A new ‘haute couture’ burger bar is planning to open its first UK restaurant in Manchester.
Called The Butcher, it will join as a part of the new entertainment complex Urban Playground – billed as a ‘revolutionary new entertainment venue in Manchester’ and will be located close to Selfridges on the top floor of the Arndale.
In what promises to be a UK first, popular European burger chain The Butcher will join the new complex in the Arndale to deliver its food offering.
Starting off with a secret kitchen called KIQ (Keep It Quiet) in Amsterdam, prior to its launch in Manchester the brand has opened a number of high-end burger bars in Holland, Germany and Ibiza.
Image: The Butcher
Known for its high-end “haute couture” take on fast food, The Butcher promises to bring something a little different to the Arndale’s – and Urban Playground’s – food offering.
Committed to serving what they bill as the “world’s best beef burgers”, The Butcher prepares all of its components in-house, on the day, using prime Aberdeen Angus beef in its hand-shaped patties.
Burger buns and signature sauces are also freshly made on-site, whilst further produce – ranging from herbs to vegetables – promises to be the freshest available.
Image: The Butcher
Bringing its global signatures along with it, hungry Mancs will be able to tuck into the likes of babganoush, avocado and truffle-laden burgers, alongside more kooky options like ‘The Benedict’ – a brunch-style burger loaded with hollandaise sauce, ham and a fried egg.
Elsewhere, veggies and vegans will find plant-powered buns like the Veggie and Vegan Delights, both combining fried mash chickpea patties with herbs, spices, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion and sesame paste. Vegan cheese is available as an extra, or cheddar for veggies.
As for drinks, think signature milkshakes and some boozy options too – like a ‘dark rum ‘n’ chocolate’ milkshake, which puts a milky twist on the signature dark and stormy.
It will be opening within Urban Playground, which promises to be an “ultimate entertainment destination” and will bring an exclusive preview of ITV‘s The Cube Live experience to Manchester in what promises to be a world first.
The new entertainment complex will feature exciting games from the award-winning show, alongside a new crazy mini gold extravaganza with ‘unique technology’ called Putters.
Image: Urban Playground
Speaking on the new opening, Butcher founder and co-owner Yossi Eliyahoo says: “As a creative concept developer, I envision and feel the places I design before they actually exist.
“We knew that the UK was the next stop for our international expansion plans, and Manchester truly is a global hotspot.
“A city that is constantly evolving with many exciting happenings that command worldwide attention. This is the perfect city for our first UK concept, and it had to be The Butcher that we launched – it’s fast, it’s sleek, it’s modern, but quality is never compromised.”
Feature image – The Butcher
Food & Drink
Pizza Pilgrims – why Manchester’s newest pizza joint isn’t ‘just another pizzeria’
Daisy Jackson
Pizza Pilgrims has finally opened its very first restaurant in Manchester, and its 26th in the UK.
It is another pizza joint for a city packed with pizzerias, but it’s not ‘just another pizza joint’ – it’s got a lot of heart and story behind it.
Pizza Pilgrims was co-founded in 2011 by brothers James and Thom Elliot, who took a trip to Italy on a pilgrimage… of pizza.
They picked up a three-wheel Piaggio Ape van, drove thousands of kilometres, immersing themselves in all things pizza along the way, falling in love with the traditional, floppy-bottomed style of Napoli.
To this day, Pizza Pilgrims has strived to remain committed to the authentic Neapolitan style.
That means both sourcing the very best ingredients from this Italian region, as well as trying to bottle the frenetic, lively spirit of Naples itself.
When The Manc headed over to Naples with James and Pizza Pilgrims, they gave us a lot of insight into the inspiration behind this popular pizzeria, from the San Marzano tomatoes harvested at the foot of Mount Vesuvius to the world-class 00 Caputo flour used in the bases.
Completing the ‘holy trinity’ of ingredients that goes into a Neapolitan pizza is the Campanian Fior di Latte mozzarella they use too.
The brothers want your dinner at Pizza Pilgrims to replicate a holiday to Naples in just one hour – though hopefully without a moped almost running over your foot.
Inside their first Manchester restaurant, they’ve called upon artist ad Mancunian legend Stanley Chow, who has immortalised those three producers in his signature style, their portraits proudly displayed inside.
He’s also immortalised Napoli footballing legend Diego Maradona, whose likeness is plastered all over Naples city.
Pizzas here include classics like a margherita that shows off those beautiful imported ingredients, a salsiccia e friarielle topped with Italian sausage and wild broccoli, and a mushroom and truffle pizza with a white ricotta base.
Inside Pizza Pilgrims in Manchester
You’ve Got Maiale and a CarbonaraCacio e pepe bitesInside Pizza Pilgrims ManchesterThe retro Fiat Panda barNeapolitan pizzas at Pizza PilgrimsColourful interiorsPizza Pilgrims opens on Deansgate in Manchester next weekA Nutella ring with ricottaPizza Pilgrims opens on Deansgate in Manchester next weekClassic margerita with chilli oilFiat Panda seats in a boothColourful interiors at Pizza Pilgrims ManchesterThe Pizza Pilgrims workshop spaceA Maradona margarita The retro Fiat Panda bar
Then there are Pizza Pilgrims favourites like the carbonara, with crispy guanciale bacon, black pepper, and even spaghetti; and The 8 Cheese, with eight. different. cheeses.
The interiors of the new Manchester Pizza Pilgrims are extravagant, colourful and playful, including a retro Fiat Panda turned into a cocktail bar and mismatched laundry hanging overhead like bunting.
You’ll dine beneath vines studded with lemons, while a slushy machine churns up a Maradona margarita at your side.
So pull up a seat at a checkered tablecloth, count all the Maradonas on the wall, and prepare to feel like you’ve spent an hour in Naples.
Pizza Pilgrims Manchester officially opens on Monday 18 August, but there’ll be a free slice giveaway from 12pm on Wednesday 13 August.
The Salmon of Knowledge – An Irish pub has opened at MediaCity for the first time ever
Daisy Jackson
For the first time in MediaCity’s history, there’s a new Irish boozer now open for business.
It’s a third site for The Salmon of Knowledge, which also operates busy pubs in the Northern Quarter and in Didsbury, making part of the infamous Didsbury Dozen pub crawl.
The new pub at MediaCity threw open its doors last week, serving legendary Irish fare like Guinness and spice bags (skin on fries, tossed in house seasoning with buttermilk chicken tenders, fried onions and sliced chillies).
The Salmon of Knowledge opened at the Salford hub over the weekend, with a packed schedule of traditional and contemporary live acts, as well as sporting events shown on the big screen.
It’s still operated and owned by the same team behind Dockyard, which previously stood on this site and was part of Salford Quays for 13 years.
Joe Foster, Managing Director of Northern Lights Group, is behind the original Dockyard and the brains behind the other Salmon locations.
He says the pub will have ‘the same local soul and community spirit lives on, just with a bit more Irish charm this time round’.
Stephen Kirk, Head of Asset Management at MediaCity said: “The Salmon of Knowledge is one of the many businesses joining us at MediaCity during our phase of growth and we’re particularly proud to be supporting homegrown talent, after their successful debut in the Northern Quarter.
“We are confident that the new opening will help us work towards our aim of bettering our spaces, not just for businesses, but also for our residents and visitors.”
Joe Foster, Managing Director of Northern Lights Group, the team behind The Salmon of Knowledge said:“We’ve felt the love in the Northern Quarter, and now it’s time to bring the magic to MediaCity.
“Salford’s got soul, and we can’t wait to add to the soundtrack with great tunes, great food and, of course, great Guinness.”
For more food and drink news, follow @themanceats on Instagram.
Georgina Pellant -
1st February 2022 
