Food & Drink

Ginger’s Comfort Emporium has closed its long-standing Northern Quarter site

Truly the end of an era.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 7th October 2025

Greater Manchester dessert favourite Ginger’s Comfort Emporium has unfortunately closed its long-standing site in the city centre.

The Northern Quarter-based ice cream icons have been serving delicious artisan scoops out of Afflecks for over a decade, but now they’ve decided to call time on the original location.

Having somewhat quietly closed this past weekend, those in the know came along for their final scoops from the pretty little parlour tucked away in a corner on the first floor of the indie shopping palace.

Officially closing on Saturday, 4 October, Ginger’s NQ is sadly no more.

ice cream place inside afflecks palace manchester
gingers ice cream mcr closed
Credit: The Manc Eats

Explaining the decision on social media, owner Claire Kelsey wrote: “There’s no sad reason. We’ve had a fantastic 12 years here, but unlike the other sides [of] the business, it’s 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, and I need to start having proper time off over winter.

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“I’m looking forward to the extra energy for ideas I’ll have for our events & markets, and not spreading us out so thin! THANK YOU to the wonderful staff over the years, I appreciate your care and your time x

“THANK YOU to Afflecks and Bruntwood [property firm] for being such supportive landlords and THANK YOU to you, our customers, everyone from nervous parents waiting for their kid getting a tattoo to the OG Ginger’s fans getting their fix, kids learning to play chess – it’s been a joy. X”

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Kelsey’s comments have been filled with loyal customers bidding farewell to the local favourite, ex-staff members expressing gratitude for being made part of the team, and even parents thanking Claire directly for giving numerous kids their first jobs.

One of those is influencer and now fellow independent business owner, Zack Hipps, who shared a lengthy post paying tribute to the veteran dessert venue.

“The best ice cream in Manchester is no longer so easily available in the city centre, but omg did this place mean a lot to me”, says Hipps.

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“This venue had been going for over 13 years, it was the place I got my first job, the place that I first got into coffee, and the indie food scene, it’s where I first took a picture for social media (the second picture) and saw me develop into my content creation career

“It’s opposite where I’ve opened my own lil’ coffee shop and never has something felt so truly full circle as saying goodbye. I would not be the same person without it.”

Perhaps most notably, he signs off not only by wishing them all the best but by teasing that they’ve got “some mad interesting plans coming up”, before clarifying that he can’t say any more.

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We don’t know exactly what he’s been sworn to secrecy over, but you best believe we, as well as the rest of Manchester and its boroughs, will be watching closely to see what the brand does next.

And don’t worry, ice cream lovers; you’ll still be able to find their vans popping up all over the region and serving their incredible flavours at events across the North West.

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But for now, thanks for the memories and RIP to the original Ginger’s Comfort Emporium.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

Food & Drink

A banana pudding bar is opening in Manchester city centre

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A build-your-own banana pudding pot from Buttercup

Buttercup – the viral banana pudding business based in Manchester – has announced the closure of its pop-up space… as it makes way to open its very own standalone site.

The hugely popular pudding brand is set to open its very first location this autumn, bringing a banana pudding bar to the city centre.

Buttercup launched last summer, creating little pots of the hit US dessert made famous by the iconic Magnolia Bakery.

Each dessert features vanilla custard whipped with cream, soft sponge, and fresh banana, which you can then customise with rotating flavours and toppings (like the current sticky cornflake and raspberry, inspired by school dinner puddings).

And now it’s time for Buttercup to bid farewell to its nine-month residency at Deansgate General Store, ahead of launching its own pudding bar.

Since launching, Buttercup has served around 50,000 puddings, hosted sell-out pop-ups across the city, collaborated with some huge brands, and built a loyal following around its signature build-your-own pudding bar.

With this new standalone space, you’ll be able to indulge in its signature banana pudding, plus new flavours and a build-your-own toppings concept, with new toppings including cookie dough bites and brownies. A new drinks menu is also in the works.

Buttercup will leave Deansgate General Store on Monday 31 August, and will reveal its new location in the coming weeks.

Buttercup founder, Natasha Black, said: “This feels like the perfect step for Buttercup. It’s been such a pleasure to call General Store home for the past nine months, and I’m so grateful to the team there for helping us grow into what we are today.

“But as we continue to grow, now feels like the right time for us to step out on our own. I can’t wait for people to see what we’ve been working on and bring Buttercup to life in our own place!”

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Featured image: The Manc

Food & Drink

The new BBQ restaurant beneath a Manchester railway arch where meat is cooked very, VERY slowly

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The new BBQ restaurant beneath a Manchester railway arch where meat is cooked very, VERY slowly

There’s a new BBQ spot beneath a railway arch in Manchester, and it’s cooking its meat very, very slowly.

Sandy’s Smokeshed has just opened in Castlefield, where Sam – and his smoker, Angela – are serving up serious Texas-style BBQ, with queues already stretching out the door.

The idea is simple: take great cuts of meat, cover them generously in seasoning, put them in the smoker and give them all the time they need.

That means beef shin smoked over oak and cherry for 10 hours, eight-hour smoked beef chuck and the Boston Butt, alongside brisket, short ribs, chicken and plenty more.

Sam has always been a fan of BBQ, but decided to take things rather more seriously when he bought the enormous smoker now sitting underneath the arch. It’s a serious piece of kit, cooking the meat from all directions and producing the kind of results where everything practically collapses in your hand.

And the location only adds to the atmosphere. While you’re eating, trains rattle overhead, giving the place an appropriately industrial Manchester soundtrack.

Sandy's Smokeshed is beneath the arches in Castlefield
Sandy’s Smokeshed is beneath the arches in Castlefield
Owner Sam seasoning his pulled pork
Owner Sam seasoning his pulled pork
Juicy, pull-apart chicken
Juicy, pull-apart chicken

The BBQ comes with plenty of proper sides, too, including pit beans and slaw, plus garlic BBQ sauce for pouring over the top.

There are also some particularly good sandwiches, made with Holy Grain sourdough from next door and filled with pulled pork, steak, or braised ox shin.

Sandy’s Smokeshed kicked things off last weekend with a free food, BYOB feast, and judging by the queues, word has travelled quickly.

It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am – but only until they sell out.

Vegetarians, look away now. Everyone else, you’ll want to get there early.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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