You no longer have to miss out on fudgey, flavourful brownies if you’re vegan – Ditto Bakes is creating a selection of to-die-for desserts.
Baked by Emma, a vegan lifestyle influence based in Manchester, these sweet treats are posted to all UK postcodes, so you don’t need to miss out even if you have strayed far from the city.
From party rings, jammy dodgers and lotus biscuits amongst many more, you’ll have a difficult time choosing just one of the delicious flavours!
If you’re looking for a summer’s day treat or a perfect barbecue dessert, The Cheesefake Company’s vibrant cheesecakes are the way forward.
These light and creamy desserts are 100% plant-based and baked in Prestwich, offering authentic-tasting ‘cheesefakes’ that don’t compromise on flavour or texture.
Whether you opt for the healthier fruit toppings or go all-out with their rich and indulgent alternatives, there’s no denying that these cheesecakes are a must-try.
The inventive vegan flavours include Chorlton Crack (salted caramel and peanut butter), Campari & Coconut, and Lemon Treacle Tart – you certainly won’t find ice creams like this elsewhere!
Whatever you fancy, the variety of vegan flavours mean you don’t have to miss out on a delicious and refreshing ice cream during the current heatwave.
Ice Shack
Ice Shack
Ice Shack is the north’s first fully vegan dessert parlour based in Withington, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint!
There’s not just one or two vegan options here – the venue offers every flavour under the sun in the form of ice creams, milkshakes, cakes, truffles and pastries.
This is an essential stop during the summer months, although beware: After one visit you won’t be able to resist returning a handful of times to try every flavour!
Some people assume that a vegan diet is mostly leafy greens but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Indeed, Leafy Creams is proving it: Adding a sprinkle of sweetness with their gourmet artisanal cakes.
This independent bakery is serving delicious plant-based bakes across the Manchester region, focusing on high-quality taste and jaw-dropping designs.
The cakes are astounding and deserve to be a pride of place during a birthday or anniversary celebration, although we won’t judge you if they’re also your sweet-tooth fill on a casual weekday evening.
Food & Drink
Award-winning chippy in Prestwich announces heartbreaking restaurant closure
Daisy Jackson
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.
The Loft @ No. 8 is closing. Credit: The Manc GroupCurry 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!”
There’s a tiny Japanese restaurant inside a Manchester cafe serving matcha afternoon tea
Daisy Jackson
There’s a tiny little Japanese restaurant space in Manchester tucked inside a coffee shop – and they’ve just started serving matcha afternoon teas.
Niwa Yakitori is a brilliant addition to the city centre – by day, it’s sharing the space at North Star Piccadilly and operating as a matcha cafe.
And by night, it transforms the space into a cosy Japanese restaurant, complete with paper lanterns, bamboo plants, and neon signs.
While the word-of-mouth restaurant space is a real rising star thanks to its menu of freshly barbecued chicken and seafood, as well as delicious flights of sake, it’s the new matcha afternoon tea that we popped in for this time around.
Each table is presented with a tiered tower of treats infused with the popular Japanese green tea, and this is some world-class baking that’s going on at Niwa Yakitori.
Let’s break it down, tier by tier, to give you an idea of what you can get.
Up first is a Japanese egg mayo sandwich, made with fluffy shokupan bread and Kewpie mayo, then sprinkled in Furikake for a little bit of salt and texture.
The Japanese egg mayo sandoStrawberry sando with matcha creamThe half-and-half cookieMatcha basque cheesecakeScones with matcha cream and yuzu jamJapanese afternoon tea in Manchester
Also joining the sandwich line-up are strawberry sandos (yes, the ones that M&S had a go at this summer), made with a matcha cream and more of that pillow-soft shokupan.
Moving on up, and what afternoon tea would be complete without some scones? These ones come with a matcha cream and a yuzu and chilli jam. Divine.
Then the very top tier has a gang of miniature treats, including an adorable teddy bear-shaped matcha chocolate truffle; a matcha muffin; and a matcha-infused madeleine.
A real star is the chunky cookie, a clever half-half yin-yang of matcha and white chocolate, vs vanilla and dark chocolate.
Niwa Yakitori is a tiny Japanese restaurant in ManchesterJapanese afternoon tea in ManchesterMatcha and hojita at Niwa Yakitori
And they show off their baking prowess with a slice of matcha basque cheesecake, with three layers and a scoop of strawberry ice cream on top.
All washed down with ceremonial-grade matcha or hojicha lattes, which can be made table-side in a traditional tea ceremony.
The team at Niwa Yakitori are hoping this afternoon tea will fill crucial tables in their tiny space at a time where hospitality is being crippled with rising costs.
So please, for the love of all that is matcha, get this lovely Manchester Japanese spot on your list to visit.
Daisy Bradbury -
18th June 2021 
