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
2024 Manchester Marathon raises £29 million for local economy and over £3.7m for charity
Danny Jones
Just under a fortnight on from the 2024 Manchester Marathon and the numbers are finally, with the annual race generating nearly £30 million for the local economy and raising over £3.7m for charity.
This year’s Adidas Manchester Marathon saw record numbers of runners and spectators as over 30,000 took part in the popular race, up by roughly 6,000 from 2023, and more than 125k turned up to line the streets of Greater Manchester.
As a result, these huge crowds spent upwards of £29.2 million at business around the city centre and around the 10 boroughs last weekend, serving as one of the most significant contributions to the local economy on the annual calendar.
Not only was this an approximately £8m increase on last year’s tally but, most importantly, a sizeable chunk of that went straight into both regional and national charities.
The 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon was a spectacular day for the city and its economy.
Beyond the boost to local vendors, the hospitality sector and retail businesses, over £3.7 million were allocated to charities such as Alzheimer’s Charity, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and The Christie.
Over £32,000 was also raised for the Trafford Active Fund, with £1 from every paid entry to the Adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half donated directly to the initiative that benefits local sports clubs and organisations through Trafford Council.
Better still, with City of Trees selected as the chosen ‘Green Runner’ charity, the eco-friendly drive saw roughly 7% of participants opt out of receiving either a finisher t-shirt, medal or both.
The money saved in production goes towards maintaining woodlands and wildlife across Greater Manchester.
Together you have raised over £3.7 million for charitable causes, adding even more meaning to those 26.2 miles 💕 Well done and thank you to all those who fundraised and donated! 🌟Tag us in those charity top pictures from last weekend 😍😍#ManchesterMarathonpic.twitter.com/5gsi6NtFzB
This year’s Manchester Marathon also helped produce some of the highest number of passengers on public transport in the city’s history, with a over 175,000 journeys made on Metrolink alone – the highest number of journeys ever recorded on a single day.
This was a 20% increaseon 2023’s race day (145k), spotlighting how the event continues to be more environmentally conscious as years go by.
With the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon confirmed to be taking place on Sunday, 27 April next year – and over 12,000 places already sold – the city can already look forward to reaping the economic and social benefits of hosting one of Europe’s largest, flattest, friendliest and most-loved marathons.
Featured Images — Adidas Manchester Marathon/The Manc Group
Manchester
Manchester firefighter surprises partner with proposal during new recruits parade
Danny Jones
We’re a sucker for a wholesome little video as we know you are, which is exactly why we thought of you lot when we came across this video of a newly graduated Manchester firefighter surprising his partner with a heartwarming proposal.
Just the kind of heartwarming that usually sets us off after a long week at work.
The clip shared by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) on Thursday, 25 April, shows Manc fireman James popping the question to his girlfriend sat unassumingly in the audience at a recent passing out ceremony.
Pass out ceremonies are when trainees go from recruits to fully qualified firefighters after completing their intensive operational training. It’s a long-standing tradition in the emergency services where friends and family gather to celebrate their achievements – it’s almost like it’s the perfect opportunity…
Watch as a Manc firefighter turns his passing out ceremony into a surprise proposal.
As you can see, since the graduates are usually the centre of attention, James couldn’t help but size his moment and instead of walking and lining up normally like everyone else, he decided to head straight over to his wife-to-be and get down on one knee.
You already know the rest.
Welling up immediately and barely able to remove her hands from her face, Melissa nods and says yes as the crowd cheers and the pair share a smooch.
Writing on social media, the GMFRS said: “We managed to capture a VERY special moment at our new recruits pass out parade today… Congratulations to James and Melissa!”, adding, “Certainly one way to start your new career”.
If we don’t see all the groomsmen dressed as firefighters on a random viral video sometime soon we’re going to be gutted.
All the best to the happy couple and if you’ve got any more lovely clips like this to send in so we can make ourselves cry (in a good way), you know what to do.
Georgina Pellant -
19th June 2023 
