.
Manchester is set to be one of the first UK cities to get in on the action too, as the two companies have announced that they’ll be pulling up in Cathedral Gardens this Friday (8 August) from 12pm until 5pm to serve the hungry public with a comfort food creation like no other.
As well as Manchester, London’s Southbank Centre and Newcastle’s Times Square will also get to try the gravy pastry creation before anyone else.
Tired of having to decide whether you feel like Greggs or KFC? Well now you don’t have to. Greggs Sausage Rolls and @kfc_uki Gravy – together at last 💙❤️
And then if all of that wasn’t good enough as it is, and your cravings just can’t be tamed, then luckily Manchester will also get the chance to order one of the new ‘Gravy Meets Pastry Sharing Buckets’, which are stacked with six iconic Greggs sausage rolls and served with a portion of KFC’s famous gravy.
It’ll be available exclusively on Uber Eats in four cities, Manchester being one of them, for two days only from 15 August.
Emily Sergeant -
6th August 2025 
