Sugo Pasta Kitchen is hoping to crowdfund its way to its third restaurant, saying that the banks ‘aren’t keen’ to lend to indie restaurants in the Covid climate.
The renowned Italian restaurant already has sites in Altrincham and Ancoats.
Its third, in the regenerated Stanley Square in Sale, is due to open in the coming months.
The team behind Sugo have managed to cover most of the money needed to build the restaurant themselves.
But they say they’re £85,000 short and have ‘hit a funding brick wall’.
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Food at Sugo – it hopes to open a new restaurant in Sale soon. Credit: Sugo.
They hope that their Kickstarter campaign will help them to raise the remaining funds, with supporters able to make pledges in exchange for rewards.
The rewards include meals in the restaurants, unlimited pasta for a year, and private restaurant takeovers.
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At the time of writing, they have already raised more than £17,000 from around 200 backers.
Sugo posted: “For our sins, we decided at the beginning of 2021 that we’d love to open our third restaurant and back the regeneration project taking place at Stanley Square in Sale.
📣 WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET US OPEN IN SALE! 📣
We’re £85k short for our fit out in the new year. 💰
“Since we opened our original restaurant in Altrincham in 2015 and then Ancoats in 2018, we’ve often been asked to open in Sale!
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“The project in total costs £275k, and we’ve managed to cover £190k ourselves. But, unfortunately, the banks aren’t keen to lend to indie restaurants right now due to covid, so there’s no better time for us to launch our first ever crowdfund.
“We aren’t asking for something for nothing; essentially, you’re buying gift vouchers that you can redeem at any of our restaurants whenever you choose in 2022.
“So, if you like to visit us anyway, you’re paying for your next trip to us upfront so we can finish our fit-out. That’s all there is to it.
“Alternatively, it makes a superb Christmas present too!
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“Lastly, a massive thank-you to everyone who has been part of our journey thus far. We really couldn’t have done it without you.
“The best is definitely yet to come!”
Speaking to The Manc back in July, co-owner Michael De Martiis said: “In both Altrincham and Ancoats we came in at the beginning of a new food and drink revolution and we’ve got that same buzz with Stanley Square and Sale.
“We’re going to put our heart and soul into creating a Pasta Kitchen in the heart of Sale that will be cherished for generations to come.”
Featured image:Sugo
Food & Drink
Brilliant Saddleworth restaurant shares statement after devastating fire that brought village to a standstill
Daisy Jackson
A brilliant restaurant in Saddleworth has been left ‘badly damaged’ after a huge blaze ripped through it yesterday afternoon.
Hot Duck in Uppermill, a modern Chinese establishment tucked above a takeaway, said that the fire on Sunday 6 September has been ‘devastating’.
Both Hot Duck and Hei Hei, which share a building on the village’s high street, will be closed for the foreseeable future.
But in a statement, Hot Duck said they will ‘do everything we can to come back stronger’.
They reassured customers that everyone is safe following the blaze.
Six fire engines from across Greater Manchester scrambled to the fire yesterday, with High Street closed while emergency services attended.
Locals were asked to avoid the area on Sunday evening.
Hot Duck said in a statement: “Thank you to everyone who has reached out over the last 24 hours. As many of you know, our restaurant has suffered a devastating fire affecting our whole building.
Inside Hot Duck in Uppermill before the fireHot Duck’s incredible dim sum
“Thankfully, everyone is safe, and for that, we’re incredibly grateful. We are still processing what comes next.
“It’s heartbreaking to see something we’ve worked so hard on over the years so badly damaged.
“The kindness, messages, calls, and offers of help mean more than we can put into words. To our customers, friends, neighbors, suppliers, and the wider community, thank you. Your support has given us hope at a time we really needed it.
“For now, the restaurant will remain closed while we begin the long process of rebuilding. It won’t be easy, but we will do everything we can to come back stronger. We’ll keep you updated. We will be back.”
The Greater Manchester book café serving literary afternoon teas and build-your-own bouquets
Daisy Jackson
If you like your afternoon tea with a side of good books, there’s a Greater Manchester café where you can quite literally have your cake and read it too.
Tucked inside this charming bookish spot, afternoon tea arrives with an unexpected twist. Rather than being presented with the usual three-tiered stand, you’re handed a stack of heavy hardback books.
But don’t start worrying that you’ve accidentally wandered into a very niche library club. The books are hiding something.
Lift the covers in Peony & Parchment – or, more accurately, open the book-shaped boxes – and you’ll discover a full afternoon tea concealed inside.
There are dainty sandwiches to get stuck into, including tiny egg mayo, herby chicken salad, ham and mustard, and cheese and tomato focaccia, alongside a little quiche.
Then comes the scone – classic, fluffy and ready for the obligatory dollop of clotted cream and jam. And, because no afternoon tea should leave you feeling like you’ve been short-changed in the cake department, there are five miniature slices to work through.
Afternoon tea concealed in a stack of booksSome of the other bakes on display
There’s a Victoria sponge with a dreamy vanilla cream, lemon drizzle, rich chocolate cake, a Bakewell slice and a pecan pie, all sourced from a local bakery just across the alleyway.
It’s all served with a pot of tea or coffee, with the option to add a glass of prosecco.
And the bookish theme doesn’t stop at the afternoon tea.
Downstairs you’ll find shelves packed with books, including the intriguing ‘blind books’. Instead of judging a book by its cover, you’ll be given clues and a short summary of what lies inside before taking a gamble on your mystery read.
Downstairs in Peony & Parchment‘Blind books’A role playing village for kids
There’s also plenty here to keep younger visitors entertained, thanks to a children’s area complete with a mini role-playing village.
And if books and cake weren’t enough, there’s another string to this café’s bow.
The Bloom Bar lets you build your own bouquet. Choose the size you want, then wander around selecting your own stems and foliage to create something that’s uniquely yours.
You can build your own bouquetThe Bloom Bar at Peony & Parchment
Of course, you don’t have to be visiting specifically for the afternoon tea. The wider menu includes tapas, full breakfasts and sandwiches, making it just as suitable for a leisurely brunch, lunch or coffee-and-cake stop.
So whether you’re there to discover your next favourite novel, assemble a bouquet, entertain the kids or simply eat your way through five different miniature cakes, this is one café where there are plenty of chapters to explore.
Daisy Jackson -
14th December 2021 
