Turkey hanging kebabs, and pies topped with pigs in blankets are just some of the dishes on The Botanist’s new winter menu.
The Botanist may have been known for its imaginative food and drink creations for quite some time now, its new winter menu for 2023 is something else – with everything from indulgent sharing boards, oozy Camembert bread loaves, and mouthwatering twists on Christmas classics on the lineup to choose from.
Described as being “comfort food to indulge in as the winter chill creeps in”, The Botanist‘s new limited-edition seasonal menu has been expertly-crafted by the chain’s in-house chefs, with diners told to expect every dish to have been “created lovingly” from scratch.
So, what’s on the lineup for the festive season then?
The Botanist has launched its festive food and drink menu for the winter season / Credit: Supplied
Well for starters, there’s a whole melted camembert baked inside a sourdough loaf, with sweet onion marmalade and served with crispy garlic croutons to dip in.
For those feeling a little indecisive, there’s a new ‘Hot Board’ that comes with tater tot poutine, Cumberland scotch eggs, halloumi fries, salt and pepper chicken wings, and chicken katsu bites, as well as a vegan version with bang bang cauliflower, giant couscous, houmous with roasted chickpeas, vegan meatballs in marinara sauce, and crispy mushrooms.
But, of course, it wouldn’t be The Botanist without those famous hanging kebabs, right?
And thankfully, there’s a new seasonal special to get stuck into this year – with orange and cranberry glazed turkey, stuffing, and pigs in blankets, served with all the trimmings and a pot of gravy to drizzle down the kebab.
There’s turkey hanging kebabs, pies topped with pigs in blankets, and more / Credit: Supplied
Another showstopping main dish available right up until Christmas is the turkey ‘pie of the day’, which is topped with a giant pig in blanket, and served with mashed potato, cranberry sauce, crispy sage, and lashings of gravy on the side.
There’s also a new prawn linguine, a spicy coconut sweet potato pie, a sweet potato and goat’s cheese tart, butternut squash soup, chicken and liver brandy pate, and even a tear-and-share garlic fougasse bread.
Those with a sweet tooth haven’t been forgotten either, as the restaurant’s signature cookie dough has had a seasonal update too to create a new S’mores option that’s topped with toasted marshmallows and chocolate brownie chunks, and finished off with a biscuit crumb.
There’s also a Salted Caramel Pretzel version too that comes with a sticky and sweet butterscotch sauce, and lots of salted pretzel pieces.
“This time of year is all about celebration and enjoying good food with loved ones,” explained James Scott, who is the Executive Chef at The Botanist.
“With this menu we wanted to showcase a modern take on feel-good comfort food with festive flavours, offering our diners a seasonal update to the signature dishes they’ve come to know and love when visiting our restaurants.”
The Botanist’s new winter menu is now available to indulge in at all Greater Manchester locations, with dishes starting from £7.25 for starters, £13.95 for mains, and £5.25 for desserts.
Featured Image – Supplied
Food & Drink
Nostalgic ready-to-drink Breezer makes UK return after a decade
Daisy Jackson
An iconic ready-to-drink favourite has launched back into the UK – oh yes, Breezer is back.
First launched in the 1990s, Breezers – then pitched as an ‘alcopop’ – were a staple on dancefloors and at barbecues right across the UK.
And now Bacardi has decided to bring these delicious, fruity, easy-drinking bottles back to British shores.
There are three new flavours to try as Breezers return to your fridges – Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime, and Crisp Watermelon.
And Breezer launched back into Manchester last night with a suitably memorable party, turning a spot in the Northern Quarter into a corner shop.
The ‘local Cornerbop’ was stacked with your usual essentials, plus shelf after shelf of these colourful glass ready-to-drink bottles.
Inside the Breezer ‘Cornerbop’ corner shop in ManchesterBreezer is back, in three new flavours
The Breezer relaunch party saw Tarsza and Rennie Peters spinning nostalgic anthems with a modern twist at a pop-up party in a corner shop.
Steve Young, business unit director for Bacardi in the UK & Ireland, said: “We know there is a lot of love for Breezer in the UK, and we are confident a new generation of consumers will fall in love with the new Breezer.
“RTDs are booming, however, the Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages category could do with a bit more excitement. By bringing back Breezer we’re definitely putting the fruity taste into FAB.”
The iconic ready-to-drink classic is back – and better than ever.
£1.8m revamp of Ancoats pub The Shamrock is FINALLY set to begin
Daisy Jackson
At long last, work to revamp The Shamrock pub in Ancoats is about to begin – and they’re calling on locals to rename the historic boozer.
The Shamrock, on Bengal Street, was taken over by Joseph Holt brewery in 2019 but has been firmly sealed shut ever since, with the pandemic halting its revamp.
But now the family-owned brewery is ready to get to work on the pub, with a £1.8m revamp kicking off very soon.
The Shamrock, which dates back to 1808, will be transformed from an Irish pub into a Joseph Holt’s venue.
Back in the turn of the 19th century, it was a popular watering hole for the Irish and Italian communities who moved to the industrial neighbourhood.
Obviously, Ancoats has gone through some pretty major changes in the years since, and is now one of the city’s trendiest and foodiest suburbs, filled with flats, bars, coffee shops and more.
It’s because of this that the Joseph Holt team felt like The Shamrock was due a new name for its new chapter, and are asking the public to help rename the pub, with a shortlist of five names drawn up.
The options on the table for when the pub reopens include The Victoria Arms (as a nod to the flats and accommodation across the road); The Fleet (the name of a former neighbouring pub); and The Linen Arms, reflecting the city’s cotton trade.
The historic Ancoats pub The Shamrock will finally undergo a £1.8m revamp. Credit: Supplied
The other choices for the public to vote on are The Spinners Rest, after the mill workers who lived in historic Ancoats; and Queen Adelaide, after another former pub around the corner on the main Ancoats Road.
Richard Kershaw, CEO of Joseph Holt, said: “As a family business with deep roots in the area, our pubs are very much at the very heart of the communities where they are located.
“With the moving forward of long-awaited refurbishment of The Shamrock – and with it a new name – we wanted our customers to feel part of the journey.
“So we brainstormed names for the pub that would respect the past and the local area while also looking to the future. Now we’re letting the people who matter most to us, our customers, decide which one to use.”
You can place your vote on the new name for The Shamrock pub HERE. One participant who picks the winning name will receive free drinks vouchers.
Emily Sergeant -
27th November 2023 
