Manchester noodle queen Pippa Middlehurst (aka Pippy Eats) has revealed plans to open her long-anticipated Noodlehaus site on Ancoats Marina this year.
The cancer research scientist turned cook has developed quite a following in the city, hosting various sell-out dumpling and noodle-making workshops as well as pop-up supper clubs at different venues in Manchester over the past few years.
Since winning the BBC’s Britain’s Best Home Cook in 2018, she’s also gone on to publish a number of cookbooks, with her latest – Bowls & Broths – available to pre-order.
Pippa’s first book Dumplings and Noodles shows you how to make these hand-stretched biang biang noodles / Image: Pippy Eats
Now, Pippa’s revealed plans to move her restaurant concept into a brand new unit facing onto Ancoats Marina. Neighbouring much-loved bakery Pollen and the soon-to-open Flawd, a new concept from the team behind Higher Ground, Noodlehaus will certainly be in excellent company.
Noodlehaus will become a new home for her popular workshops, supper clubs and events, as well as selling cookware and kitchen equipment in its own dedicated section.
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It doesn’t seem like it will all be about Pippa, either. Rather, there has been mention of plans to bring in other local independents to host their own workshops and supper clubs here as a way of championing other small foodie businesses in the city.
The new Noodlehaus will be home to Pippa’s popular cookery workshops as well as a home for dining in / Image: Pippy Eats / Giuliamar Photography
Pippa’s plans to open a restaurant of her own have been on the cards for some time, but between the pandemic and issues with the initial unit, everything has been somewhat delayed and frustrated – up until now, that is.
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She initially set up a Kickstarter last year to raise funds for the space and smashed her initial £30,000 target out of the water – eventually raising nearly £45,000 from over 800 different backers after pledging some amazing rewards like a private six-course supper club for ten cooked by Pippa and a year’s supply of her famous chilli oils.
Now, after some setbacks (and stress), she’s finally in her new unit fitting it out with a potential opening date planned for September.
Design for the new space has been completed by the all-female team at No Chintz / Image: No Chintz
Sharing the news about her new home on the Noodlehaus Instagram, Pippa said: “Thank you all so much for your patience, it’s been a tough old year.” “Even though it’s been a really stressful time, it kinda feels like everything happened for a reason, and in the exact right timing.
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“The repeated extensions of lockdown preventing us from opening so I didn’t end up hosting any events in that space. The new space coming onto the market at the precise time I realised it was time to get the F out of the old space, and when I reached out to the developers, they were familiar with the Noodlehaus project and welcomed me with open arms.
Pippy Eats is just as known for her dumplings as she is her noodles / Image: Pippy Eats
“The new space being part of a small community of indie businesses, some of which are friends. Everything has fallen into place so perfectly, is somebody watching over me?! “I’m guilty of being too trusting, too optimistic. But I feel grateful I followed my gut when it was time and that lockdown allowed me that grace period. “The old space, the stress involved, the nightmare that it ended up being, was only experienced by me – and it will all fade from my memory and will not be remembered as part of the Noodlehaus journey. I’m grateful for that too. “I’m so so bloody excited [sic].”
With a provisional opening date of September currently on the cards, there’s definitely a lot to look forward to.
To keep up to date with developments in the lead up to the launch, you can follow Noodlehaus on Instagram here.
Didsbury favourite Rustik has confirmed its will sadly be closing this month
Danny Jones
West Didsbury favourite Rustik has sadly announced it will be closing for food after a decade at the end of this month.
The beloved Burton cafe and bar has been a staple of the tight-knit foodie neighbourhood since 2015, but now the independent Irish eatery has confirmed that the business will be shutting down permanently in less than a fortnight.
Confirmed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 September, the casual Manc restaurant and hangout informed their loyal followers of the unfortunate news.
Unsurprisingly, their social media has been awash with condolences, collective sadness and support for the local institution.
Posting across all of their accounts, Rustik wrote: “After an unforgettable 10 years on Burton Road, the time has come to close our doors. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come — never in a million years did we imagine Rustik would grow into what it became.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to every single one of you who walked through our doors and supported us along the way. We poured everything we had — our time, our energy, our lives into making Rustik a space for everyone. And what a ride it’s been.
“From the chaotic, beautiful brunch shifts to late nights dancing on tables to ‘Wagon Wheel’, pushing through the challenges of COVID and helping our community with meals during hard times— we’ve done it all, together.
“To our amazing staff, past and present: thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and the love you brought every single day. You helped build something truly special, and we’ll never be able to thank you enough.
“To the incredible musicians who filled our space with life — keep doing what you do. The noise complaints? 100% worth the unforgettable nights.”
The team go on to detail that the official closing date is Tuesday, 30 September, reiterating that it is “business running as usual until then” and urging fans to “come down, grab your last Rustik fix, and raise a glass with us one final time.”
Signing off with an emotional farewell, they add: “Lastly, a message close to our hearts: please support your local cafes, bars, and independents. Hospitality is tough right now, and they need your support more than ever.
“Thank you for the most incredible decade of our lives. It’s over and out from us.”
It goes without saying that we’re gutted to see Rustik go and know how much it meant not only to the Burton Road community, but also to the Didsbury community, Chorlton and many other Greater Manchester natives.
A ‘saucy’ new Korean fried chicken restaurant is opening in the Gay Village
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new Korean fried chicken restaurant and cocktail bar is set to open on Canal Street this week.
CLUK is promising some big deals and amazing giveaways to celebrate its launch in Manchester, including free food and prize draws.
The newcomer in the heart of the city will specialise in Korean-style crispy fried chicken, but also warming ramen bowls, and salt & pepper classics.
Signature dishes will include Korean cheese-powder fried chicken, and Cheese Volcano Chicken.
CLUK will also serve dishes like kimchi cheese loaded fries, salt & pepper chicken, and huge sharing platters.
You can customise your Korean fried chicken order by size, choosing between wings and boneless and picking a flavour out of honey garlic, sweet and spicy, honey mustard, and honey and sour.
They promise it’ll all be ‘saucy, crunchy, and seriously addictive’.
That’s all washed down with ice-cold beers and creative cocktails, like martinis, spritzes and sours.
CLUK is now open in the Gay Village in ManchesterA spread of CLUK dishesInside CLUK ManchesterFried chicken with Korean cheese powderInside CLUK Manchester
The CLUK team are hoping to create a fun late-night dining option for this buzzing corner of the city centre.
To celebrate its launch on Thursday 18 September, CLUK have announced a whole heap of promotions.
This includes free chicken bao for the first 50 guests to visit during the first five days.
Over the two week launch period, visitors can spin the wheel whenever you spend £12 – spend £24 and spin twice.
And there are big prizes available – the top prize is a £100 gift card or £50 cash, with other prizes including free drinks, food and a £3 voucher as a consolation prize.
Plus, anyone who buys a gift card and tops it up with £100 will receive a free beer or cider.
When those two weeks are up, CLUK will run a £1,000 prize draw.
Georgina Pellant -
13th August 2021 
