Sometimes it feels like there’s so much emphasis put on restaurants that are new that we forget to appreciate the golden oldies that have been sitting under our noses for decades.
Family-run Greek Cypriot restaurant Rozafa is definitely a restaurant worth noticing, in fact, it’s an absolute must if you want a great Mediterranean scran in the city centre.
A hidden gem sitting in plain sight, this long-standing Manchester staple has been a fixture on the old Brasserie St Pierre patch for well over a decade.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
With a cracking early doors offer and a sun trap outdoor terrace it’s the perfect spot for a midweek city centre lunch – especially when the weather is this good.
Rozafa’s owners also have another site in Stockport which has been open even longer, but today we’re focusing on the Princess Street restaurant, which just so happens to be dangerously close to The Manc office.
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Found just opposite the town hall, it always looks beautiful in the mid-morning sunshine – its white and blue terrace filled with dressed tables, waiting for hungry office workers to plonk themselves down and put them to good use.
Serving up huge mezze platters, stuffed vine leaves and whole shanks of lamb stifado, cooked slowly for hours until the meat just falls off the bone, Rozafa has been a go-to for foodies in the know for well over a decade,
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
The menu here is extensive, covering both Greek and Cypriot dishes with a host of colourful, heart-healthy options.
If you’re planing a visit, you can expect to find everything from mincemeat stuffed vine leaves and homemade keftedakia (meatballs), to charcoal-grilled Cypriot pork with melted halloumi and several different styles of saganaki.
Elsewhere, you’ll find the likes of grilled sardines and octopus on its fish menu, alongside some hearty favourites like moussaka and souvlaki.
Keen to give it a go, we went in: ordering a whole grilled seabass, hot pitta bread and tzatziki, a fresh Greek salad of feta, olive and tomato, steaming lamb stifado, calamari and loukaniko (Cypriot pork sausages) marinated in wine then grilled. And we still wanted to order more.
Read more:Zumuku Sushi, Ply pizza and ‘native beef’ steakhouse Tallow to open at New Century food hall
There’s so much on offer you’re definitely spoilt for choice. One visit probably just isn’t enough, if we’re being honest.
Feature image. – The Manc Eats
Manchester
Celebrity chef James Martin closes Manchester restaurant after more than a decade
Daisy Jackson
James Martin Manchester has closed its doors, bringing an end to the chef’s decade-long restaurant partnership with casino Manchester235.
Metropolitan Gaming announced on 1 October that its partnership with James Martin and his team had concluded, with the restaurant operation at the city centre venue ending on the same day.
The partnership dates back to 2012, meaning James Martin Manchester had been part of the Manchester235 experience for more than 14 years.
During that time, the restaurant became an established part of the venue’s food and drink offering, with Metropolitan Gaming describing the collaboration as ‘successful and valued’.
The company also credited James Martin and his team with contributing to Manchester’s wider food and dining scene, as well as providing high-quality dining for Manchester235 guests.
Maxine Gibbons, Venue Director at Manchester235, thanked the chef and his team for their contribution to the venue.
She said: “Our partnership with James Martin and his team has been an important part of Manchester235’s story since 2012.
“We would like to thank James and everyone who has been part of the James Martin Manchester team over the years for their commitment, hard work and the memorable experiences they have created for our guests.”
Gibbons added that the team had made a ‘significant contribution’ to Manchester235’s food and beverage experience and wished James Martin and his colleagues ‘every success for the future’.
The closure will not result in affected employees losing their jobs, with Metropolitan Gaming confirming that any employees impacted by the restaurant’s closure have been retained within the business.
Customers with existing restaurant reservations will also be contacted directly by Manchester235 regarding cancellations.
The Good Clothes Show returns to Manchester next month for a weekend of ‘fashion, shopping, and creativity’
Emily Sergeant
A weekend of ‘fashion, shopping, and creativity’ is returning to Manchester next month.
Taking over Manchester Central in early November, The Good Clothes Show is set to make a return to our city for one of the most fashionable weekends of the year, and will bring together dozens of brilliant independent brands, vintage and pre-loved treasures, hands-on workshops, catwalks, expert talks, and more all under one roof.
Visitors can expect an extensive shopping lineup of independent fashion brands, local artisans, contemporary labels, vintage specialists and pre-loved sellers.
At the heart of the weekend is a huge programme of opportunities to ‘learn, make, mend, and transform.’
The Good Clothes Show returns to Manchester next month / Credit: Supplied
You’ll get to try everything from darning, sashiko, and crochet, to creating makeup bags, transforming shirts, and upcycling football tops. Or if you fancy something completely different, there’ll be a chance to make a fascinator from scrap materials, create a statement necklace, or give tired old shoes a spectacular new lease of life.
No matter whether you’re a complete beginner or already quite handy with a sewing needle, organisers say The Good Clothes Show it’s all about learning new skills and leaving inspired.
And this year, TV star Leigh Francis is joining the fun as the show’s special guest for the weekend too.
Get ready for a weekend of ‘fashion, shopping, and creativity’ / Credit: Supplied
There’s plenty happening beyond the shopping and workshops, as you can take a seat beside The Good Catwalk, get ideas and advice at The Style Stop, hear from fashion voices and changemakers, or simply stop for a glass of sparkling and compare shopping finds.
And it’s not just about the grown-ups either, as The Kids Club will encourage the next generation to discover design, textiles, and creativity through hands-on activities of their own.
Georgina Pellant -
10th August 2022 
