A new Mexican restaurant specialising in tacos, ceviche, mezcal and tequila cocktails is opening in Manchester.
Called Madre, it’s born out of a collaboration between the founders of London’s popular Breddos Tacos and the team behind Liverpool favourites Belzan and Filter + Fox, with a menu that features birria-style tacos dunked in gravy (well consomme, but this is Manchester so we’re calling it gravy).
Foodies who’ve spent any time at Escape To Freight Island will likely already know the brand and its excellent tacos from its residency there. Those who don’t are in for a treat.
Image: Madre
Now, owners are moving on up – taking on bigger premises of their own as they venture out to open their first full bar and restaurant in Manchester for the first time.
A proper mezcaleria and taqueria, it’s not going to be all hangover gravy tacos here – there will be some fresher, zesty dishes to get stuck into too.
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Diners can expect to find more classic tacos loaded with the likes of Baja fish, fried chicken, halloumi and BBQ Yucatan pork, alongside small plates such as blistered peppers, salt-baked beetroot, nachos and roasted bone marrow.
Image: Madre
Image: Madre
As for drinks, think a solid margarita menu, mezcal cocktails like palomas and mezcal coladas, alongside red and rose sangria, a full wine list, bottled and draught beers and a decent selection of softs.
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Inspired by the foodie culture of Mexico City, the new restaurant will also put a focus on ceviche – offering a selection of super fresh, zesty plates of the Peruvian raw citrus-cured fish favourite when Madre opens its doors later this year.
Foodies who’ve spent any time at Escape To Freight Island will likely already know the brand and its excellent tacos from its residency there. The new Manchester restaurant follows on from the success of the first Madre joint, opened in 2019 at Liverpool’s Albert Dock.
Now, owners are moving on up – taking on bigger premises of their own as they venture out to open their first full bar and restaurant in Manchester.
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Located at garden rental neighbourhood Kampus, which borders the city’s famous Canal Street, the restaurant is pipped to open sometime this spring.
Madre at Kampus will open daily from 11am til late, evolving from a lunch spot and family-friendly destination to a buzzing bar with Mexican party vibes as the sun goes down.
Visitors can expect an interior inspired by the adobe houses of South America, with earthy, organic tones promising to create an intimate and warm space.
Image: Madre
Taking over a space in Minshull House, the restored Victorian warehouse, Madre will count brands including Cloudwater Brewery, Pollen bakery and Nell’s pizzeria amongst its neighbours.
Speaking on the new opening Chris Edwards, co-founder of Madre, said: “Madre is perfect for a party city like Manchester. Taquerias can be pretty raucous, social spaces but at the same time have a family feel, where people come together to share amazing food.
“We’ll be bringing that vibe to Kampus, with iconic favourites alongside a drinks menu stacked with margaritas, natural wine and local beer. Madre de-mystifies traditional Mexican food, serving up new plates made with top quality local produce and a love for authentic flavours.
“We knew we had to be part of Kampus, we love the heritage building and we’ll be in top company with the other independents signed up.”
Image: MadreImage: Madre
Manchester will be treated to a packed spring and summer as the neighbourhood comes to life, with pop-up events, exhibitions and operators opening their doors this year.
Adam Brady, of HBD, said: “Madre’s whole ethos is about social dining, an inviting space where friends and families can share stories as well as delicious food. They’re a perfect match for our growing family of independents.
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“With more people calling Kampus home and a stacked summer of events and openings, 2022 is already looking like an epic year for the neighbourhood.”
Feature image – Madre
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Manchester to host G20 Summit in 2027 with more than a dozen world leaders descending on the city
Emily Sergeant
Manchester has been confirmed as the host city for the G20 Summit next year.
It was already announced back in November last year that the G20 Summit would be coming to the UK in 2027, and plans were apparently already being discussed to host it in Manchester even before Andy Burnham became Prime Minister and Number 10 North was set up.
But now, ahead of this year’s leaders’ summit being held in Miami in December, it has been confirmed that the G20 Summit will arrive in Manchester in November 2027.
Manchester is said to have been picked to host the leaders’ summit because of its ‘cultural heritage’.
Bringing together 19 of the world’s largest economies and two major multilateral bodies – the European Union and the African union – G20 members who will be invited to attend the summit next year make up 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population as a whole.
Manchester has been confirmed to host the G20 Summit in 2027 / Credit: 10 Downing Street | Paul Kagame (Flickr)
G20 members are also some of the UK’s closest economic partners, the Government insists.
17 of the UK’s top 20 global export markets attend the summit, as do 18 of the UK’s top 20 sources of foreign direct investment.
The presidency of the G20 is currently held by the US but will pass to the UK after the leaders’ summit hosted by the president at his Trump National Doral Miami golf resort in December.
The 2027 summit will be held at Manchester Central, it has been confirmed, and other locations across the UK will also host other G20 events as part of the year-long presidency, but these are yet to be announced.
Featured Image – Google Maps
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Niall Horan at Co-op Live, Manchester – tickets, times, and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Former One Direction member now-soloist Niall Horan is making his return to Co-op Live as part of his UK shows: ‘Dinner Party Live On Tour’.
Known for his work alongside One Direction bandmates Harry, Louis, Liam and Zayn, Horan has since started a solo career and continued to have a large fanbase.
His singles include ‘Nice To Meet Ya’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Drive Safe’ and ‘This Town’ with the latter amassing over 1 billion streams since its release in 2017.
Collaborating with the likes of pop artist Anne-Marie, Myles Smith, Maren Morris, the Irish-born musician’s style fuses both acoustic and country sounds.
Niall’s most recent LP Dinner Party dropped earlier this summer with the album title inspired by his initial encounter with his long-time girlfriend.
Gig guide – Niall Horan at Co-op Live, Manchester
Niall Horan UK tour dates
Tue 22 September – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
Wed 23 September – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 25 September – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 28 September – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Tue 29 September – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
Fri 2 October – London, UK – The O2
Sat 3 October – London, UK – The O2
Are there any tickets left for Niall Horan at Co-op Live in Manchester?
If you’ve got ‘Slow Hands’ then you better get booking tickets to Niall Horan’s upcoming concert at Co-op Live in Manchester now as they’re selling pretty quickly.
You can find tickets for both seated and standing options starting from £50.75 HERE.
Although the official setlist for Niall Horan’s upcoming Dinner Party Live On Tour is yet to be revealed, here’s the tracklist for his most recent LP of the same name:
Tastes So Good
Dinner Party
Monochromatic
She Gets It From Her Mother
Better Man
Little More Time
Flowers
Boys Are Fun
Fighting Over Nothing
Pretty
Die If I Don’t
End of an Era
What are the stage times for Niall Horan in Manchester?
Doors for Niall Horan open from 6.30pm and expect to fall in love with singer-songwriter flowerovlove who will take to the stage just before.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning you have a ‘Little More Time’ to lie in before the clock hits twelve.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Georgina Pellant -
15th March 2022 
