Eats

Gary Usher announces reopening of Kala, Sticky Walnut and all other Elite Bistro restaurants

Both the award-winning Hispi in Didsbury and Kala in Manchester city centre will be taking bookings from Wednesday to Sunday every week.

The Manc The Manc - 21st July 2020
Big Hospitality

Gary Usher has confirmed his Elite Bistro restaurants will be reopening across the north from next month.

The chef, who runs half a dozen venues in the UK, posted a video to his Twitter on Tuesday morning (July 21) confirming his restaurants will all relaunch on Friday 7 August.

Both the award-winning Hispi in Didsbury and Kala in Manchester city centre are now taking bookings – with tables ready from Wednesday to Sunday afternoon every week.

Wreckfist, Pinion, Burnt Truffle and Walnut will also reopen.

https://twitter.com/GaryUsher_Chef/status/1285459801057701890?s=20

Usher promised there would be a new menu and wine list accompanying the relaunch of his Elite Bistros, explaining that the new chapter was “actually really exciting.”

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Pan-fried sea bream, pork ribeye and warm salad of king oyster mushroom dishes have all been added to the mains list, along with a variety of sides including truffle and parmesan chips, tenderstem broccoli and roasted beetroot.

Hispi will be serving braised featherblade of beef, Miso glazed squash, pan-roasted cod loin and smoked lamb rump, as well as braised octopus and baked crottin among the starters.

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Kala has announced an epic-sounding Sunday lunch menu: featuring roast beef, fishcake, pan-fried sea bream and stuffed & rolled pork belly.

https://twitter.com/kala_manchester/status/1285299598194610177?s=20

With regards to hygiene and safety measures, Usher stated: “You can rest assured that we are on top of that and safety is paramount, and we will open according to the new guidelines that the government has set.”

“Come and join us, we’ve missed you, we can’t wait to see you.”

You can book a seat at one of Usher’s famous Elite Bistros online.

Eats

The Manchester restaurant serving bottomless curry for just £20 during National Curry Week

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Manchester restaurant serving bottomless curry for just £20 during National Curry Week

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 Manchester restaurant serving bottomless curry for just £20 during National Curry Week

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.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

The best Oktoberfest events in Manchester where you can drink steins, toss pretzels, and dance on tables

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester Bavarian bier palace Albert's Schloss will pull out all the stops for Oktoberfest

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
Manchester Bavarian bier palace Albert's Schloss will pull out all the stops for Oktoberfest
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.

Expect Oompah bands, stein-holding competitions, competitive pretzel tossing, cabaret, late-night parties and new-for-2026 Bier Masterclasses.

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
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.

Tickets are available now HERE.

Society

Society Manchester's Oktoberfest includes a menu of Bavarian specials from their food traders
Society Manchester's Oktoberfest includes a menu of Bavarian specials from their food traders
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
Lawn Club will host an Oktoberfest bottomless brunch in Manchester
Lawn Club will host an Oktoberfest bottomless brunch in Manchester. Credit: Supplied

When Oktoberfest and bottomless brunch collides, it could only be Lawn Club.

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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.

Find out more HERE.

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Featured image: Supplied

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