Manchester’s much-loved hip-hop burger shop has returned to Stockport after an eight-week hiatus, and we’re absolutely buzzing to have them back.
Following a short closure to allow for a kitchen refurb, dirty burger peddlers Big Grillie are back – serving up a menu full of towering smashed patties, fried chicken, and loaded fries to the good people of South Manchester.
With a host of dishes named after hip-hop icons like Snoop Dogg and Childish Gambino, Big Grillie’s burgers are available to order for delivery or collection only at The Drawing Room in Bramhall.
Image: Big Grillie
Must-trie burgers include the ‘Chilli Gambino’ – comprised of two 100% beef smashed patties, chilli and coriander cheese, chilli jam, chorizo rosario sausage and chipotle mayo in a sweet brioche bun – and the ‘Snoop’, which comes with double patties, bacon, house burger sauce, pickles, red onion and American cheese.
Elsewhere, you’ll find the ‘Junior Mafia’ – full of umami richness with a mix of truffle salami, Neapolitan pizza sauce, a deep-fried cheese patty, pepperoni and 100% beef smash patty. With added balsamic glaze and grated parmesan, this might just be the naughtiest burger on the. menu.
Add to that the ‘Old Skool’ (featuring a 100% beef smashed patty, American cheese, house ketchup, mustard and pickles), plus cracking fried chicken tenders, a fried chicken burger and ‘Slutty’ BBQ fries topped with charred chorizo, BBQ sauce, baconnaise and crispy onions, then try and tell us you’re not drooling.
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It’s not all about the meat, though. Veggies and vegans are catered for too, with a selection of mouthwatering sides including salt and pepper fries, deep-fried ‘Saganaki’ halloumi fries with hot honey, chilli, coriander and crispy onions, and simple, skinny ‘house fries’ dusted with Maldon salt.
Speaking on his return to The Drawing Room, Big Grillie founder Alex Applegarth told The Manc: “Bramhall and South Manchester are awesome and we’re grateful for the support they’ve shown us throughout the pandemic
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“South Manchester has lots of burger joints, but we want to elevate it beyond the regular smash-burger joints that seem to be popping up everywhere.
“I could completely bore everyone to death for hours about the science behind cooking methods, Maillard reactions, meat to fat ratios and everything in between but I won’t.
“Hit us up and give us a try instead! We’re also able to smash out top-quality fried chicken not too!”
You can find Big Grillie’s burgers available on Deliveroo, or you can order for takeaway directly through the website here.
News
Mancs advised ‘do not travel’ today amid MAJOR region-wide train disruption
Daisy Jackson
Passengers across the North West are being told not to travel today, after a power failure triggered major disruption across the region.
A vast number of trains have been cancelled in and out of Greater Manchester due to the failure at Manchester Rail Operating Centre (ROC).
The disruption started earlier this afternoon but is expected to continue across all operator routes until the end of the day.
Now, rail operators are issuing ‘do not travel’ notices, and ticket acceptance has been put in place across all Bee Network buses and Metrolink services.
A statement shared by Manchester City Council: “Due to a power failure at the Manchester Rail Operating Centre (ROC), there is major disruption on the rail network across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and the Midlands.
“Delays and cancellations are expected on all operator routes across Greater Manchester until the end of today (Thursday 6th August). Rail operators have issued a do not travel notice with travel advice and the latest information HERE.
“Ticket acceptance is in place on all Bee Network buses and Metrolink services across Greater Manchester.”
All Brewers Fayre and Beefeater locations across the UK are closing down
Danny Jones
It looks to be the end for not one but two of Britain’s best-known and long-running restaurant franchises, as Brewers Fayre and Beefeaters will be closing down all of their locations.
Dating back to the mid-1970s, there will soon be none left anywhere in the country
The pair of recognisable chains, owned by parent company Whitbread PLC – who also own Premier Inn, hence why they usually come as a joint package – have nearly 200 sites across the UK, but they are already in the process of a wholesale shutdown.
News of the impending closures first began circulating back in April, but now the process is said to be fully underway, with multiple Greater Manchester names on the chopping block.
A real shame all brewers fayres are closing down. As a member they’ve sent me a last free main. So enjoying a mixed grill pic.twitter.com/EIHMZ7LCvv
— Daniel Turner⚽️ 🏟️ 1️⃣1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣ (@puffpuff65) August 4, 2026
With roughly 3,800 staff set to be made unemployed as part of the major restructuring by Whitbread, the job cuts will see approximately 12% of their workforce laid off from a total of around 30,000.
One local duo due to face the music is the soon-to-close Stable Gate in Denton and Wheatlea Park in Wigan – both of which are Brewers Fayre branches.
89 of the brand’s boozers have been given until early September (some dates may vary) to shut up shop and hold not just their last orders, but their final dinner service full stop.
The rest of the venues closing next month are Beefeater pubs, including the Heaton Park one in Crumpsall, The Quay House at Salford Quays, and the Whitgate Inn over Oldham way.
As for others nearby, Macclesfield’s Springwood Park is also set to close.
The older of the two British mainstays is Beefeater, which was founded by Whitbread back in 1974 when they opened their first pub, The Halfway House, down in Enfield.
Brewers debuted up North in ’79, with a maiden watering hole called The Farmers Arms in Preston, before going on to open several locations around Lancashire and eventually nationwide.
Most of you will likely have visited or at the very least passed one of those food and drink spots in your time, and while they may be more associated with hotels and service stations these days, they still served as regular haunts for plenty of people who will no doubt be gutted to see them go.
Speaking of services, another big name is expanding further into the North West.
Georgina Pellant -
27th May 2022 
