Bar manager

Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range

Danny Jones

We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’ for 2025.

Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.

The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.

If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.

@the.manc Move over Bovril, make way for Christmas dinner in a cup 😍 @stockportcountyfc #fyp #foryou #christmasdinner #stockportcounty #manchester #themanc ♬ original sound – ✰ Christmas sounds ✰

For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.

Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.

Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.

But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.

Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?

It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.

As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.

Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…

Read more:

• Manchester City opens brand-new shop at the Trafford Centre
• Popular street food market GRUB is back and taking over MediaCity docks this Christmas
• Oasis and adidas drop yet more new merch in the Live ’25 collection

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Featured Images — Stockport County FC (supplied)

Joe & The Juice opens at the Trafford Centre as viral brand’s comeback continues

Daisy Jackson

Joe & The Juice has opened another new store in Manchester – this time at the Trafford Centre.

The juice and coffee brand used to be based in Debenhams in the city centre, but vanished from Greater Manchester when the department store folded.

But Joe & The Juice is going through a remarkable resurgence and has relaunched back into our city in a big way.

First there was a huge new store on Cross Street in the city centre; now, it’s a new site in the Trafford Centre; and soon, it’ll be another spot on Mosley Street.

Joe & The Juice opens today – Black Friday – in the shopping centre, with exclusive deals and giveaways from a spinning prize wheel all day.

Inside you’ll find their signature menu of juices, smoothies, health shots, coffees and matchas, plus its viral Scandi-inspired sandwiches like the Tunacado.

There’s also its first-ever Christmas sandwich – the Joe Ho Ho is a typically Joe & The Juice-style twist on a classic Turkey butty.

The new shop also has a new dedicated space for JOE app users, where you can pre-order and collect your purchase, skipping the queues.

Joe & The Juice will be open in the Upper Dome of the Trafford Centre from 8am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

Jon James, Joe & The Juice’s UK Managing Director, commented: “Manchester’s vibrant community is what makes it the perfect home for Joe & The Juice and the response the city has shown to our Cross Street opening said it all.

“We’ve grown fast across Manchester and can’t wait to bring even more people into the Joe experience as we open our Trafford Centre store this Black Friday, ready to fuel with our wide, functional offering.

“With further spots coming across the city next year, we’re only just getting warmed up.”

Read more

• Global sensation Eggslut is FINALLY coming to Manchester
• Inside The Head of Steam as huge new pub opens in Northern Quarter
• I went on a walking wine tour around Manchester and it might be the perfect afternoon out

Featured image: The Manc Group