A new Mediterranean and Middle Eastern vegan kitchen is opening above Stockport boozer Crown and Conspirator in Bramhall this month.
Brought to the area by vegan chef James Laving, the new venture will be called OTTO Vegan Empire – a nod to James’s role in former pop-up The Ottö-Men, the mezze street food favourite seen at the likes of Grub, Manchester International Festival’s festival hub and, most recently, Stretford Food Hall.
Dishes are all inspired by James’s travels through the Meditteranean and the Middle East, with some recipes – he confesses – having been ‘mithered’ directly from local elders he’s hassled along the way.
The concept has been created in collaboration with Cheshire Pub Co., and will be ‘the first of many sites’, said Managing Director Matt Parker, with the pub group seeking to expand the new Otto concept across the North West over the next few years.
The new ‘Sexy Pie’ – baklava pastry, wrapped around eight different roasted confit vegetables and super grains. / Image: OTTO Vegan Empire / The Cheshire Pub Co.
In a concerted move away from the vegan junk food trend popular in Manchester, dishes will instead take inspiration from the Ottoman Empire and celebrate salads, rice, legumes and grains alongside Arabic breads like Khbouz and Manakish, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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Dishes will span long-standing favourites like the Otto mezze with Khobez bread and the kitchen’s famous five falafel, alongside the likes of Adriatic-style tomato stew, ‘Sexy Pie’ – baklava pastry stuffed with eight roasted, confit vegetables and super grains – and Otto Veggie Kofta.
Elsewhere, diners will find’ black and wada Hummus’ – a Lebanese variation with toasted black sesame and black garlic, topped with wada batter crunchies and coriander – and a specially-chosen selection of vegan wines.
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The special spice blend, Ras el Hanout, made the OTTO way with Damask rose petals. / Image: OTTO Vegan Empire
In a Facebook post announcing the move, chef James said: “Our Otto menu showcases a groovy and modern take on the traditional.
“I’ve lost count of how many patient elders I have mithered for their homegrown recipes during my travels through the streets and homes of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern villages.
“Otto will offer a cornucopia of flavour, texture and good times to the village of Bramhall. Sustainable, seasonable and locally sourced will be at the heart of everything we do.”
Due to open at the pub from Wednesday 27 April, to find out more and book check out OTTO Vegan Empire’s Instagram here and visit the pub’s website here.
News
First Bee Network train unveiled as Greater Manchester prepares to integrate public transport in 2026
Emily Sergeant
The first Bee Network train has been unveiled, as Greater Manchester prepares to integrate all public transport options in 2026.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has this week revealed a step-by-step plan for bringing the region’s rail lines into the Bee Network to create the first truly integrated public transport system outside London.
With just one year to go until the first rail services start joining the Bee Network, industry leaders unveiled a new yellow Bee Network promotional train and set out how passengers will benefit from new services, improved stations, and simpler fares and ticketing in the months ahead.
The first two lines – which will connect Manchester to Glossop and Stalybridge – are set to join the Bee Network from 13 December 2026.
Contactless ‘tap in, tap out’ ticketing will also rolled out across 17 stations on this date.
Greater Manchester is on track to bring rail into the #BeeNetwork from December 2026. 🚆🐝
From new trains to station upgrades, contactless ticketing and step-free access – this is the start of a fully integrated transport system connecting trains, trams, buses and active… pic.twitter.com/FysCgzY72w
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says these initial two rail lines are ‘just the beginning’, with more lines set to follow in 2027 and 2028, and the further roll out of contactless and capped fares will work to join buses, trams, and trains together as Greater Manchester continues its journey to deliver an ‘affordable, accessible, and joined-up’ transport network.
By March 2026, the Bee Network app and TfGM website start to join together.
They will feature comprehensive rail station information, from car park and cycling spaces through to step-free access – with real-time rail departure and disruption information added by the summer, and journey planning available by autumn.
Also, another huge step in the plan, is that from May 2026, TransPennine Express will run 25/7 night-time trains to Manchester Airport as a way of supporting the region’s ‘thriving’ night-time and visitor economy.
The first-ever Bee Network train has been unveiled ahead of its 2026 launch / Credit: TfGM (Supplied)
Looking forward the future, additional and later-running services on the Airport, Alderley Edge, and Rochdale-stopping lines will be piloted from 2027.
And then, from January 2028, eight rail lines – with 64 stations included – will be fully integrated with Bee Network buses and trams, ‘tap and go’ payments, and daily and weekly fare caps, while the remaining 32 stations will join the system by 2030.
“With one year to go until rail joins the Bee Network, we are on the cusp of delivering a fully integrated, world-class transport system for our global city-region,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham, as the first Bee Network train was unveiled this week.
“These changes will make everyday journeys easier and open up new opportunities for people across Greater Manchester.
“I am excited for what the next twelve months will bring as we build a better, more connected future for us all.”
Featured Image – TfGM (Supplied)
News
Full list of Christmas opening hours at all UK supermarkets 2025
Emily Sergeant
Tesco, Sainsbury’s Aldi, and M&S are among the supermarkets to adjust opening hours at stores across the UK during the festive period.
As Christmas is fast approaching, most of us will have already started to stock up on food and drink for the big day ahead of time, but with so much to prepare for, it’s pretty easy to forget something important – which tends to leave us running to the shops before 25th.
While some have probably opted for home deliveries or Click & Collect services, others still prefer to shop in store.
To help you make sure everything is sorted, we’ve pulled together a list of all the major supermarket opening hours over the festive period, so grab your bags for life and get your shopping list at the ready, because Santa is on his way and he’ll be expecting his annual dose of mince pies.
Here’s a roundup list of supermarket opening hours.
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Tesco
Shoppers are being advised to check the Tesco Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local, as different branches may be operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.
Here’s a rough guideline:
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 6am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 10am – 6pm
Check the opening times for your local Tesco store here.
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Sainsbury’s
Just like Tesco, Sainsbury’s will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, as well as being closed on Christmas day, but shoppers are encouraged to head to the retailer’s Store Locator to find out the opening times for their nearest branch.
Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 8am to 8pm (with Local stores open until 10pm)
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 10am – 5pm
You can check the opening times for your local Sainsbury’s store here.
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Asda
Following along the same lines as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, Asda shoppers are being advised to check the Asda Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local store, as different branches are operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.
Here’s a rough guideline:
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 6am – 7pm
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 6am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 10am – 5pm
Check the opening times for your local ASDA store here.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and more have adjusted their opening hours for the festive period / Credit: Tesco
Morrisons
Morrisons is open throughout the festive season, just like its other competitions, and will only closing on Christmas Day, but hours will vary so you’ll need to check the opening times for your local.
Christmas Eve: 6am to 6pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: 10am to 5pm
Check the opening times for your local Morrisons store here.
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Aldi
Aldi stores across the UK are set to close of the three major festive bank holidays this year, meaning doors will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, with reduced hours in operation on the days surrounding it.
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Here’s what you need to know:
Christmas Eve: 7am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: 8am – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
You can find out more about the supermarket’s decision to shut up shop on the three festive bank holidays this year here.
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Lidl
Lidl has released a list of its festive opening hours, and just like Aldi, will also be closing most of its stores on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, but you’ll want to check Lidl’s website to find out more information.
Just like many other retailers on this list, Co-op’s opening times vary from store to store over the festive period, but the retailer has confirmed it will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day – with all branches closed on Christmas Day across the UK as a standard.
Christmas Eve: 7am – 9pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 8am – 9pm
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: 7am – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 9pm
New Year’s Day: 9am – 9pm
Shoppers are being urged to check the Co-op Store Finder for the opening hours for their nearest branch here.
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M&S
Once again, M&S is another retailer where festive opening hours differ from store to store, so it’s best to check your local branch specifically, but what we do know is that all stores across the UK will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day as a standard.
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Christmas Eve: 6am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 December: 8am – 8pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
Check the opening times for your local M&S store here.
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Iceland
Anyone hoping to pop to Iceland over the festive period will be met with reduced opening hours, as is to be expected – with all UK stores closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day as a standard.
Georgina Pellant -
25th April 2022 
