Renowned Indian restaurant group Mowgli has shuttered one of its Manchester sites.
The street food brand has called time on its second restaurant in the city after three years of trade that was disrupted by the pandemic.
Dubbed its ‘prettiest restaurant‘ by the rapidly-expanding business, the University Green site was dominated by a huge white driftwood tree covered in fairy lights.
It also had wooden swing seats and bird cages filled with glowing lights.
But the beautiful space has now been largely cleared out, the Mowgli signs removed from the windows, and the tempting smell of curry from its doorway has vanished.
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An almost-empty Mowgli. Credit: The Manc Group
Mowgli opened as part of Bruntwood’s University Green development just off Oxford Road in early 2019, joined by Takk, Five Guys and Brewdog.
The site served tiffin boxes loaded with hearty homemade curries, as well as street food-style snacks and charred meats, much like other Mowgli sites.
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The brand was founded by former barrister Nisha Katona in Liverpool in 2014, opening at the Corn Exchange in Manchester a year later.
Mowgli in Manchester’s University Green when it first opened. Credit: Mowgli
Since then, it’s expanded to cities across the UK including Birmingham, Sheffield, Cardiff and Leeds.
In the next year, Mowgli restaurants will also open in Glasgow, Preston, Bristol, Edinburgh and Brighton.
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More than £1m has been funnelled into local charities and causes through The Mowgli Trust too.
Greens hasn’t shared as much detail about its Sale closure.
Simon Rimmer’s Greens restaurant in Sale has announced its immediate closure. Credit: The Manc Group
They wrote: “It is with deep regret that the board of directors and shareholders have decided to close the doors permanently on Greens Sale with immediate effect.
“We’ve done everything possible to make this work, but it is now clear the business is untenable.
“We’d like to thank everyone, team members & guests, who have been on the Greens journey with us.”
It’s another blow to the Manchester’s famous vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene, which has lost the likes of Wholesome Junkies, Vurger Co, and V Rev all shutting down in the last couple of years.
Wholesome Junkies shut down because of ‘skyrocketing costs’, writing at the time of their closure in July: “The figures just don’t add up, it’s no joke and it’s devastating the hospitality industry.”
Northern blocks access to dating apps and websites on-board trains
Emily Sergeant
Access to dating apps and websites is now blocked on-board trains travelling across the north, it has been revealed.
Northern says there’s “good reason” for taking this decision.
This is because the WiFi provided by the train operator on-board its services travelling across the north of England is delivered under the ‘Friendly WiFi’ scheme, which blocks access to certain categories of content – including those associated with dating.
Websites and apps related to video streaming, gambling, alcohol, adult content, pornography, and nudity are also blocked.
Northern has blocked access to dating apps and websites on-board its trains / Credit: Northern
The company says ‘Friendly WiFi’ – which it has been signed up to since 2017 – ensures its on-board internet service meets “minimum filtering standards” given the fact that children could be present around passengers at all times.
The decision to ban dating apps and websites comes after Northern also urged passengers to stop viewing content that’s “not suitable for work” on its trains and stations in Greater Manchester and beyond, and pleaded for them to “wait until you get home” instead.
Content that Northern considers ‘NSFW’ can range from inappropriate jokes and bad language, right through to offensive topics and explicit material.
The train operator has explained the “good reason” for its decision / Credit: Northern
Northern’s Chief Operating Officer, Matt Rice, said access to “safe and reliable” internet is part of passengers’ expectations.
“Whilst some dating websites and users will operate with appropriate levels of self-moderation, some might not and it’s important that content not suitable for everyone to see or hear, particularly children, isn’t viewed on our trains,” Mr Rice explained.
“It’s simply about ensuring that there is sufficient bandwidth for all our customers to use while they’re on the go.
Daisy Jackson -
25th February 2022 
