Eats

New ‘Trapbox’ restaurant in Manchester will serve waffles, chicken and seafood

202 Kitchen launched in the Midlands earlier this year and is set to cut the ribbon for its second branch on Bridge Street, Manchester on Friday 21 August.

The Manc The Manc - 7th August 2020

A brand new ‘trapbox’ bar and restaurant concept, 202 Kitchen, has announced it will open in Manchester later this month.

202 Kitchen launched in the Midlands earlier this year and is set to cut the ribbon for its second branch on Bridge Street on Friday 21 August.

Sporting a bright pink backdrop, the venue will focus on serving ‘trapbox’-style cuisine – including mac’n’cheese, waffles, fried chicken, burgers, and grilled seafood dishes all tucked inside a box.

Trapbox has become an increasingly popular cooking trend in 2020, having bubbled up through social media and gaining national attention on the BBC’s Million Pound Menu show.

Alongside their trapbox grub, 202 Kitchen is also promising an extensive cocktail and drinks menu featuring a long list of wines, beers and spirits. 

ADVERTISEMENT

All food and drink will be served in an enclosed space under cover whilst adhering to COVID-secure guidelines, creating a ‘comfortable and safe environment for guests to socialise responsibly.’

202 Kitchen will officially open on Bridge Street, Manchester, on Friday 21 August. 

ADVERTISEMENT

For more information you can visit their official website here.

The restaurant is currently taking bookings ahead of their official launch later in the month.

Follow 202 Kitchen on Instagram.

Check out The Manc Eats for all the latest updates on great grub around the city.

Eats

Northern Quarter favourite Pie and Ale has sadly closed down

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pie and Ale Manchester closed down

Beloved Northern Quarter eatery and pub Pie and Ale has sadly and quietly closed its doors this week in yet another gutting bit of news for the Manc hospitality sector.

Known for its legendary homemade pies, great selections of ales, craft beers and lagers, not to mention a great little pub when it comes to watching live sport, it’s long been considered an NQ institution.

Unfortunately, however, as confirmed by a sign posted in the window, Pie and Ale has now closed for business after more than a decade.

Safe to say, we’re absolutely gutted, as we’re sure everyone else is.

Credit: The Manc Eats

While no official announcement has been made on their social media as yet, which will no doubt receive love and sadness from its loyal following, the sign in the window simply reads: “Pie and Ale has unfortunately ceased trading. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

The local favourite which was always hailed for being great value for money – celebrated especially for its popular pie and a pint for under a tenner deal – also served up great nibbles and light bites as well as dessert specials.

Although the Lever Street spot previously shut down for a short spell back in 2018 due to what they labelled as “unforeseen circumstances” before reopening just two months later, this latest update looks pretty definitive.

Sister-site Bakerie also ceased trading back in April 2019, with husband and wife founders, Alyson Doocey and David Cook, admitting that all independents had been “feeling the squeeze”.

Read more:

While we have few other details at this stage, it does look like Pie and Ale has indeed closed down for the foreseeable future.

A mainstay on our list of the best pies in Manchester since day dot and just the latest in the list of losses in 2024 so far, they will be sorely missed.

We sincerely hope this is like last time and will keep our fingers crossed that we see the pie pros and expert pourers back in business at some point.

RIP to an NQ icon.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Eats

Two Greater Manchester restaurants have been named in Time Out’s 15 best restaurants in the UK

Danny Jones Danny Jones Time Out name two Greater Manchester restaurants among the 15 best in the UK

Not one but two restaurants in Greater Manchester have been named on Time Out‘s list of the 15 best restaurants in the UK.

The highly regarded lifestyle magazine is always pumping out these rankings across the board and with decades of pedigree behind them, it goes without saying that people still take their recommendations very seriously – ourselves included.

So, when we saw that a pair of local food spots were named on the most recent round-up, flying the flag for Manchester’s thriving culinary scene, we were obviously buzzing.

But what two places have they picked out?…

Erst – Ancoats

Erst Manchester best restaurants in the UK Time Out
erst manchester reviews
Erst leads the Manchester front on Time Out‘s best restaurants in UK (Credit: The Manc Eats)

In at number three on Time Out‘s list of the best restaurants in Britain was the ever-impressive Erst, which we can confidently vouch for serving up some of the best food in the city centre just off Cutting Room Square for over half a decade now.

It’s one of those places that feels like it should have a Michelin star even if doesn’t have one right now, building a glowing reputation around two core pillars: incredible natural wine and stunning small plates.

Genuinely not that expensive considering the sheer level of quality on show, the magazine writers Leonie Cooper and Lucas Oakeley spotlight offerings such as the Cantabrian anchovies that are “excellently sourced and devilishly salty” as well as “inventive plates” like the mussels in escabeche with Marinda tomatoes, lardo and sourdough. Hard agree.

Where The Light Gets In – Stockport

where the light gets in menu
michelin star restaurant stockport
Credit: Where The Light Gets In

Second up for Greater Manchester is going to annoy all those ‘it’s always been Cheshire’ die-hards but we’ll absolutely be claiming this one; it’s Where The Light Gets In tucked away on Rostron Brow, right near Stockport‘s historic market square.

Boasting a green star from Michelin and an incredible wine-pairing selection to compliment every course, this vegetable-driven dining experience is one of the very best we here The Manc Eats have ever enjoyed.

The menu changes every time you visit and the entire place feels like something special and bespoke. Time Out describes it as serving up “plates of food have nothing to hide and showcase the best ingredients from the farmers and fishermen that chef/owner Sam Buckley has spent years building an intimate relationship with”, summing it by adding, “Sustainability has never tasted so good”.

Read more:

We’re obviously biased but there are definitely a few more places around Greater Manchester that we’d throw in that for Time Out‘s list but, who knows, maybe they’ll make it on there next year?

Either way, we’re just happy to celebrate two absolutely top-tier eateries in two very distinct parts of the region – it’s not all just city centre spots and it never will be.

Are there any amazing Manc restaurants that you think should have made the list?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Where The Light Gets In

More Eats

City Centre

The quirkiest pubs in Manchester, from wonky buildings to 7am pints to BYO chippy teas

Mother Mac's, a historic pub in Manchester, has closed down

Eats

Iconic Manchester pub with a gruesome past has closed down – but there are new plans afoot

Manchester pizza legends Nell's confirm plans to take over former Croma site

Eats

Manchester pizza legends Nell’s confirm plans to take over former Croma site

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches