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Sandwich Technician

AJ Handley-Rowe - 10th November 2021

Viral Manchester doughnut window serving ‘spaghetti ice cream’ to close down

Daisy Jackson

Viral Manchester doughnut window serving 'spaghetti ice cream' to close down

Baby Mayhem, a dessert hatch in Ancoats serving fluffy filled doughnuts, has announced it’s closed for good.

The brand shot to fame with its baked-fresh-daily treats, which customers could have topped with ‘spaghetti ice cream’ and cheesecake filling.

For a year and a half, they’ve had consistent queues for their doughnut ice cream sandwiches and coffees, and become one of the most viral traders in Greater Manchester.

But now Baby Mayhem’s doughnut window in Ancoats is closing for good, with its founder James Turner citing a rise in rent and ongoing building works among the reasons for its closure.

He said that it’s become ‘increasingly difficult’ to operate the site, with the wider building undergoing construction work, telling followers that he’s only been able to open seven days out of the last eight weeks.

He’s also said that there is a ‘proposed increased rent’ looming, forcing him to close the Ancoats hatch for good.

But it’s not the end of Baby Mayhem as a brand, with a unit outside the Etihad Stadium, pop-ups planned at the Joie stadium, another term at Manchester Metropolitan university, and more appearances around town.

He also dropped a hint at a certain Christmas Market…

James will close the Baby Mayhem doughnut window in Ancoats

Baby Mayhem's fluffy doughnuts — James will close the Baby Mayhem doughnut window in Ancoats

In a statement, James said: “After an incredible year and a half, we’ve made the really difficult decision to close the Baby Mayhem hatch – for now.

“Over the past few months, ongoing building works have left much of the site under construction, making it increasingly difficult for us to operate consistently. We’ve only managed to open seven days in the last 8 weeks.

“The works have also had a huge impact on our kitchen, making it impossible to create our desserts to the standard we expect from Baby Mayhem. Alongside the disruption and proposed increased rent, continuing to operate from the hatch simply isn’t sustainable right now.

“But one thing is certain – this is not the end of Baby Mayhem.

“Over the last 18 months, we’ve been lucky enough to build a wonderful relationship with Manchester City FC and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of. That relationship continues to grow, with our unit outside the stadium, we will have pop ups at the Joie stadium for all the WSL home games, and also popping up at Kids Fanzone at every Manchester City home game.

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A post shared by Baby Mayhem Doughnuts Manchester (@baby.mayhem.mcr)

“We’ll also be back at Man Met for another term of Baby Mayhem Burger, with more pop-ups around the city, a few festivals still to come and of course, we love a Christmas market.

“Sometimes in business you have to take one step back to take two steps forward.

“For now, the hatch is closing – but Baby Mayhem isn’t. To everyone who has supported us over the last year and a half, thank you.

“This isn’t goodbye. It’s ”we’ll see you soon”.”

Featured image: The Manc Group

Race Across The World star Jo Gardiner dies just one year after co-star son

Daisy Jackson

Jo Gardiner, from Manchester, starred on season two of Race Across The World

A Race Across The World star from Manchester has died just one year after her son and co-star tragically passed away.

Jo Gardiner, who starred on the hit BBC series back in 2020, died after a ‘long and courageous battle’ with cancer, her family has said.

The 61-year-old physiotherapist appeared on the second season of the travel competition, racing across Latin America with her son Sam Gardiner, who was just 19 at the time.

The pair became a fan favourite as they bonded over their travels, and Sam gained confidence to explore despite his ADHD.

Tragically, Sam passed away last May at the age of 24, following a vehicle collision in Gatley.

Paying tribute to Jo, Studio Lambert and the BBC described her as ‘the matriarch of the Race Across The World cast family’.

In the tribute, they also sent ‘deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie’.

Jo’s family shared in a statement: “She had a rare gift for making everyone around her feel more alive. She lived fully, fiercely and never did anything by halves.

“She was blessed with countless friends, drawn to her extraordinary magnetism. Somehow, each one felt as though they were among her very best.

“To us, she was more than all of these things. She was our family, our joy, our safe place and our absolute treasure.

“We know how deeply Jo was loved, and we take comfort in knowing that her laughter, her courage, her kindness and her wonderfully outrageous spirit will live on in the many people whose lives she touched.

“As we grieve, we ask for privacy, but we also ask everyone who knew and loved Jo to do exactly what she would have wanted: tell the funny stories, raise a glass, have an adventure, laugh loudly and live life to the full.”

Studio Lambert and the BBC shared: “On behalf of the Studio Lambert production team, the BBC and the whole Race Across The World cast, we offer our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Jo’s son Charlie, and her wider family and friends.

pic.twitter.com/DKPedAtdjR
— Race Across The World (@RATW_official) August 24, 2026

“Following the tragic death of Jo’s son Sam last year, we paid tribute to how integral Sam and Jo had been to series two. Millions of people remembered their transformative journey across Latin America in 2020 and we hold that memory in our hearts as we fondly recall Jo’s passion for life, her kindness, her strength, and above all her utter devotion to Sam and her family.

“At the time of filming, Sam described his mum as amazing – and that is how we will always remember her.

“Jo became the matriarch of the Race Across the World cast family, she leaves a lasting legacy in the many lives that she touched, both through the series and beyond. It was a privilege to share her story and she will be deeply missed.”

Featured image: BBC