We all crave that chocolate taste every now and then.
Those with a sweet tooth will probably know that feeling all too well, but even for those who favour savoury or keep chocolate as a treat for special occasions, it’s hard to ignore cravings when they come.
For many, a hot chocolate is the perfect antidote to those cravings, especially when it’s a little on the chilly side out.
And right here in Greater Manchester, there’s plenty of independents whipping up some of the best hot chocolates you’ve ever seen, so if you find yourself in the city centre or a little further out this weekend and you’re looking to treat yourself, we’ve rounded up some of the best places that are #StillServingMCR and open for walk-ins to head on down to and grab yourself a takeaway hot chocolate.
There’s never been a more important time to support local.
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Pot Kettle Black
Barton Arcade
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While PKB may be known for it’s “Antipodean coffee culture with a Northern accent”, don’t count out the luxurious hot chocolates served from the Barton Arcade takeout hatch in the heart of the city centre – it couldn’t be easier to grab as you go.
Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BW
Thursday – Sunday: 10am – 3pm
You can find more information via the PKB website here.
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Grindsmith
Bridge Street & Media City
Another beloved Manchester independent that’s famed nationwide for its freshly-roasted coffee offering, but when it comes to hot chocolates, Grindsmith certainly know what they’re doing here too.
Both the Bridge Street and Media City sites are currently open for takeout.
62 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BW | Unit 5&6, The Garage, Media City UK, Salford, M50 2EQ
You can find more information via the Grindsmith website here.
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Michael’s Coffee House
Royal Exchange Arcade
Tucked away in the Royal Exchange Arcade, just off Cross Street in the heart of the city centre, Michael’s Coffee House may have coffee in its name, but there’s a selection of luxury, seasonal and customisable hot chocolates to choose from too.
Open daily for takeout, it couldn’t be easier to grab and go.
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Unit 20, Royal Exchange Arcade, Manchester, M2 7EA
Monday – Saturday: 9am – 8pm
Sunday: 10am – 6pm
You can find more information via the Michael’s Coffee House website here.
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Alex’s Bakery
Great Northern
One of Great Northern’s many hidden gems, Alex’s Bakery knows a thing or two about sweet treats and when it comes to hot chocolates, you can’t go wrong with a takeout cup topped full of whipped cream, marshmallows and more.
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There’s also plenty of cupcakes, brownies and cookies too, if you really fancy treating yourself.
Great Northern, 225 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: 11am – 5pm
You can find more information via the Alex’s Bakery website here.
A popular stop-off for Ancoats and Didsbury locals, artisan chocolatiers Cocoa Cabana is currently open for all your takeaway hot chocolate needs, and with over 12 varieties on the menu – everything from classic cocoa, to Kinder Bueno, Biscoff, peanut butter and more – you’ll be spoilt for choice.
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7 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6HS | 168 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 1LH
Wednesday – Sunday: 10am – 6pm
You can find more information via the Cocoa Cabana website here.
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Slattery
Whitefield
You only have to say the name Slattery to a Mancunian and you’ll hear rave reviews, because if anyone knows a thing or two about chocolate round these parts, it’s this Whitefield favourite, and now, Slattery’s famous Swiss-style hot chocolate – available in either milk or white chocolate, and with a range of chocolate toppings – is ready to takeaway.
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197 Bury New Road, Whitefield, Bury, M45 6GE
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am – 5pm
You can find more information via the Slattery website here.
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The Chocolate Cafe
Ramsbottom
If you’re looking for the best of the best, then you really can’t go wrong with a place that has chocolate in the name, as the award-winning The Chocolate Cafe chocolate café in Ramsbottom has a range of luxury hot chocolates to take away, topped with whipped cream, chocolate curls, marshmallows and chocolate sauce, or customisable with syrups and boozy shots.
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2 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HX
Thursday – Saturday: 10:30am – 4:30pm
You can find more information via The Chocolate Cafe website here.
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GK Tea Room
Salford
The extensive menu at this unique Salford tea room joined to an art gallery means you’ll never have to have the same drink twice, and when it comes to the takeaway hot chocolate offering, there’s the option to keep it simple, or go for the full works loaded with whipped cream and marshmallows.
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There’s even a vegan hot chocolate option available too.
They take the art of hot chocolate so seriously at this ever-popular independent Chorlton chocolatier, that you’re given the option to build your own perfect cup from scratch, by first choosing type of chocolate, all the way through to the speciality syrup shots and luxury toppings.
You can find more information via the Cocoa Tree website here.
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Grandpa Greene’s
Diggle
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How can a canal-side ice cream parlour in a little Oldham village serve up some of the best hot chocolates in the region?
Ice cream may be the speciality, but with a takeaway cups coming topped with whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate extras and even some jaw-dropping limited edition seasonal specialities, don’t knock the hot chocolates at Grandpa Greene’s until you’ve tried them.
Ward Lane, Diggle, Saddleworth, Oldham, OL3 5JT
Monday – Sunday: 9am – 5pm
You can find more information via the Grandpa Greene’s website here.
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Pure Cocoa Fine Chocolates
Hazel Grove
Before the world as we once knew it was flipped on its head, visitors to this popular Hazel Grove independent could watch the chocolatiers making a range of luxury chocolates on site while relaxing with a hot chocolate in the cafe.
While that may be on hold for now, Pure Cocoa is luckily still whipping up some of the finest hot chocolates to take away.
2A Commercial Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 4AA
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am – 4pm
You can find more information via the Pure Cocoa Fine Chocolates website here.
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Frederick’s
Wigan
Another ice cream parlour with a North West cult following, the Wigan branch of Frederick’s – tucked away in the Mesnes Park pavilion in the heart of the town centre – is also known as a pretty big deal when it comes to whipping up deluxe hot chocolates to takeaway too.
It really is the place to properly treat yourself.
The Pavilion on Mesnes Park, Mesnes Park, Wigan, WN1 1TU
Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 5:30pm
Saturday – Sunday: 9:30am – 5:30pm
You can find more information via the Frederick’s website here.
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Please adhere to COVID-19 guidelines and do not travel out of area.
For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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Food & Drink
Almost Famous announce they are closing their Withington restaurant in candid statement
Danny Jones
The unfortunate hospitality news just keeps coming, it seems, as Almost Famous have announced they will soon be closing their Withington restaurant.
A staple of the Manchester foodie scene for over a decade now and with a growing empire across the North, the ‘dirty burger’ pioneers aren’t just one of the most recognisable restaurant names in Greater Manchester, they’re tastemakers and have been for years.
However, unlike the OG site in the Northern Quarter which first began blowing burger fans away back in 2012, their Great Northern Warehouse venue or their locations in Leeds, Almost Famous‘ Withington site simply isn’t working.
In truth, their most recent restaurant and fifth all-told had been struggling for a while and it was only back in May that they were thanking customers for helping them ‘pull through’ a rough patch, but it seems they’ve sadly slumped back into being quiet and can no longer continue in this fashion.
Explaining in the lengthy and clearly emotional statement, beloved owner Beau Myers wrote: “Announcement (sad sh***y one, sorry).
Sorry to say we will be closing the Withington branch of Almost Famous. It’s not working, we’re not busy enough and it’s dragging us down.
“Really sorry to disappoint you guys, we’ve tried and we’ve pushed and you’ve been amazing for supporting us, this just isn’t the one. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up, admit you f****d up, learn from your mistakes limit the damage and move on.
“We got sucked in with perhaps the most beautiful site ever in the wrong location (for us). It really is/was my fav[ourite] famous and I’m gutted it’s closing, it looks the coolest, we had the staff party there this year. I wish some of the art wasn’t straight on the wall so we could take it with us.”
Almost Famous Withington will be closing after their final dinner service next weekend. (Credit: The Manc Group)
They go on to add: “We will be closing after service on Sunday 22nd (next weekend). Please come down and say goodbye and enjoy this beautiful place one last time before it goes forever. There will be drinks and tears and laughs.
Having visited the particular branch a few times ourselves not only in a work capacity but in our own personal time, we can confirm the Withington restaurant had a special charm to it and we’re also very sad to see it go.
It goes without saying that the comments were filled with support, with one person writing, “This is so sad I’m so sorry: you’ve tried really hard. Sad loss for Withington”, and another adding, “Always sad when a place with friendly staff, serving good food, good drinks and at a reasonable price doesn’t make it… onwards and upwards.”
RIP Almost Famous Withy — we hope you come back one day soon and we’re sure the whole team will bounce back stronger than ever no matter what comes next for the much-loved brand.
Cutting Room Square’s first-ever Indian restaurant set to take over former Rigatoni’s site this month
Danny Jones
Manchester foodies, strap in because it’s something big because a brand-new Indian restaurant is coming to the heart of Ancoatslater this month.
Indian Affair, the family-style restaurant that has already seen great success on Barlow Moor Road over in Chorlton, is now set to take over the former Rigatoni’s site (previously Sugo Pasta Kitchen and then Sud) which closed back in May.
Not only will this exciting new opening be Affair’s second location as their reputation around Greater Manchester grows but it will also be the first-ever Indian restaurant to pop up on the ever-bustling Cutting Room Square.
A real hotbed for good food in the city and culinary competition on its own, landing a lot on the square is no mean feat and if you’ve seen their food already, you’ll how exciting this is.
Owned by loving couple, Harshit and Natasha Chopra, the new Indian Affair venue is the first of its kind for the area, focusing on Indian small plates and thalis.
Their flagship restaurant in Chorlton only opened back in October 2022 but quickly became a hit with the locals and is sure to have the same success over in Ancoats – after all, as a city famous for the Curry Mile, it’s fair to say we’ve got a lot of love for the Indian cuisine.
Commenting on the announcement, Harshit said: “We always dreamed about opening a city centre restaurant. We’ve been totally blown away by the love for our Chorlton site and are extremely grateful to those who’ve visited and made it a success.
“As a family, we enjoy spending time in Ancoats, exploring the restaurants and Sunday markets. Cutting Room Square has a community like no other, we felt it was the perfect space for a modern Indian restaurant.”
With a menu inspired by the couple’s favourite flavours from home back in Delhi, every dish will be hand-selected by the husband and wife duo, with thalis options – a selection of smaller plates served on an Indian-style round platter – aiming to offer guests a bit of everything, be it vegan, veggie or carnivorous.
Indian Affair also encourages guests to dine family-style, prioritising socialising, sharing, and tasting a bit of everything on the table just as much as enjoying your own meal.
Credit: Indian Affair Chorlton (supplied)
Small plates range from £5-13, with favourites including chicken tikka samosa, spinach fritters drizzled with yoghurt, tamarind and mint chutney; chargrilled lamb chops, as well as tandoori king prawns in garlic and garam masala.
In addition to offering traditional Delhi-inspired offerings, the team has also curated dishes with more of a modern twist, including chicken and paneer bao and malai artichoke. Oh yeah, they’re clever these lot.
The menu also features classic biryanis, fluffy freshly cooked naans, parathas and rotis from the clay oven tandoor, alongside a wide selection of rice, salads and chutneys to choose from.
Better still: exclusive to the new Ancoats restaurant only, the team is also launching a new lunch menu featuring filled naan rolls, further contemporary Indian takes on loaded burgers and bao buns – all of which will be priced from £8.00 and served up with crispy masala wedges.
Sure to be a hit with the locals, for sit-in and takeaway, you’ll also be able to pick up a paneer tikka or lamb seekh rolled up inside one of those lovely garlic naans, packed with fresh onion salad, mint and coriander chutney. Hungry yet?
Or, if you fancy a proper good burger that’s a little bit different, the butter chicken burger is the passionate pair’s favourite new addition to the menu and not one to be missed. And to wash it all down, Cobra will be served on draft, met with wines, alcohol-free options and a great selection of cocktails.
Safe to say that just like co-owner Natasha, we’re very excited about this one. She added: “Our small plate concept has been a great success in Chorlton. We know the demographic in Ancoats enjoy sharing food whilst socialising, so we hope the menu will be popular.
“We’re excited to try out our new lunch menu with Indian twists on your favourite lunch classics. We’re looking forward to welcoming you all very soon.”
Indian Affair promises to showcase North Indian cuisine, inspired by Delhi’s diverse flavours and home-style cooking at its very best, whilst also reflecting both the traditional and modern sides of the city and their growing home here in Manchester.
Cutting Room Square’s newest arrival soft open on Monday, 16th September with bookings available from Friday, 20 September. See you there real soon, and we hope you’re in the mood for sharing – because we sure are.
Emily Sergeant -
18th March 2021 
