This week in Manchester, we’ve plenty of new food and drink spots to get you excited about.
From the sausage roll-steak bake pie hybrid that’s got the whole city talking, to a gorgeous new Italian restaurant from one of the city’s longest-standing restauranteurs, there’s lots to look forward to.
Keep reading to discover our top food and drink picks in Manchester for the week.
Potter’s Pies has its first pop-up in Ancoats this weekend selling these absolute beauties / Image: Potter’s Pies
A pie combining sausage rolls and steak bakes
The mum and son pie-making duo behind newcomer Potters Pies has already hit on a winner ahead of their first market pop-up in Ancoats this weekend.
Since sharing the picture of their steak bake-sausage roll hybrid pie to Instagram, Manchester’s interest has certainly been piqued – so we expect there’s going to be quite the queue for these bad boys on Saturday.
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They do make other pies though, too – including a very special cheese and onion creation by the late Alan Potter, credited with “pretty much starting the whole thing off”. Now made by Grandma Potter to a closely guarded recipe, these will be available alongside the much-talked-about sausage roll hybrid this weekend. Get down early to avoid disappointment.
Find Potter’s Pies at Ancoats pop-up this Saturday 28th September at its new home on Cutting Room Square.
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Vincenzo Trattoria is a little-known Italian gem right in the centre of Manchester / Image: Vincenzo Trattoria
A gorgeous new Italian restaurant from the Dom’s Taverna team
Vincenzo Trattoria initially opened at the start of 2020, but in a year (and then some) beset with issues for the hospitality industry, it’s spent more of its time closed than open – and battled off a takeover bid from competitor Salvi’s in the process.
Named after the owner’s late father, it comes from the same team behind the popular (and now sadly closed) Dom’s Taverna restaurant on Deansgate – a haven for quality southern Italian cuisine in the city.
On the menu here you’ll find a good selection of classic mains like saltimbocca alongside classic pizza and pasta dishes. Everything is made fresh to order, and we recommend you try the special spicy sausage which Dom makes himself in house.
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Find Vincenzo at 34 St Ann St, Manchester M2 7LE.
Ancoats favourites the Hip Hop Chip Shop have now got a stand down at the Etihad / Image: Hip Hop Chip Shop
A host of new independent street food traders at the Etihad
Whether you’re red or you’re blue, we hope we can all agree that it’s a joy to see local independents replacing chain brands over at the Etihad.
Man City is now working with seven local street food traders and four independent brewers, meaning you can now enjoy some tasty bevs from the likes of Beatnikz Republic, Seven Brothers, Track and Runaway down at this end of town on matchdays.
Find them serving at the Etihad stadium on Ashton New Rd, Manchester M11 3FF on match days.
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Kong’s Chicken Shop stopped us all in our tracks with their fried chicken roast, but they do so much more – and the menu’s getting even bigger / Image: Lous.brews
A new home for the creators of Manchester’s favourite fried chicken dinners
Kong’s Chicken Shop has revealed it will be taking over the kitchen at Foundation Coffee House there for at least the next few months, opening its doors from this Thursday 26 August. Of course, they don’t just do roast dinners – they first made their name cooking up chicken burgers, so it seems appropriate they’re launching at their new home on national burger day.
There is lots to look forward to here over the coming weeks, with rumours of a new ice cream menu currently doing the rounds amidst promises of new dishes on the way. Watch this space.
Find Kong’s Chicken Shop at 11 Portland St, Manchester M1 3HU from Thursday 26, then Wednesday to Sunday 5-10 pm every week.
The new bottomless brunch deal at Delhi House Cafe in the Corn Exchange is not to be missed / Image: Delhi House Cafe
A new Indian bottomless brunch with unlimited mango mimosas
Delhi House Cafe in the Corn Exchange is the place to be if you’re planning on brunching bottomless this weekend.
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Think chicken tikka with fluffy homemade naan and chips, bottomless mimosas, paneer wraps and rose sangrias. Think two courses and as many drinks as you can neck in ninety minutes for just £31.95. This is the new bottomless brunch deal that’s got Manchester by storm this week.
Available Thursday to Sunday, walk ins are welcome but booking is recommended. We expect it’s going to be busy this weekend. Fortunately, they have a lot of seats inside.
Find Delhi House Cafe at Unit 10, The Corn Exchange, Manchester M4 3TR.
London attraction The Curling Club is now expanding into Manchester
Thomas Melia
Well-reviewed winter attraction The Curling Club, which has already made a name for itself in London, is now making its way to Manchester.
Set to open in Manchester’s world-class skyscraper district, New Jackson, The Curling Club is keeping its stay short and sweet, with a three-month residency here in the city centre.
Curling Club will signal in the mid-winter season as it runs from late November right through until the end of February, giving you a lengthy period of time to sweep ’til your heart’s content.
This sports-themed pop-up opened in the capital last year, offering guests a wintery escape packed with food and drink choices, accommodating up to 600 people at a time, right next to The Shard.
The Curling Club is set to open in Manchester this November until February.Imagine a pint or two in this curling haven in Manchester this year.Credit: Justin De Souza
Now, Manchester’s latest activity bar destination is bringing its charm and competitiveness to Manchester for the first time ever, hoping to emulate the success of its capital predecessor while encouraging people to pick up the sport.
Just like the original London location, their Manc site will feature the iconic custom-built lanes and sustainably-made granite stones, which are set to improve your precision and control – fancy that.
We’re sure will still somehow manage to be the worst players in the room at any given time.
If that wasn’t enough curling expertise for you, there will also be on-site coaches helping guests perfect their technique and providing some top-notch advice.
There will even be an exclusive appearance from Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead and Team GB’s ‘Chef de Mission’, Mark England, who will be hosting select events across the two cities.
Manchester can expect a similar curling set-up this year.The glitter-ball dancers ready and waiting for this wintertime.Credit: Justin De Souza
New Jackson will be the ultimate backdrop for this innovative winter experience as the venue will be curating seasonal cocktails as well as being home to live DJS, glitter-ball dancers and some seriously good food.
You had us at booze and scran.
Keep this seasonal site in mind as they’re already marking themselves as a destination for work parties, events, group outings and Christmas party celebrations.
Trevor Bowers, Chairman of The Curling Club, said of the impending opening: “With this expansion and other plans, we’re accelerating our national rollout – all while staying focused on delivering exceptional, high-quality experiences for both guests and corporate clients during the winter season.”
Milk Maids, Bolton – The family-run ice cream parlour on an award-winning farm
Daisy Jackson
Ice cream doesn’t come much fresher than those served at Milk Maids – in fact, you’ll be standing right on the family farm where the cows that produce the milk live, as you tuck into your scoop.
This unassuming dairy farm in Bolton has been in operation for decades, and in the same family for generations.
But it’s when sisters Fiona and Rebecca saw the full potential of all that award-winning milk being produced on their farm that Milk Maids was born.
This ice cream parlour on Dearden’s Farm in Over Hulton is now one of the hottest spots in Greater Manchester, especially when the weather is similarly hot.
Every month they release a whole batch of flavours, all made fresh daily (you can literally see Fiona legging it across the yard with buckets of milk to make fresh batches), with May specials including white chocolate and sea salt caramel, raspberry cookie, and passionfruit pavlova.
Milk Maids, Bolton – The family-run ice cream parlour on an award-winning farm
Cones can be filled with molten chocolate or pistachio creme before your ice cream is scooped and pressed into the cone.
Or you can have your chosen flavour whizzed up into a milkshake, served in a milk bun, or presented in an insulated take-home box for later.
We could wax lyrical about how good this ice cream is, but the queues really do speak for themselves, and you should go and get in it right now.
Georgina Pellant -
24th August 2021 
