Food & Drink

Eight of the best places to enjoy a roast dinner in Manchester

We're already making our list ready for when lockdown begins to lift next month.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 17th March 2021

A roast dinner is held dear to the hearts of many Mancunians.

This quintessentially British meal marks a time to gather your nearest and dearest around the table to enjoy one of the heartiest meals you’ll probably have all week, yet with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic having once again forced all hospitality businesses to close their doors to diners since January, aside from takeout and delivery services, it’s been a while since we’ve let someone else chef the roast up for us.

But now that an “irreversible” roadmap for the lifting of England’s current national lockdown has been set out, we’re already looking forward to the day when we can tuck into a roast dinner at one of the region’s many independent eateries.

In no particular order, here’s eight more places to choose from.

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Elnecot

Ancoats

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Ancoats’ industrial-themed neighbourhood bar and kitchen should always been on your list of places to hit up if you’re after a Sunday roast, as this two-course feast means you choose from a choice of starters, before tucking in to either beef, poussin, pork belly, roast of the week, or the vegetarian / vegan nut roast.

All roasts come with a rich range of sides and accompaniments to top it all off.

You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via the Elnecot website here.

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The Refuge

Oxford Street

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“Those dreams of sharing a Roast Platter once more are just weeks away”.

The Refuge is known throughout the city for its slap-up Sunday roasts, with the highlight undoubtedly being the ‘Roast Platter’, which lets you combine a choice of meats on offer with a rich range of sides and accompaniments to top it all off.

A vegetarian / vegan roast option is also available, alongside extensive drinks and dessert menus.

You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via The Refuge website here.

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Volta

West Didsbury

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Ask Didsbury folk about the Sunday roasts served up at Volta, and you’ll only hear good things.

Catering for all tastes, you can choose from either grass-fed rump of Yorkshire roast beef, roasted poussin with lemon and thyme, or the vegetarian / vegan wild mushroom wellington, all complete with a rich range of sides and accompaniments to top it all off, as well as a selection of mouth-watering puddings.

You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via the Volta website here.

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The Jane Eyre

Ancoats

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The Sunday roasts at popular Ancoats hangout, The Jane Eyre, are no doubt some of the finest the city has to offer, with everything from roast beef, roast pork fillet, the special roast of the day and the vegan nut roast all making up the menu, served alongside a rich range of sides and accompaniments, as well as a selection of small plates on offer.

Don’t forget to try out the extensive drinks and desserts offering too to top it all off.

You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via The Jane Eyre website here.

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Hawksmoor

Deansgate

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If it’s fine dining your after for your first Sunday roast in the city once restrictions lift, then you really need look no further than Hawksmoor Manchester, where a slow-roast rump or prime rib for up to three people comes complete with beef dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, carrots, greens, roasted shallots and lashings of bone marrow and onion gravy.

There’s also a range of puddings to finish off with as well.

You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via the Hawksmoor Manchester website here.

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The Bay Horse Tavern

Northern Quarter

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Offering up a modern take on the Victorian pub atmosphere, and with roasts of either chicken, beef sirloin or a mushroom wellington, accompanied by “all the trimmings”, served all day every Sunday, it’s not hard to see why The Bay Horse Tavern is a much-loved Northern Quarter hangout.

A wide range of starters, desserts and drinks are also available alongside your choice of roast.

You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via The Bay Horse Tavern website here.

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TNQ Restaurant & Bar

Northern Quarter

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Sundays are pretty special at TNQ as it prides itself on providing “top notch proper award winning roasts” and was even named runner up for the ‘Best Sunday Lunch’ in the Observer Food Monthly Awards both in 2018 and 2019.

The sought-after roasts include a rump of beef, pork belly, a leg of lamb and the vegetarian kale, chestnut and mushroom wellington, alongside a range of sides served separately.

A selection of mouthwatering starters and desserts are also on offer.

You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via the TNQ Restaurant & Bar website here.

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Hispi

Didsbury

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Elite Bistros are renowned for their Sunday offerings, and the popular Didsbury hangout, Hispi, is certainly no exception, with a everything from roast beef, pork belly, smoked haddock, sea bream and the vegetarian miso glazed squash all making up the main menu, alongside a selection of sides, as well as a wide range of starters, desserts and drinks.

You can find Sunday menus, more information about COVID-safe guidelines and book your table ahead of reopening via Hispi website here.

Food & Drink

A long-standing Italian restaurant in Trafford has sadly announced its imminent closure

Danny Jones Danny Jones Little Italy Timperley closing permanently

Another day, another bit of unfortunate hospitality news, as long-standing Greater Manchester restaurant, Little Italy in Timperley, has announced it is closing permanently very soon.

The Trafford favourite, which has been serving locals for nearly 20 years, has informed regular diners that it will sadly be closing its doors for good, with Little Italy’s final service set for later this month.

Having earned plenty of praise in its time, including being one of the few spots in and around the Altrincham area to have won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015, before the borough saw its foodie boom begin.

But fast forward a decade, and the Timperley institution is yet another culinary casualty to be confirmed of late, with Little Italy sharing a tear-jerking statement online.

Sharing the tragic news on social media this Friday (5 Sep), the restaurant wrote: “To all our lovely customers, it is with a heavy heart that we share some news with you all. After over 18 years of serving you all in Timperley, we will be closing our doors later this month.

“This has not been an easy decision. Unfortunately, rising costs and a significant increase in rental [costs] have made it impossible to continue in a sustainable way. As much as we love what we do, the reality is that it has become too difficult to maintain under these circumstances.

“Over the coming weeks, we will continue to cook with love and serve with the same passion as always. We would love to see you all and share one more meal, and raise a glass together.”

Safe to say that the post has been met with an outpouring of condolences and support from natives nearby and those who have travelled to enjoy their food.

Little Italy went on to add that they will detail more about their final week of business as soon as possible.

They can’t be accused of not keeping up with times and not trying to promote via social media either, as they small family-run team – headed up by Sam Cauchi, who bought the site back in 2008 – have always given things a go besides the day-to-day operation of the restaurant.

Being one of many saddened customers to respond underneath the announcement, we couldn’t possibly sum up things better than local Vanessa Nice, who said: “Look at all these amazing comments – you certainly made your mark as a home from home for the residents of Timperley.

“The end of an era will always be sad, but sometimes life and families have to move on.”

As for Cauchi and co., they signed off by simply adding: “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, kindness and friendship over the years. Timperley has been our home, and you have all been our family.

“Love from all the team at Little Italy.”

It goes without saying that we’re gutted for the gang and our thoughts are with everyone involved at this difficult time. For now, we can only say thank you to the countless Greater Manchester locations that continue to fall foul in the face of the rising pressures industry-wide. Case and point…

Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure

Read more:

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Featured Images — Little Italy Timperley (via Facebook)

Food & Drink

Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure

Chips @ No. 8, a chippy in Prestwich that’s lauded as one of the best in the UK, has announced the sad closure of its restaurant.

The award-winning takeaway made some big moves last year, expanding into the unit next door so that they could comfortable double their space downstairs and add a restaurant upstairs.

The restaurant was a brand-new concept for the much-loved Prestwich chippy, serving a seafood-focused menu that wasn’t necessarily all about the fryer.

But sadly, Chips @ No. 8 has announced that the restaurant element of its business, Loft @ No. 8, has closed for good.

They wrote that the economic climate and the huge amount of choice in Prestwich has left them struggling to fill seats in the chippy restaurant.

The good news is that the fish and chip shop itself remains open for business and thriving, and customers will be able to use the former restaurant space to eat their takeaway in.

The bar downstairs also remains open for business for a cheeky pint or glass of wine while you wait for your order.

Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure
The Loft @ No. 8 is closing. Credit: The Manc Group
Chips @ No 8 in Prestwich
Curry sauce on a Chips @ No 8 chippy tea. Credit: The Manc Group

In a statement, Chips @ No. 8 said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the closure of Loft.

“With so many great places to eat in Prestwich, and the economic climate being what it is, we have struggled recently to fill enough seats to continue to make it a financially viable side to our business.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support whilst we were open, the team for their efforts, in particular, Craig, the creator of the delicious food that we had on offer up there.

“Chips @ No.8 remains open as normal and going forward, we are opening up the space upstairs for additional casual seating for the takeaway.

“The bar will remain open so you can still enjoy a pint or a glass of wine with your fish & chips, even if it is out of a box! We hope to see you soon!”

Go show the takeaway some support when you can.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

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