News

This Manchester restaurant has created an Indian cheese toastie – with soup for dipping

Bundobust is back with a new wave of specials, including a vegan take on cult favourite the Bombay sandwich

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 10th January 2023

When it comes to comfort food, there’s nothing like a good soup and sandwich to get you feeling toasty on a wet January day. Even better if the sandwich is grilled, Breville-style, to ensure it’s crimped on the edges and scalding hot in the middle.

Add in a spicy Indian street food twist, and that’s exactly what you’ll find down at Manchester restaurants Bundobust this month as part of its newly released January specials menu.

Serving up their take on the Bombay sandwich, famously known as one the Indian city’s most popular street snacks, this ‘grown up grilled cheese’ is packed with potato and spinach, green chutney, cucumber, red onion, tomato and vegan cheddar.

Seasoned with zingy chaat masala and served with Sambhar – a lentil, aubergine and bottle gourd soup – it makes for a classic lunchtime combo, reports The Hoot.

Elsewhere on the January specials menu, you’ll find full-to-bursting green sweet chillis stuffed with spiced potato in a crispy gram flour batter and served with mango chutney dip: an Indian deli counter staple that draws inspiration from parent restaurant Prashad (and the stuffed chilli from their formative days in mid-90s Bradford).

Read more: A new ‘first of its kind’ Indian drive-thru has opened in Greater Manchester

Add in the lightly sour, satisfyingly spiced and luxuriantly creamy Punjabi Kadi (moong dhal pakoras simmered in a garam massala, yoghurt and gram flour curry), new recipe Paneer Kadai and a new-and-improved Egg Bhurji recipe with cumin and green chilli, green peas and coriander, both served with pillowy bhatura, then try to tell us you’re not feeling hungry.

Read more: Manchester’s first Scottish-Indian restaurant has closed its doors in Chorlton

One of our top picks for vegetarian and vegan dining in the city centre, you’ll also find tried and tested favourites like the vada pav, paneer tikka and bundo chaat on the menu here to enjoy alongside the new specials.

For those attempting Veganuary this year, they’ll be happy to know that 75% of the menu is vegan and there’s no meat on offer at all – so you’re unlikely to be tempted to cheat.

To book your table and to view the full menu, take a look at the Bundobust website here.

Feature image – The Hoot Leeds

News

‘Midweek mayhem’ predicted on roads as UK prepares for 13.9m summer holiday getaway journeys

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

This year’s summer getaway is expected to see the biggest number of midweek car trips made since records began.

Now that schools across Greater Manchester, and the rest of the UK, have either or are soon to break up for the summer holidays in the coming days, latest data released by The RAC has revealed that drivers are planning a whopping 13.9m journeys on UK roads before this Thursday (24 July).

Figures suggest that two million trips are planned today (Tuesday 22 June) when the majority of schools in England break up, with another two million each on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 respectively.

According to the figures, a larger number of drivers than ever are expected to head off on holiday at some point during the week, rather than waiting until the weekend to get away.

An additional 5.6m journeys are likely at some point between Monday and Thursday, but drivers haven’t decided on the date yet.

Woman driving a car
13.9m summer holiday getaway journeys are predicted this week / Credit: Peter Trimming (via Geograph) | Pxfuel

Following the midweek surge, the ‘end of summer term’ getaway weekend will be classically busy, it is predicted, with 2.7 million journeys planned on ‘Frantic Friday’ (25 July), the largest number of journeys on a single day, three million, set to take place on Saturday 26 July, and an additional 2.7 million trips expected on Sunday 27 July.

Again, 4.6 million are planned some point throughout the weekend on dates not yet decided, bringing the total number of journeys over the full getaway week to 26.9 million. 

Data from transport experts shows that the ‘midweek mayhem’ predicted will likely cause delays across many major routes, starting on Tuesday 22 July when most schools in England finish for summer.

Both the RAC and INRIX are advising those setting off at the weekend to travel as early or late as possible, because traffic is expected to be at its worst through the middle of the day.

UK drivers are being warned to prepare for ‘midweek mayhem’ / Credit: Mike Bird (via Pexels)

This means that anyone getting away on Friday or Sunday should try to start their trips before 10am or after 7pm, while Saturday drivers should consider heading out before 10am.

“Normally the weekend bears the brunt of getaway traffic, but this year we’re expecting ‘midweek mayhem’ as schools finish for summer,” commented RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, Nick Mullender.

“We typically see a peak on ‘Frantic Friday’ when holidaymakers share the roads with commuters heading home, but our figures indicate these trips will now be spread across several days with millions more weekday journeys planned.

Read more:

“To avoid the worst of the traffic, travel outside peak times and steer well clear of morning and evening rush hours.”

Featured Image – Geograph

News

UK’s ‘most dangerous’ road near Greater Manchester to undergo £7.6m safety improvements

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Snake Pass, what is known as the UK’s ‘most dangerous’ road, has received £7.6 million in funding to improve its safety.

The infamous road connecting Manchester and Sheffield – which is said to be used by more than 30,000 vehicles each week – is the highest road in Derbyshire, and is known for including a series of steep bends, twists, and blind junctions, hence being given the nickname of the UK’s ‘most dangerous’ route.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has allocated £7.6 million from its ‘Safer Roads Fund’ to improve safety along the 23-mile stretch of the A57 between Glossop and Sheffield.

Snake Pass is also, sadly, known for its frequent collisions data – with records indicating that, between 2018 and 2023, there were five fatalities, 62 ‘serious;, and 102 slight collision casualties.

Historical records also suggest that landslips have taken place along the Snake Pass for decades, with road closures dating back at least 90 years.

Proposed safety improvements to be carried out include the installation of up to 10 average speed camera sites along the route, with speed limit reminder signs, and the improving the junction of the A57 and Manor Park Road in Glossop by narrowing the road so it reduces the time it takes for pedestrians to cross.

More pedestrian crossings will be installed at the Dinting Vale viaduct to provide a safer walking route to the railway station

Advanced ‘road restraint’ safety barriers, which are designed to prevent motorcyclists sliding under existing safety barriers and reduce potential injuries, will also be installed, alongside anti-skid friction surfacing at bends and existing collisions sites to help minimise braking distances.

Snake Pass will be undergoing to undergo £7.6m safety improvements / Credit: Geograph (via Wikipedia Commons)

Councillor Charlotte Hill, who is the Cabinet Member for Potholes, Highways, and Transport at Derbyshire Council says Snake Pass is a ‘major tourist route’ and a ‘key economic connection’ for the North.

“We have already carried out a number of safety improvements along the route, but a more holistic solution is required to save lives and change road user attitudes and behaviour along this challenging stretch of road.

“Using our experience gained from similar challenging routes in the county, we will now be able to finalise our proposals for the Snake Pass, in readiness for a public consultation later this year.

Read more:

“We look forward to being able to deliver a step change in road safety and reduce casualties along this significant route.”

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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