Manchester’s first ever Scottish-Indian restaurant has closed the doors at its Chorlton home, owners have announced.
A fixture in the South Manchester suburb for the past two and a half years, Roti has made quite a name for itself with out-there fusion dishes like Indian-spiced Scotch eggs, haggis pakoras, cheese and onion bhajis, mince and tatties, and curried aloo and chickpea-filled roti ‘chip butty’.
But despite its popularity, bosses revealed today that they have made the decision not to extend their lease in Chorlton and ‘will not be reopening’ their doors.
Breaking the news in a post shared on Roti’s Instagram, the team thanked everyone that had visited and supported their business over the past few years.
An Indian twist on fish and chips. Fresh Panga fried in Roti gram flour batter with fluffy masala potatoes + curried chickpeas ‘mushy peas’. / Image: Roti
Deep-fried Mars Bar in Chana spiced batter with ice cream. / Image: Roti
Adding that Chorlton is a ‘special place’, they hinted that they could be back in the future: writing they will be focusing on their Sale restaurant for now and hope to open a new site ‘when the time is right.’
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Roti opened its second site in Sale’s Stanley Square last summer whilst many eateries were battening down the hatches, so to speak.
Inspired to expand after building up a loyal following of takeaway customers in Chorlton during lockdown, the restaurant – described as ‘not your average Indian joint’ – moved into the newly refurbished Sale shopping precinct in 2021.
Joining hospitality heavy hitters like Rudy’s, Greens, Sugo Pasta Kitchen, alongside fellow Chorlton favourite The Oystercatcher, it arrived in the new foodie neighbourhood with a bang last year to rave reviews.
But now it seems that, like many other small businesses, it’s having to make tough calls to ensure its long-term future.
The full post announcing the Chorlton restaurant’s closure read: “See you again Chorlton… Our time in Chorlton has come to an end for now. We’d like to thank each and everyone one of you who visited and supported us over the past 2.5 years, especially during the harder times.
“We have decided not to extend our lease in Chorlton, focus on Sale during this tough time and look to open a new site when the time is right.
“And who knows… We may return! Take care Chorlton.”
Throughout January, owners will be running a number of dining deals at the Sale site including ‘Tiffins for a tenner’ and a ‘dine and drink for fifteen’ offer. To find out more and book a table in Sale, visit the Roti website here.
Middleton to receive a cinema and Metrolink as part of regeneration plans
Thomas Melia
Greater Manchester town Middleton is about to undergo a huge facelift thanks to a new regeneration project, including a new cinema and Metrolink tram station.
Middleton is one of many bustling communities that make up the borough of Rochdale, and with these new plans, the town might receive a fair few new visitors who want to know what it’s all about.
The Greater Manchester town is undergoing a huge transformation with regeneration plans confirming that Middleton will receive a brand new cinema complex along with an extended Metrolink line as part of the Bee Network expansion covering this area.
This is all thanks to Middleton teaming up with the Mayor to launch the Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which pushes forward regeneration plans for the town and future ideas.
Middleton Shopping Centre right in the heart of the town centre.Middleton Town Centre bustling as the markets take place.Credit: Steven Haslington (via Geograph)/@Rept0n1x (via Flickr)
The MDC considers lots of aspects of the town and even aims to create new homes and improve surrounding public spaces.
Middleton regeneration plans have been floated previously, but complications arose due to a lack of land and available funding, which ultimately brought these foundations to a halt.
Now it seems the green light has been lifted and Middleton is about to get a whole new facelift, which will not only improve the town economically but aesthetically too, along with the wider Rochdale region.
For many Middletonians, the idea of a cinema may have felt like a distant memory, with their last big screen location shutting down just over a decade ago.
This all-new high street regeneration will not only bring an array of shopping favourites back to the town centre but also the long-awaited return of a local cinema. Most importantly, the plans also include a slate of new housing, with an estimated 300 apartments set to be created in one building alone.
Early CGIs of the proposed Middleton regeneration plans.Grade II-listed Warwick Mill looks set to be turned into flats.Credit: Publicity Picture (supplied)
This all falls in line with the ‘Atom Valley scheme‘, which has been commissioned in order to generate over 20,000 job opportunities for people in Bury, Oldham and Rochdale.
The scheme also mentions how it aims to bring a combined economic boost of around £1 billion to these previously mentioned areas.
Rochdale Borough Council leader, Neil Emmott, said: “The development of 1.2 million square metres of employment space around the junction 19 area will help to generate 20,000 high-quality jobs and bring a £1 billion economic boost.”
Featured Image — Publicity Pictures (supplied via Rochdale Borough Council)
News
Scouting For Girls announce stacked UK tour with Manchester date
Thomas Melia
British boyband Scouting For Girls are heading out on an extensive UK tour with dates up and down the country, including right here in Manchester.
If the first thing that pops into your mind when you read this headline is “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know how we’ll make it through this”, then you’re on the right side of history.
Nearly 20 years since their single ‘She’s So Lovely’ reached catastrophic heights and had everyone putting on their best Roy Stride accent, Scouting For Girls are heading back on the road.
This UK tour announcement comes two years after their last project, The Place We Used To Meet, reached our ears and was coined by the band as “Our best work since our debut”.
It’s been 18 years since this Brit trio captivated our hearts with their eponymous debut album, which sold over one million copies and went number one on the UK official charts for two weeks.
Whether you know them for ‘Heartbeat’ or ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’, it’s clear to say this band had their fair share of smash hit singles throughout the noughties.
This tour, however, celebrates the sophomore follow-up: Everybody Wants To Be On TV, which went on to continue their legacy and secure them their only number one, ‘This Ain’t A Love Song’, back in 2010.
Now, the boys are treating UK fans to an array of live performances, and if you can’t make one date, fear not because there are 20 different locations for you to choose from.
The group will also be playing the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and a whole host of other Northern cities, so you have plenty of chances to catch them.
If you can’t wait all the way until March 2026 for your next Scouting For Girls fix, lead singer Stride has his own cameo account where you can get the star to read out a message or even sing you a song: “‘Michaela Strachan’ in full, please?…”
Scouting For Girls are coming to O2 Apollo in Manchester on 21 March 2026, with tickets going on sale next Friday, 2 May at 10am HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
10th January 2023 
