Another week, another great list of top Manchester scran options to tempt you with.
As we settle into September, this week welcomes the return of Manchester’s annual food and drink festival as well as heralding some new arrivals – including the opening of Bundobust’s new Oxford Road taproom and restaurant and a must-try waterside natural wine bar from the Higher Ground team.
Keep reading to discover our top food and drink picks for this week.
The team at Flawd have now moved into their own unit following a summer stint at neighbours Pollen / Flawd Image: Eatmcr
A neighbourhood natural wine bar with food from the Higher Ground team
Using fresh, organic produce grown themselves on their own 1-acre market garden in Cheshire, the team at Flawd have now moved into their own unit following a summer stint at neighbouring cafe Pollen.
With a constantly-changing seasonal menu put together by head chef Joseph Otway, there’s more to try than just charcuterie and cheese – although you’ll definitely want to eat that too. Wines and beers are also available to take away to enjoy at home or out on their terrace on the marina.
ADVERTISEMENT
Soon to be joined next door by Pippy Eats’ Noodlehaus, it seems that the Ancoats marina is going to become quite the dining destination.
Capable of producing 20,000 pints per month. the new 150-seat taproom and restaurant will open with fresh beers on tap to try alongside its menu favourites / Image: Bundobust
A new brewery and restaurant in a former carpark
The Bundobust team has been squirrelling away at plans to open a new brewery and restaurant in the former Oxford road car park since 2019. Now, at last, they’re ready to go – and they’re planning on giving out 200 free beers this Thursday 16 to mark the occasion.
ADVERTISEMENT
Capable of producing 20,000 pints per month. the new 150-seat taproom and restaurant will open with all of its menu favourites and six of its newly-brewed beers available on draught. Choices include a coriander lager, chai masala porter and tropical pale ale, a couple of different IPAs and a light, Kellerbier-style lager.
There are also some exciting collaborations on the horizon, including a salted lemon sour with North Brewing Co and a hoppy black lager collab with Deya.
Find it at . Bundobust’s new site opens this Thursday 16 September.
ADVERTISEMENT
Find it at St James’s Bldg, Bundobust Brewery, 61-69 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6EQ.
Manchester’s food and drink festival returns to the city this year, bringing with it a whole host of markets, street food pop-ups and special dinners / Image: MFDF
The return of Manchester’s annual food and drink festival
Manchester’s food and drink festival returns to the city this year, bringing with it a whole host of markets, street food pop-ups and special dinners. This week look out for the Artisan Market and MFDF Street Food hub, both at Cathedral Gardens, plus a special five-course menu over at the KAMPUS bungalow from the talented lads behind Tine.
Down at the hub you’ll find a Manchester beer bar, products from local artisans like Bread Flower, and street food delights including proper Breton crepes from Mason Briezh, and East Indian favourites from Stockport favourite Aunti Ji’s.
Find the festival hub from this Thursday 16 September at Cathedral Gardens, Corporation St, Manchester M4 3BG.
Pink grilled rump of lamb served with peas, broad beans, lamb bacon and a plump Hasselback potato / Image: Rendition
A new fine-dining restaurant in the former Tapeo and Wine unit
Serving up locally sourced dishes that champion British produce, newcomer Rendition releases new menus every month to suit the season. For September, head chef Stuart Valentine (formerly Tariff and Dale / Albert’s Chop House) is serving market-price oysters alongside dishes like beer-glazed chicken, duck, roasted rump of lamb, and homity pie.
ADVERTISEMENT
Opened by the team behind 90s London celeb haunt China White, the menu here is overseen by Exec Chef Arthur Potts-Dawson – the former head chef of The River Café in London who’s also worked with the likes of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver.
Find Rendition at 209 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3NW.
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2021 
