Manchester’s Jewish Museum cafe may have only been open for a year, but the quality of its food has already been recognised with an award.
Taking home the gong for 2022’s Cafe or Restaurant of the Year category at the Museums and Heritage Awards, the local eatery pipped both the English Heritage Stonehenge cafe and the Whitchurch silk mill riverside cafe to the top spot.
Its contemporary vegetarian kosher-style menu uses local produce, and authentic Jewish and vegetarian ingredients, and is created on three core principles: bringing people together, evolving recipes, and meals to nourish and sustain you.
Those heading down will find a vegetarian and vegan menu inspired by two different Jewish diasporas: the northern European Ashkenazi style and the rich, Mediterranean Sephardi way of cooking.
Think smoked carrot lox bagels, vegetarian cholent served with challah bread, and the ‘Not Quite Traditional ‘Chicken’ Soup’ – a hearty vegetarian broth with oyster mushrooms and Matzo balls available on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Smoked carrot lox bagels from the cafe made with vegan cream cheese, carrot lox and beef tomato. / Image: Manchester Jewish Museum
Elsewhere, you’ll find lentil soup with spinach and a drizzle of zesty lemon oil served with pita and Israeli street food-inspired falafel plates or pita served with homemade hummus, tahini sauce, zhug, chopped salad, seasonal salad leaves, and pickled chilli pepper.
Drinks-wise, in the hopper you’ll find Abe & Co. Coffee, created at a Jewish-owned micro-roastery based in Whitefield, and Brew Tea, a Manchester-based Tea Company.
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As for pop, Manchester-based makers Steep Soda provide handmade fizzy drinks, whilst all bagels and challah bread come from the North Manchester Jewish-owned State Fayre Bakery.
he ‘Not Quite Traditional ‘Chicken’ Soup’ – a hearty vegetarian broth with oyster mushrooms and Matzo balls available on Fridays and Saturdays as part of the Museum’s special Sabbath experience. / Image: Manchester Jewish Museum
Speaking on the award win, Alex Cropper, the Curator from Manchester Jewish Museum, said: “It felt so exciting to be at the Museum and Heritage Awards on Wednesday night and to gather to celebrate our sector for the first time since the pandemic – there was a real buzz in the room. And to win an award was the icing on the cake!
“It was an honour to accept the Café of the Year award on stage on behalf of our incredible café team and great to see our name up there amongst such incredible museums in the Permanent Gallery of the Year category.”
Stockport man jailed for life after kidnapping and sexually assaulting teenage girl
Emily Sergeant
A Stockport man has been sentenced to life in prison after kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl on her way home from the library.
Paul Sharpe has been sentenced to life imprisonment with an eight-year minimum term in prison after being convicted of a number of offences when subjected a teenage girl to what police called a ‘terrifying ordeal’ that lasted several hours back in May 2026.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that the victim had been studying at Sale Library before beginning her journey home with friends at around 5:50pm and contacting her parents at 6:10pm to let them know she was on her way.
Twenty minutes later, she spoke to her boyfriend on the phone and said she was approximately five minutes away from home, but that her phone battery was about to die.
This was the last contact received from the victim that evening.
While walking along Bradgate Road in Altrincham, the victim noticed a grey Ford parked nearby and a man wearing a high-visibility jacket pressing doorbells in the area.
As she walked past, Sharpe approached her from behind, placed her in a headlock and threatened to stab her if she did not get into his vehicle.
Concerned that their daughter had not returned home, the victim’s family contacted police at 9:22pm to report her missing, and officers immediately launched an investigation to locate her.
Over the next several hours, the victim was subjected to and placed in a number of terrifying situations.
Sharpe drove the victim to several locations across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, before police located and arrested him at around 3:40am on 19 May 2026.
Following his arrested, 56-year-old Sharpe was convicted of kidnap, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, threats with a bladed article, and administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, annoy or aggrieve.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for a young girl who was simply making her way home,” explained Detective Inspector Karl Perry, from GMP’s Criminal Investigation Department.
“Sharpe targeted a vulnerable victim, subjected her to hours of fear and intimidation, and went on to sexually assault her.
“The victim has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Through her bravery and actions, she no doubt made it harder for Sharpe to carry out whatever acts he had planned.”
Featured Image – GMP
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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Georgina Pellant -
16th May 2022 
