The first images of Manchester Airport’s terrific-looking Terminal 2 appeared online earlier in February – teasing commuters with the prospect of luxurious surroundings when holidays finally return.
Around a dozen photos of the £1 billion revamped travel hub were shared widely on social media – offering us a sneak peek at lush lounge areas, pubs, cafes and eateries.
Among them was a shot of a new San Carlo – a familiar family-owned Italian restaurant with several existing sites dotted across Manchester (including Chichetti, Bottega and Fumo venues in the city centre).
More photos of the restaurant’s new branch at Manchester Airport were shared online last week by DSP Electrical – an electrical engineering firm doing work on the project.
Today was the operational handover for the new #SanCarlo restaurant at #Manchester Airport T2. This was a special project we played our part in delivering for TRG Concessions. We look forward to the day when our airports return to the normality we all know & love when travelling. pic.twitter.com/QpjcahERy4
The latest set of images showcase a stylish venue – with sleek, modern aesthetic and a magnificent view overlooking the airport runway.
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A grand opening date for the restaurant, however, is yet to be confirmed.
Currently, Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport remains closed until further notice – with limited flights operating via Terminal 1.
There are hopes the new terminal could open in spring, depending on cases and travel rules.
Eats
Popular Manchester bar Three Little Words launches full espresso martini menu
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s best cocktail bars is rolling out a whole menu dedicated to espresso martinis, in celebration of Espresso Martini Week.
Three Little Words, a bar, restaurant and distillery tucked beneath the arches of Manchester Central, is teaming up with Australian coffee liqueur brand Mr Black to craft the ultimate experience for espresso martini fans.
If you like your cocktails with a kick of caffeine, this is a week dedicated to the world’s most iconic coffee cocktail that you don’t want to miss.
They’re even giving you a chance to win a cocktail tree of four drinks for free.
Three Little Words takes its spirits seriously – it’s founded by Manchester Gin, and the bar is home to the Spirit of Manchester Distillery.
That means a whole host of gins and vodkas are distilled right next to where you’ll be ordering your cocktails from, including Sphere Vanilla and Tonka vodka, which happens to be the perfect base for an espresso martini.
It’s not just the alcohol that’s taken seriously here either, with Three Little Words teaming up with the legendary Mancoco to create a custom coffee blend specifically for espresso martinis.
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Espresso Martini tree at Three Little WordsThree Little Words in Manchester has a full espresso martini menu
Running from Wednesday 12 to Sunday 16 March, Three Little Words has a full menu of five different espresso martinis for you to try.
There’s the classic you already know and love, made with Sphere Vanilla and Tonka Vodka and Mr Black Coffee Liqueur.
Then there’s a mind-bending illusion of an espresso martini, the bar’s brand-new Clear Collection #1 – it’s a completely clear cocktail (compared to the usual dark brown espresso martini), which still delivers all the velvety intensity of the classic.
You can also order a Flat White Martini, which has Baileys in it; a Black Cherry Martini, featuring One-Eyed Rebel Black Cherry Spiced Rum; and the Mayan Martini, made with tequila and espresso.
Or if you can’t decide, order an espresso martini tree and you can mix and match any four espresso martinis in one go.
On Espresso Martini Day itself, which falls on Saturday 15 March, there’ll be Espresso Martini Tarot Cards in play – pick the winning card, and your espresso martini tree is free.
Three Little Words’ Espresso Martini Week celebrations will run from 12 until 16 March – find out more HERE.
Bolton butchers wins ‘best burger in Britain’ at national craft butchery awards
Danny Jones
A butchers in Bolton can now lay claim to the title of ‘best burger in Britain’, at least according to an annual nationwide craft butchery awards ceremony.
Pies, comedy, arguably the best ‘kebabs’ in the world and now burgers – Bolton really is a Northerner’s dream, isn’t it?
Taking home not just one but two Diamond awards in two different categories at the 2025 Smithfield Awards where the best of British butchery is put on show each year, Fraser’s Butchers in the suburb of Great Lever got the top nod from the top dogs in the world of meat and more.
Already beloved by locals and multi-award-winning by various regional and national bodies, it doesn’t come as that much of a surprise but Boltonians are nonetheless buzzing for their go-to butchers.
Proud as pork—I mean, punch* (Credit: Supplied)
As mentioned, it wasn’t actually just one particular type of patty that Fraser’s were praised for: the butchers, which has been open since 2003 and is famed for its fresh farm produce, won two prestigious national awards for its ‘Mega Burger’ as well as their Minted Lamb and Halloumi Kebab.
The highly-celebrated Bolton brand’s Diamond double was announced at the Butchers’ Hall in London back at the end of February, beating out nine other artisan butchers from across the UK to be crowned top of their class.
Organised by the Q Guild of Butchers, the awards which have run for more than three decades judge the UK’s finest craft butchery products including sausages, bacon, burgers, steak, game products, BBQ products and more.
Winning in both the Burger and BBQ categories, respectively – in what is widely recognised as the meat trade’s most high-profile and challenging product evaluation – it’s a big accolade in the butchery world.
Fraser’s is the most highly-rated butchers in Bolton.You’re looking at the best burger in Britain.Credit: Fraser’s Butchers (via Facebook)
Products are awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold award by a panel of independent judges, with all Gold products in each category then pitched against each for the category champion Diamond Award.
Scoring full marks from the Q Guild representatives, Fraser’s popular Minted Lamb and Halloumi Kebab was described by judges as a simply “excellent product.”
As for the ‘Mega Burger’ itself, it scored an impressive 67 points out of a possible 70, with judges noting that it “looks and feels premium and has a lovely blend of flavour.” But the props don’t stop there either.
The butcher also made the final shortlist in the Hot Eating Pie category with its Roast Chicken and Gravy Pie and its Meat and Potato Pie, the Bacon category with its Home-Cured Streaky Bacon; the Al Fresco Dining category with its Pork Pie and the Best Butchers Steak category for its Black Garlic Ribeye – with all five receiving Gold award status.
Fraser’s was also awarded silver status for its Traditional Pork Sausage. Basically, they’re bloody good.
Andy Hull from Fraser’s said: “The ethos of our shop is quality. We start with good quality meat and our butchers work together to make a fantastic quality product whatever it is we do. The Mega Burger is definitely our bestselling burger and we’re very proud of it.
Our Minted Lamb and Halloumi Kebab is another product where we start with good quality ingredients. It’s testament to the BBQ products that we make as we sell them all year round including Christmas week and we never take them out of the counter!
People travel from all over the NW and Greater Manchester to shop with us because they know they’ll get excellent quality meat.”
Gordon Wallace from Q Guild added: “The standard of entries this year was as high as ever, making Fraser’s achievement even more impressive. Being crowned best in class in two categories, along with securing five additional Gold awards, is a fantastic accomplishment.”
Be right back, we’re just making a quick trip to 272 Rishton Lane…
The Manc -
22nd February 2021 
