It’s another great week for eating and drinking in Manchester, and boy have we got some tasty newcomers for you to check out this week.
From doner kebabs created by a Michelin star chef to a bottomless BBQ brunch at Manchester’s cricket-themed restaurant Sixes, plus a new Sunday menu from MFDF’s restaurant of the year winner Baratxuri an entire street of Thai street food at the Trafford centre you’re absolutely spoilt for choice.
Berlin street-style kebabs from a Michelin star chef
Michelin starred Brummy chef Brad Carter, behind restaurant Carters of Moseley, launched his kebab shop in lockdown – taking meat from his existing suppliers and repurposing them into fancy doners.
inspired by an amazing Berlin chip shop kebab he queued for four hours to get in minus twelve temperatures, he started making a different one every week – using his high-end cheffing skills to develop some of the fanciest doners going
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Now he’s opened a proper shop here in Manchester at Escape to Freight Island – bringing some top-shelf doner tackle to the city (think squid doner, made by taking squid and pork fat and emulsifying them on the spide to pave off squid sausage meat).
Find it at Escape to Freight Island, 11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ.
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Image: The Manc Eats
A basque-style Sunday lunch at Baratxuri
Baratxuri is the place to be this month after winning two of the top gongs at this year’s Manchester Food and Drink Festival. Since taking home awards for Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year, the bookings have flooded in.
Whilst the Ramsbottom restaurant is, by all accounts, a complete joy to visit if you don’t fancy trekking that far out of town you can also enjoy Baratxuri’s food at Escape to Freight Island. Even better, the team there has released a new Basque-style Sunday lunch menu priced at just £21 for two courses.
Think wood-fired cuts of suckling lamb, beef cheek and whole-grilled sardines, plus smoked beetroot braised figs with blue cheese and a gorgeously spicy cauliflower bravas, finished off with a choice of Basque-style rum and orange syrup-topped trifle or orange and almond torta.
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Find it at The Ticket Hall inside Escape to Freight Island, 11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ.
Image: Sixes
A British bottomless BBQ brunch (with optional cricket)
Manchester’s cricket-themed restaurant Sixes, housed inside the Corn Exchange, has launched a new bottomless brunch menu with a selection of dishes inspired by classic English BBQs.
Think mac and cheese croquettes, and beef short rib on bone marrow toast, burgers, steaks and sweet potato ‘from the ashes.’Drinks choices, meanwhile, include 90 minutes of unlimited prosecco and cocktails like ‘girl next door’ and ‘garden variety’ for £35, or you can opt for a champagne upgrade for an additional £5.
If you want to make a proper afternoon of it, you can play a game of cricket or two whilst you’re here too. Off-peak prices start from £20 for thirty minutes for up to three people.
Find it at The Corn Exchange in the former Alston Bar & Beef unit on Cathedral St, Manchester M4 3TR.
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Image: Thaikhun
A first-of-its-kind Thai street food buffet
In what owners say is a first-of-its-kind opening, the team behind Thaikhun has launched a buffet restaurant dedicated to popular Thai street food dishes.
Mains on offer will differ every day, but customers can expect to find classics like pad thai, massaman, and khao soi gai soup here – with owner Kim Kaewkraikhot promising every dish is one you’d really find on a Thai street food stall.
With loads of savoury favourites and its own fully-equipped dessert station boasting a chocolate fountain, popcorn machine, slushy machine, and ice cream machine, the Thaikhun Street restaurant makes an impressive new addition to the Trafford Centre.
Find it at The Trafford Centre, open seven days a week.
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Hundreds of drivers ‘incorrectly’ fined due to error with speed cameras on some motorways and A roads
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of drivers have been fined ‘incorrectly’ due to an error with speed cameras on some motorways and A roads across the UK.
National Highways is in the process of implementing a fix to address an anomaly detected in the way some variable speed cameras interact with signs, which has resulted in a number of people incorrectly facing enforcement action for speeding.
The anomaly in question has meant there was a ‘slight delay’ at times between cameras and variable speed signs.
This lead to some drivers being incorrectly detected as speeding after the limit had changed, and as a result, National Highways identified approximately 2,650 total erroneous camera activations on roads since 2021 – which is the equivalent of fewer than two a day.
Not all activations are enforced either, so the amount of people impacted will be lower than this, according to National Highways.
“We apologise to anyone who has been affected,” National Highways said in a statement.
Hundreds of drivers have been ‘incorrectly’ fined due to an error with speed cameras / Credit: Mike Birdy (via Pexels)
Those affected are set to be reimbursed and have points removed from their licence where relevant.
Steps will also be taken to remedy any incorrect enforcement action, and anybody affected will be contacted directly.
“Safety is our number one priority and we have developed a fix for this technical anomaly to maintain the highest levels of safety on these roads and make sure no one is wrongly prosecuted,” commented National Highways Chief Executive, Nick Harris.
“All drivers should continue observing the posted speed limits as normal. Anyone who has been impacted will be contacted by the relevant police force.”
Featured Image – SJ5297 (via Geograph)
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Bury FC manager steps down just two days after appointment following major backlash over history
Danny Jones
In case you missed the news over the weekend, Bury FC manager Michael Jolley stepped down just two days after joining the club following major backlash to his appointment.
The uproar and almost immediate U-turn came in response to his past conviction.
After learning of his history, the club were met with a significant amount of stick from Bury fans and other football supporters, leading Jolley himself to quickly resign. Confirming the outcome by mutual decision, the club revealed his departure on Sunday afternoon.
Bury Football Club can confirm that Michael Jolley has today been relieved of his duties as First Team Manager by mutual consent.
Sharing an official statement, The Shakers wrote: “The Board recognises the strength of feeling expressed in recent days by supporters, staff, partners and players, and the very real impact the Board’s decision to appoint Michael has had on individuals connected to the Club…
“We will also be engaging directly with players, staff and stakeholders to listen, learn and ensure that appropriate support is available. Our immediate priority is the welfare of our people and the stability of the Club and our community.
“We believe this step is necessary to help restore confidence, create space for reflection, and allow Bury FC to move forward in a way that reflects our values and responsibilities.
“Bury Football Club remains committed to acting with integrity, transparency and respect. Further updates will be shared when appropriate.”
Confirming that the assistant manager, Tim Lees (who helped lead the side to a 2-1 victory over Mossley AFC at home this weekend), will be leading the team as interim head coach for the time being, they also noted that Jolley insists he didn’t want his signing to place unwanted attention on the club.
Wishing them the best in their search for the next man to take them forward, and believe they have a “special connection” with their local community.
Jolley states he made higher-ups aware of his past conviction before being interviewed for the job, as he explains in a lengthy statement of his own, which was released before Bury’s own announcement.
Following a period of reflection, I have decided to relinquish the opportunity to become the Manager of Bury FC. Full statement attached. pic.twitter.com/bAHekBfnb5
Addressing the situation on social media, the Sheffield-born former Grimsby and Barrow boss said: ‘After a period of reflection over the weekend, it has become apparent that my appointment at Bury FC has become a distraction for the club and so I have decided to relinquish the opportunity to become first team manager…
“Additionally, I welcome the fact that every investigation into the incident, whether through the legal process, or the subsequent investigations by the UK government, The FA, all established through evidence that I was deceived and at no time did I act maliciously.
“All three organisations concluded that there was no evidence which should prevent me from continuing my career, and that is what I have done, periodically, since that time. I consider safeguarding a critical aspect of coaching and have always delivered safe practice 100% of the time throughout my career.”
As he explains in the full document, “16 and a half years later, [his] CRB check has long since shown as clear, but in the interests of transparency and openness”, he still ensures any prospective employers are made aware of the case.
He goes on to say that he has become used to the abuse inside stadiums and online, given the nature of football fan culture, but now that he has a young family, he makes it clear that they are a key factor in the decision as he looks to prioritise their safety and wellbeing before his own.
The local outfit is once again looking for a new steward to steer them back in the right direction and, hopefully, away from any more intrigue and/or controversy. A return to the EFL still seems a way off, but who would you like to see installed as the gaffer at Gigg Lane, Shakers?
Georgina Pellant -
5th October 2021 
