A new ethical whole-foods store specialising in loose, weigh-your-own items has opened up in Didsbury.
Weigh 2 Bee, situated on Wilmslow Road, sells a wide variety of products including many organic, vegan and gluten-free items.
The shop’s ethos is for customers to only buy what they need – inviting people to bring their own containers or use the fully biodegradable and compostable bags provided.
As well as stocking health foods, beans, pulses, pasta and rice, Weigh 2 Bee also sells a large selection of pick and mix, and American sweets for those with a sweet tooth.
The store is also happy to take requests if there is anything specific customers would like to see in stock.
Take your pick at Weigh 2 Bee / Image: FacebookWeigh 2 Bee lets customers ‘weigh as they go’ / Image: FacebookThe ethos of the store is sustainability / Image: Facebook
The shop’s owner, Dean Evans, 38 has wanted to open a ‘weigh as you go’ shop for many years due to his dislike of having to buy things in such large amounts at supermarkets, which he feels is wasteful and un-environmentally friendly.
“I’ve been waiting for the right place to open up and I think our spot in Didsbury fits in perfectly with the community and the array of individual stores,” said Dean.
Dean’s inspiration is his mum Lynne, who for several years has run a similar shop called The Weigh Out in Barmouth, Wales.
The Weigh Out has been hugely successful and was even voted one of the top 100 shops in the world by Retail Week Magazine along with the likes of New York’s Bloomingdales, and the famous ‘La Boqueria’ Market in Barcelona.
Dean is keen to follow in his mother’s footsteps.
“I was inspired by how well loved my mum’s shop was and wanted to expand the family business to Manchester, and bring this brilliant offering to the people of Didsbury, and surrounding areas.”
For a taster of some of Weigh 2 Bee’s products, check out their Instagram.
Featured image: Weigh 2 Bee
Food & Drink
Drake-backed fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
The huge LA-based fried chicken brand backed by Drake is heading to Manchester for the very first time this summer.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to open in the Printworks this August – the first UK branch outside of London and Birmingham.
The cult chicken brand has said that its new venue will feature an ‘industrial design inspired by Manchester’s rave scene’ (if we had a pound every time a new venue used that design style, we’d be as rich as Drake…).
Dave’s Hot Chicken is famed for its signature Nashville-style hot chicken, which is served in seven different spice levels from No Spice to Reaper.
Expect sliders, tenders, ‘next-level’ top-loaded shakes and slushes.
It’s grown so quickly that in 2021, it caught the eye of none other than rapper Drake, who is a ‘significant investor’ in the brand.
The fried chicken spot will be moving into the large corner unit at Printworks, which has previously been Busaba Thai, and Floripa, with 139 covers.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming to Manchester
Inside, it will feature towering ceilings, exposed steelwork, and laser lights, claiming to be a ‘full-on sensory trip, where music, light and fried chicken will come together to create a high-voltage experience’.
There will also be custom graffiti inspired by L.A.-based street artists Splatterhaus and Dehm.
Dave’s Hot Chicken still has hour-long queues down in London, several months after opening on Shaftesbury Avenue – next up will be a Birmingham branch in July before Manchester opens later this summer.
And this is just the start of a nationwide expansion.
Jim Attwood, Managing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK, said: “Printworks Manchester is the ideal setting for our next UK site – right at the heart of one of the country’s most exciting cities.
“The new restaurant pays homage to Manchester’s legendary warehouse rave scene, with an industrial-inspired design and bold, high-energy atmosphere to match our signature flavours.
“We can’t wait to bring something fresh to this iconic venue and its vibrant mix of entertainment, food and culture.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken will open at Printworks Manchester on 8 August.
Burger King is giving away FREE vegan burgers to meat lovers to prove how ‘tasty’ they are
Emily Sergeant
Reckon you could swap out meat for a vegan alternative?
Now we know there’ll be droves of meat-lovers who read that question with their noses turned up, immediately dismissing the possibility that it would ever be something they’d consider… but what if we told you it was free?
That’s right – Burger King has announced that for the next week or so, it’ll be delivering its delicious Vegan Royale burgers to meat-loving customers for free, all with the aim of giving them a chance to experience just how tasty and satisfying plant-based foods can be, and prove that they won’t miss out by giving it a go.
The Vegan Royale is Burger King’s take on its legendary Chicken Royale burger, and sees a crispy vegan patty – that’s meant to be an alternative to chicken – topped with iceberg lettuce, vegan mayo, and crowned with a toasted sesame seed bun.
Burger King is giving away free vegan burgers to meat lovers to prove how ‘tasty’ they are / Credit: Burger King UK
The fast food chain‘s campaign is in partnership with The Vegetarian Butcher, and comes as shocking new research has revealed that more than 40% of meat eaters admit to having never tasted a plant-based burger.
On the other hand, that same research also found that the UK appears to eb embracing plant-based foods more than ever, as nearly 60% of the population say that are open to trying it.
67% of those who once thought plant-based food wasn’t for them say a great meat alternative burger was what changed their mind – so maybe this is what the Vegan Royale can be for you, if you’re willing to give it a chance.
So, to give hungry customers a taste of what the fuss is all about, Burger King will be offering anyone who orders on UberEats or Just Eat, with a minimum spend of £20, a Vegan Royale burger for free of charge along with the rest of their order.
Olivia Stringer -
7th May 2021 
