Stockport’s music-themed pie shop is moving into Manchester
The existing Stockport site will become fully dedicated to Notion, whilst Come Together will introduce a new all-day breakfast menu and Sunday roast list
Stockport lockdown favourite Ate Days A Week has announced plans to move its award-winning handmade pies and Wigan kebabs to Manchester this spring.
Known for its top tier pies, fresh fish and chips and gourmet sandwiches (not to mention its infamous Wigan kebabs), the music-themed eatery has made quite a name for itself with dishes like Don’t Look Back In Banger and (I Just) Died In Your Barm since launching in 2020.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the brand, which quickly went from being takeaway only to opening a bricks and mortar site in a former chippy on Vernon Street in Stockport.
Image: Ate Days A Week
Now, chef-owner Andy James is moving again, this time into the city centre, having secured a site just off Albert Square to open Ate Days A Week under a new name, Come Together, continuing the Manchester music theme.
As part of the move, he’ll be expanding his menu to include all-day breakfast options and Sunday roasts on the weekend – as well as delivering the dishes for which Ate Days is already known and loved.
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That means the likely return of its three cheese and bone marrow burger sandwich, Live Forcheddar, and perhaps even 2021 British Pie Award winner Pie of the Tiger.
Ate Days A Week’s breakfast pie Bake me up before you Go-Go, stuffed with Olde English sausages, bacon beans, mature cheddar cheese and a homemade hash brown inside shortcrust and puff pastries. / Image: Ate Days A Week
Sharing the news to social media this week, Andy warned followers they were facing their last chance to get pies at the Stockport site. He said: “I think now is the right time to tell you that today is your last chance to get our incredible Award-Winning pies from our Stockport site so, we will be running limited numbers on the menu items today and we will not be on UberEats.”
Explaining that the Stockport site will ‘fully become Notion’, he added, “this wasn’t an easy decision to make but the way the last year has panned out it just makes sense”.
Stating that he wanted to “move Ate Days A Week to a site that allows us to continue to push on with what we do, get bigger and better and fully flourish” he acknowledged that “location will play a vital part” whilst hinting that followers should head over to @cometogethermcr to find out more.
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Image: Ate Days A Week
Ate Days A Week already sells an amazing breakfast pie (Bake Me Up Before You Go Go), which comes stuffed with Olde English sausages, bacon beans, mature cheddar cheese and a homemade hash brown inside shortcrust and puff pastries.
Image: Ate Days A Week
Now, though, chef Andy is looking to build on that with the creation of a new all-day breakfast menu in Manchester at Come Together.
Glimpses teased out on Instagram already have us very excited, showing an epic-looking fry up laden with all the essentials: fried egg, crispy bacon, fat sausages, beans, tomatoes, black pudding and homemade hash browns.
We can’t wait to see what else he comes up with. To keep up to date with further developments ahead of the spring 2022 opening, make sure to follow @cometogethermcr on Instagram.
A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
The Salmon of Knowledge pub is opening a second site in Didsbury
Danny Jones
A recent addition to the Manchester hospitality scene is building on its early success and opening up another Irish bar over in Didsbury.
Northern Quarter’s Salmon of Knowledge, which launched back in September 2024, is one of countless Irish pubs across Greater Manchester but only a handful in the vibrant district.
Having taken over the much-loved old PLY site – which sadly closed its doors last summer – they had a job on their hands to reach the same heights as the legendary late-night pizza and shuffleboard joint, but these first few months have clearly gone well enough to expand.
The increasingly popular watering hole which is one of the few places around here where you can get Murphy’s (at least in the city centre) is much more than just an Irish-themed venue: it delivers regular live music, sports on the box and great food from local brand, The Last Stop – and Didsbury is up next.
Irish favourite The Salmon of Knowledge’s sister bar comes to Didsbury later this year. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
The caption goes on to read: “Big news, Didsbury. You called and we answered. The Salmon of Knowledge is swimming upstream to bring our second site to YOU very soon!
“By popular demand, we are expanding to the suburbs, so get ready for live music, great food, live sports, and gallons of Guinness. You heard it here first… stay tuned!”
As well as a wide variety of beverages beyond the obviously stunning stouts, fans will be glad to hear the Salmon will be bringing The Last Stop’s talents with them.
From the aesthetic, prices and drinks selection to the reliable New York influences on the Heaton Chapel-based vendor’s menu, we’ve been pretty big fans of this place since minute one.
Manchester, pay attention: The Salmon of Knowledge has some wisdom to bestow upon you — mainly how to pour a proper Guinness and have a grand auld time. 🇮🇪☘️
Although they are yet to give any more information as to when we can expect The Salmon of Knowledge Didsbury to open at present, we do have an indication of where it will be popping up.
It has now been confirmed that they will be taking over the former Dockyard pub (which still has locations in Salford Quays and Spinningfields), meaning that it will sit in the heart of the busy Didsbury Village strip, which should prove great for footfall.
Just like the Stevenson Square spot, live music and sports will accompany Didsbury’s new Irish bar as well and if the phrase ‘gallons of Guinness’ doesn’t get you excited, we don’t know what will.
Georgina Pellant -
14th January 2022 
