Manchester vegan restaurant Allotment has just been named one of the best in the world.
Appearing in the latest rankings release by global travel website Big 7 this week, the popular eatery – famed for its seaweed and banana blossom ‘fish and chips’ – is the only Manchester restaurant to make the list.
Ranking at number 28 in a list of the best 50 vegan places to eat around the world, Allotment is described by the guide as ‘a fantastic restaurant located in the heart of Manchester’ that stands out for its ‘use of fresh, locally-sourced ingredients’.
According to the guide, Allotment has an ‘extensive vegan menu’ with a good mix of the ‘extraordinary’ and ‘classic comfort food’ including a ‘must try’ Sunday roast with a vegan steak to rival the traditional roast.
Image: Allotment
Image: Allotment
On the Sunday menu, you’ll find a choice of mustard, maple and brown sugar glazed tofu steak or seasonal vegetable roast. Both options are priced at £17 and come served with rosemary roasties, parsnips and carrots, sauteed greens, crispy kale, red wine and fennel gravy, and sage pine nuts and quinoa stuffing balls.
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As for the main weekday menu, think jackfruit tacos, tofu laksa, tom yum soup and fennel risotto, bahn mi sandwiches and the aforementioned ‘fish and chips’, served with chunky chips, minted peas and homemade tartare.
There are also some eye-catching desserts, including a raspberry and chocolate tart, sticky toffee pudding and lemon and blueberry cheesecake.
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Elsewhere on the list, other UK restaurants to make the cut include Brighton’s Food For Friend (9) and London’s Vanilla Black (42) and Gaultier Soho (45).
Allotment’s famous ‘fish and chips’. / Image: Allotment
King Oyster Mushroom Scallops. / Image: The Allotment
Big 7 also, somewhat confusingly, ranks another Manchester restaurant Bistro 1847 which is now permanently closed at number 36. An early adopter of veggie and vegan-friendly cuisine since 2010, Bistro 1847 closed not once but twice – first in 2017, then again in 2019.
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Yet, the travel website continues to describe it as follows: ‘Bistro 1847 is a sophisticated vegan restaurant located in Manchester, UK, offering a refined dining experience that showcases the best of plant-based cuisine.
‘With a menu inspired by British and European flavours, Bistro 1847 offers a range of elegant dishes that are crafted with precision and creativity. From exquisite starters and main courses to decadent desserts, Bistro 1847 is a must-visit destination for those seeking a taste of vegan fine dining in Manchester.’
The list is created based on a mixture of editorial opinions, previous critic reviews, online customer reviews and presence, value for money, presentation, atmosphere and service, location and accessibility.
Manc born and bred rugby star Raffi Quirke is leaving Sale Sharks
Danny Jones
Manchester-born and bred rugby union star Raffi Quirke is leaving his boyhood club, Sale Sharks, this season.
The end of an era, but the beginning of a big new chapter for the youngster.
Still just 24, Raffi Quirke from Chorlton has been with Sale since he was a kid, coming through the youth system at Broughton Park before making his proper Sharks debut back in February 2021.
Just a few short years later, and Quirke – the number nine who became Sharks Academy graduate number 333 – has gone on to become a promising first team squad member with a bright future ahead of him. However, the next part of his career won’t be at the CorpAcq Stadium.
Since playing his first senior game as a 19-year-old, he’s gone on to make 31 starts from 80 appearances for the club, as well as earning a couple of caps for England.
Despite being more of an option off the bench during the current campaign, Quirke has shown great resilience in bouncing back from numerous injuries, including everything from a broken jaw and broken wrist to ruptured ligaments, among other problems.
Speaking about his pending departure, Raffi said: “This has been the hardest decision of my life so far because Sale is the club that I grew up supporting and dreaming of playing for.
“Playing here since I was 15 has been an amazing experience and a privilege that has shaped me as a player and a person, and I will be forever grateful to Alex [Sanderson], the owners, the coaches, the players and the supporters for truly believing in me.
“It goes without saying that I will give everything I have for the rest of the season to bring success to Sale.” He has also gone on to share a lengthier farewell statement.
"This has been the hardest decision of my life so far…"
Put simply, the still-developing scrum-half wants to search out new opportunities, adding: “I feel, for my rugby and personal development, that my story just needs a new challenge and a new setting.”
As for Sanderson, the Director of Rugby commented, “I’ve really enjoyed working with Raffi, and as a homegrown player who grew up supporting the club, we all would have loved for him to continue his career with us.
“He feels like he wants to try a new environment and a new challenge, and we respect his decision. He’ll leave with our blessing and thanks for everything that he’s given to the club while he’s been here.”
Manchester’s popular Winter Beer Festival is back this month and tickets are only £5
Emily Sergeant
Fancy sipping on a pint in cosy place? Hard to say no.
Once the hustle and bustle of the festive season dies down, there’s often not a great deal to look forward to in January. But luckily, Manchester has got you covered, as the now-legendary Winter Beer Festival is back by popular demand for 2026, moving from its original home at GRUB to its sister site of Fairfield Social Club.
Tickets are already on sale, if you’re keen to kick off your new year with a pint or two.
The social hub is known for hosting a wide range of cultural events and rotating food and drink vendor pop-ups all year round, but this month is perfect excuse to pay a visit, as this year’s Winter Beer Festival will take place across three days.
The Winter Beer Festival gives beer lovers the chance can sip creations from some of the best local breweries.
Running from Thursday 22 – Sunday 24 January 2026, you can expect there to be plenty of local brews to taste test over the course of the four-day festival – with loads of pop-up brewery bars and more than 30 guest taps too.
Abyss, Brew York, GlassHouse, Pastore, and Vault City are just some of the breweries you can sample tipples from.
If you’re not the biggest beer fan, you can also expect a street food, mulled cider and other winter warmers, and lots of other events over the extended weekend.
Fancy it then? Tickets for the GRUB Winter Beer Festival 2026 are now on sale, setting you back just £5 plus a small booking fee across all three days – with a limited number of tickets available on the door too.
Tickets include entry to the festival, access to the full range of beers – including all the brewery bars and guest taps – a branded WBF glass to take home with you afterwards, and FREE optional entry to any of the entertainment events taking place during your session too.
Grab tickets on the Fairfield Social Club website here.
Georgina Pellant -
25th May 2023 
