Manchester

Popular Thai street food restaurant Zaap Thai is finally coming to Manchester

LOVE this place.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 29th April 2025

A Thai street food restaurant with sites all over the North has finally announced plans to come to Manchester for the first time.

Zaap Thai is famed for its authentic and affordable street food-inspired menu, served up in restaurants designed to mimic the bustling street food markets of Bangkok.

Expect colourful fairy lights, illuminated signs, graffiti art, enamel crockery and even seating booths built into tuk tuks.

Zaap Thai already has locations in cities including Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham and Durham, but hasn’t made it into the North West before now.

It’s now set to open on Lincoln Square – where you’ll already find Maray – this June.

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This new Zaap Thai location is set to be one its biggest venues to date, with 160 covers.

The expansive menu features 80 dishes from across Thailand, from street food small plates to big bowls of noodles and fiery curries.

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Their menu highlights include chicken satay, crispy pork belly, stir-fries like Pad Ga Prao, and sweet dishes such as mango sticky rice and pandan custard pancakes.

That’s alongside Thai-inspired cocktails and mocktails, plus Thai lagers like Singha.

Zaap Thai is coming to Manchester
Zaap Thai is coming to Manchester
Food at Zaap Thai
Food at Zaap Thai

Ban Kaewkraikhot, founder and executive chef at Zaap said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing Zaap Thai to Manchester. 

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“This is a city with a rich and diverse hospitality scene, and we’re delighted to be joining that fantastic community.

“Our mission is to share our authentic flavours of native Thailand with the city – we want to transport guests to sunny South East Asia by providing an amazing and affordable menu where you can try something new each time.

“Our restaurant is inspired by the places we love back home and everyone is welcome. We can’t wait to bring the Zaap experience to Manchester!”

Zaap Thai Manchester will open on Lincoln Square in June 2025.

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Featured image: Supplied

Manchester

Manchester Gogglebox favourites the Malones announce the heartbreaking death of family dog

Danny Jones Danny Jones Malone family dog Bob dies

Beloved Manchester-born and bred Gogglebox mainstays, the Malones, have announced the sad passing of another one of their family dogs, Bob.

The Rottweiler, who regularly appeared sitting on the sofa next to the ever-amusing Manc lineup.

As well as the Stretford-based Channel 4 stars themselves, viewers up and down the country have been saddened by the news.

Grieving in her own post, mother Julie wrote, “We are heartbroken, RIP our beautiful Big Bob”, while youngest son Shaun shared a number of moving images of the precious pup, including a personal favourite clip from one of his cameos.

Writing in the caption, the 30-year-old said, “Today is the day we had to say goodbye to big Bob, absolute great dog like a big cuddly bear.”

Countless followers have since shared their condolences on social media, with several commenting, “run free over the rainbow”, while another user simply added, “Playing with Dave.” 

For anyone not clued up on the show, Dave was another equally popular Rotweiller who unfortunately died back in 2023 at 12 and a half years old.

Even casual viewers will likely have seen the famous clip of him playfully mauling dad Tom Malone Sr. whilst wearing a dog mask. Speaking at the time, the family said: “There are no words to describe the pain we are feeling or how much we loved you, Dave.”

Dave wasn’t even the first pup to pass away either, as before that came female duo, Lucy (2022) and Izzey (2021) moved on to their ‘forever home in the sky’ in recent years.

As for Tom Malone Jr., who left the show in 2021, he also shared a simple but heartfelt post paying tribute to “good boy Bob.”

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The Malones did adopt another dog named Tilly just three years ago, so there’ll still be a familiar and friendly Rottweiler face on your screens in future episodes of Gogglebox.

It’s never easy losing a pet, especially when it’s not your first.

Our thoughts are with the Malone family and, last but not least, rest in peace, Bob – we hope there are unlimited treats, walks and cuddles waiting for you.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Channel 4/Shaun Malone (via Instagram)

Manchester

Pizza Pilgrims is finally coming to Manchester with a bold new Neapolitan pizzeria

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Pizza Pilgrims is coming to Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

One of the UK’s fastest-growing pizza restaurant groups (nope, not Rudy’s) is finally set to touch down in Manchester.

Signs have appeared on Deansgate for the city’s first Pizza Pilgrims site, taking over the now-closed tapas restaurant La Vina.

Pizza Pilgrims has been operating since 2011, and now has 25 restaurants right across the UK – but hasn’t made it to Manchester until now.

Their restaurants are famed for their colourful and maximalist interiors, with Italian-inspired decor dripping off every surface.

Expect checkered tablecloths, giant lemons hanging from the ceiling, retro posters, colourful shutters and even washing lines hung with Italian football shirts.

At their site in Leeds, which opened in 2023, there’s even a giant pink flamingo pedalo that’s been turned into a self-serve gelato stand for customers to create their own sweet treats.

On the menus, Pizza Pilgrims is all about double-fermented dough bases, cooked at 500 ̊C to give a light, chewy and charred crust, just like in Naples.

Highlights from their menus include an eight-cheese pizza, a carbonara-inspired pizza, and the ‘You’ve Got Maiale’, topped with nduja, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and a balsamic glaze.

They also serve irresistible fried cacio e pepe balls, stuffed with spaghetti, pecorino cheese and black pepper.

Pizza Pilgrims will open on Deansgate in Manchester later this month – you can find out more and sign up for freebies when it launches HERE.

Featured image: The Manc Group

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