Over in Ancoats, there’s a charming little chocolate shop and cafe serving up homemade lollipops, outrageously indulgent drinks and delectable cakes in all shapes and sizes.
Called Cocoa Cabana, it has been a fixture in the trendy suburb since 2019, having already established itself down on West Didsbury’s Burton Road.
Still, whilst Manc locals and tourists alike know all about its viral Augustus Gloop hot chocolates far less are privy to the details of its hidden tapas menu – and that is a crying shame.
Served at the Ancoats site every Friday and Saturday night, the hidden Spanish menu on offer here is the brainchild of talented chef José Núñez.
Núñez launched his pop-up tapas restaurant Maricarmen inside the Ancoats cafe in May and is using its kitchen on Friday and Saturday evenings to cook up all manner of delicious morsels.
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Ranging from blackened and blistered Padron peppers to patatas bravas, Iberico meat and tortilla, fans of authentic tapas are well catered to here – as are foodies looking for more out-there dishes.
The menu also puts a twist on some classic European favourites, meaning you’ll also find the likes of truffled lasagne, plump garlic prawns drenched in olive oil with garlic and dried chillies, and cheese foam-topped potatoes on offer.
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Add in quails egg-topped croquettes filled with chistorra, the best Iberico pork cuts products, crunchy lasagne with boletus, and lagarto with cassava truffled puree, and it’s fair to say that this pop-up has to be one of Ancoats’ best kept secrets.
Plates are washed down with beautiful Spanish wines that have been painstakingly sourced by the team, with a variety of different Spanish cocktails also on offer.
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Promising to deliver an ‘unforgettable culinary experience’ in the city, Maricarmen ’s chef José Núñez told The Manc: “We are thrilled to bring an innovative twist on traditional Spanish wine and tapas experience to the wonderful city of Manchester.
“We aim to provide our customers with extraordinary quality dishes and wine that would leave a long lasting impression and bring them back for more.”
Featured image – The Manc Eats
Manchester
Parklife 2026 | all stage splits and stage times
Thomas Melia
One of Manchester’s biggest music festivals, Parklife, is back at Heaton Park and has just announced its stage splits for its 2026 line-up.
Parklife 2026 is just around the corner, and with some hefty headliners, it’s safe to say this year is looking absolutely stacked in terms of amazing music.
Get ready to immerse yourself in not one but two days soundtracked by some of the world’s best DJs, b2b sets, live performances and more.
This year’s a biggie too, as Scottish dance heavyweight Calvin Harris, Swedish sensation Zara Larsson, Bradford’s own Nia Archives, and London lad Skepta are just some names planning to win over the Heaton Park crowd.
So grab a paper and pen because it’s time to make a note of all the artists you’re interested in seeing and which stage they’re playing live, so you can make the most of your Parklife experience.
Parklife 2026 | Stage splits and stage times
Saturday 20 June
Skepta and Sammy Virji are headliners for Saturday 20 June at Parklife 2026 in Heaton Park / Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Alistair McVeigh (supplied)
G Stage
12pm – 1.30pm | Mya
1.30pm – 3pm | A For Alpha
3pm – 4.30pm | The Trip
4.30pm – 6pm | Kepler
6pm – 8pm | Locky b2b Phill De Janeiro b2b Benji King
8pm – 9.30pm | Locklead
9.30pm – 11pm | Jamback
Magic Sky
12pm – 1pm | North Base
1pm – 1.40pm | Catching Cairo
1.40pm – 2.30pm | Lens (w/ Dread)
2.30pm – 3.20pm | Born On Road (w/ Carasel)
3.20pm – 4.15pm | Kanine(w/ Rage)
4.15pm – 5.15pm | Wilkinson (w/ AD-APT)
5.15pm – 6.10pm | Bou (w/ B Live 247)
6.10pm – 7.10pm | Dimension
7.10pm – 8.15pm | Andy C (w/ Tonn Piper)
8.15pm – 9.10pm | Hedex (w/ Eksman)
9.10pm – 10.05pm | Mozey (w/ 2Shy)
10.05pm – 11pm | K Motionz (w/ IC3)
Matinée
12pm – 1pm | Niamh
1pm – 2pm | ATRIP
2pm – 3pm | MPH
3pm – 4pm | Oppidan
4pm – 5pm | Effy
5pm – 6.20pm | MALUGI b2b Sam Alfred
6.20pm – 7.40pm | Marlon Hoffstadt
7.40pm – 8.40pm | Morgan Seatree
8.40pm – 10pm | Mall Grab
10pm – 11pm | Daria Kolosova
Panorama
12pm – 1.15pm | Ellia Jaya
1.15pm – 2.30pm | Julian Fijma
2.30pm – 3.45pm | bullet tooth
3.45pm – 5pm | SOSA
5pm – 6.30pm | Cloonee
6.30pm – 8pm | ALISHA
8pm – 9.30pm | Rossi.
9.30pm – 11pm | East End Dubs
The Valley
12pm – 1pm | Rich Reason & Yami
1pm – 2pm | Alexandria
2pm – 3.30pm | Prospa
3.30pm – 5pm | Josh Baker
5.15pm – 6pm | 4am Kru
6.30pm – 7.30pm | Nia Archives
8pm – 9pm | Skepta
9.30pm – 10.45pm | Sammy Virji
Sunday 21 June
Zara Larsson and Calvin Harris are headliners for Parklife 2026 on Sunday 21 June at Heaton Park / Credit: Charlotte Rutherford / Press Shot (supplied)
G Stage
1pm – 1.50pm | Mattik b2b Larishka
1.50pm – 2.40pm | Shade V b2b Rich Reason
2.40pm – 3.40pm | Dismantle
3.40pm – 4.40pm | Douvelle19
4.40pm – 5.10pm | Window Kid
5.10pm – 6.10pm | Osmosis Jones
6.10pm – 7pm | Arthi
7pm – 8pm | Bushbaby
8pm – 9pm | BAKEY
9pm – 10pm | SHY FX
10pm – 11pm | RYOTA
Magic Sky
1pm – 2.10pm | Cam Stockman
2.10pm – 3.20pm | Olive F
3.20pm – 4.30pm | DXNBY
4.30pm – 5.40pm | Riordan
5.40pm – 6.50pm | Omar+
6.50pm – 8pm | Marsolo
8pm – 9.30pm | L.P. Rhythm
9.30pm – 11pm | Obskür
Matinée
1pm – 2.15pm | 4000HZ
2.15pm – 3.30pm | Saidah
3.30pm – 4.45pm | Fumi
4.45pm – 6pm | Diffrent
6pm – 7.20pm | Faster Horses b2b Benwal
7.20pm – 8.20pm | ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U
8.20pm – 9.30pm | blk.
9.30pm – 11pm | AZYR
Panorama
1pm – 2pm | Minna
2pm – 3pm | Delilah
3pm – 4.10pm | Silva Bumpa
4.10pm – 5.20pm | Luuk Van Dijk
5.20pm – 6.30pm | Chloé Caillet
6.30pm – 8pm | Ewan McVicar
8pm – 9.30pm | KETTAMA
9.20pm – 11pm | Chris Stussy
The Valley
1pm – 2.15pm | Nicola Bear
2.15pm – 3.15pm | Mix-Stress
3.30pm – 4.15pm | Clementine Douglas
4.30pm – 5.30pm | Armand Van Helden
6pm – 6.45pm | Rudim3ntal
7.15pm – 8.15pm | Zara Larsson
9.15pm – 10.45pm | Calvin Harris
Parklife 2026 has delivered a stellar line-up once again, and if you’re after catching any of these artists live at Heaton Park later this year, you can grab a range of tickets.
Feel like Saturday is more your vibe? Check out the ticket option for just Saturday, 20 June HERE, or if Sunday sounds better for you, then grab a ticket or two for Sunday 21 June HERE.
And if one day just isn’t enough, how about a whole weekend? Enjoy two days of live music with tickets for Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June HERE.
Featured Images – Jody Hartley/Charlotte Rutherford /WikiCommons/Alistair McVeigh(supplied)
Manchester
The hillside farm in the Peak District making its own ice cream
Daisy Jackson
Did you know there’s a 300-year-old farm in the Peak District serving up some of the freshest ice cream you’ll ever taste? And yes, you can meet the cows that made it while you’re there.
Welcome to Hope Valley Ice Cream, a family-run gem where things are kept refreshingly simple: happy cows, proper farming, and seriously good ice cream.
Set in the heart of the Peak District countryside, this place is about as wholesome as it gets.
The ice cream is made on-site in the farmhouse, literally just metres from where the dairy herd are out grazing.
You can watch the animals, wander around the farm, and then tuck into a scoop or three perched on a milk pail stool, or a picnic bench (or even a decorative tractor).
Hope Valley Ice Cream has some amazing seasonal ice creams, like lemon curd, elderflower, and blackberry, alongside all the classics and a rather delicious tiramisu.
You can grab a cone, sit down with a coffee (again, made with milk from the nearby cows), or go all in with a freshly-made waffle if you’re feeling fancy.
Takeaway tubs from Hope Valley Ice CreamYou can get a mini pail of ice creamMeet the newborn calves at Hope Valley Ice CreamTuck into your ice cream on a milk pail stoolHope Valley Ice Cream
And if you’re the type who really loves ice cream? You can actually order a full pail of it, with four huge scoops plus whipped cream and sauce.
The farm itself is run by the Marsden family, who’ve been working this land for generations. It shows in everything – they’ve created a place that feels genuinely welcoming, not just another tourist stop.
Beyond the ice cream, you’ve got plenty of reasons to stick around. There are calves (including the newest tiny arrivals), plus donkeys and pigs to say hello to.
Whether you’re heading out on a hike or just fancy a drive into the Peaks, this is one pitstop that’s absolutely worth it – and honestly, it’s worth the trip on its own.
Georgina Pellant -
19th June 2023 
