Northern pub group launches crisp butty menu with 7-course crisp tasting option
The menu is split into sections, with choices like "crinkle cut classics", "not crisp butties", "combo butties" and a "special sharing platter", consisting of seven different courses of crisps - dubbed their "7-course tasting menu".
A Northern pub group has launched an epic crisp butty menu that includes a 7-course crisp “tasting menu” option.
Beerhouses Pubs group, whose pubs include the Stalybridge Buffet Bar inside Stalybridge rail station, put together and costed the menu after their followers voted in their masses for it on Twitter.
The idea was first floated at the end of June – now it’s coming to fruition for one week only, starting today, July 12.
Well we made a menu and you wanted it*. So now it's been costed, chefs trained and stock ordered. The Crisp & Not Crisp Butty menu will be live in @Stalybuffetbar and @WestRidingLRR from Monday for one week only.
The menu is split into sections, with choices like “crinkle cut classics”, “not crisp butties”, “combo butties” and a “special sharing platter”, consisting of seven different courses of crisps – dubbed their “7-course tasting menu”.
Rest easy, it’s all going to be on thick white bread with “lashings of Lurpak” – let’s be honest, none of this artisanal bread works as well when it comes to creating the holy grail of crisp sandwiches.
For the “crinkle cut classics” section, Seabrooks crisps appear to be an imperative choice with the menu clearly stating: “Seabrooks crisps obviously”. A choice of flavours, meanwhile, includes plain, salt and vinegar, cheese and onion or Canadian ham.
The “not crisp butties” go down the maize snack route and have the potential to cause a few disagreements this week. That said, there are some iconic childhood favourites featured here – with filling choices including pickled onion Monster Munch, Bacon Fries, Scampi Fries, Wotsits or salt and vinegar Squares.
That said, though, if you really want to push the boat out then you obviously have to spring for the 7-course crisp tasting menu.
Comprised of hot pork scratchings, poppadoms with dip, Monster Munch, Bacon Fries, Scampi Fries and two bags of Seabrook, it’s priced at just £7 – talk about the ultimate crisp feast.
And if it goes well I'm already experimenting on a second version with Nik Naks, Wheat Crunchies, McCoys, Roysters, Quavers, Onion Rings, Space Raiders, Snyders Jalapeno pretzels and Frisps.
Last but not least, we have to talk about the “Combo butties” – all of which have their own special combinations inside.
A “mighty meaty” option features Canadian ham Seabrook and Bacon Fries, whilst a “Surf and Turf” combines Scampi and Bacon Fries in one.
“Cheese and Bacon” combines Bacon Fries with Wotsits, whilst “Double cheese and onion”, looks like it’ll pack a punch, filled with Monster Munch, Wotsits and cheese and onion Seabrook crisps.
Speaking on Twitter, a spokesperson for the brewery added “[if the menu goes down well] I’m already experimenting on a second version with Nik Naks, Wheat Crunchies, McCoys, Roysters, Quavers, Onion Rings, Space Raiders, Snyders Jalapeno pretzels and Frisps.”
It’s good to see the humble crisp butty finally getting the shine it so deserves. Now we just really hope that Beerhouses Pubs introduce a beer pairing menu to go alongside it next.
The Crisp & Not Crisp Butty menu will be live at both Stalybridge Buffet Bar & Beerhouse and Dewsbury’s West Riding Beerhouse from Monday, 12 June for one week only. Crisp butty prices start from £2.25.
The first new tenant of the old Debenhams department store on Market Street has been confirmed
Danny Jones
The first new resident of the Rylands Building on Market Street in central Manchester has been revealed, and it’s a foodie one.
Set to be the maiden opening inside the old Debenhams department store, which closed after more than three decades back in 2021, Rylands’ debut won’t be for another year or so, but it will soon welcome Mancs with an increasingly popular food hall operator making its way up north.
Simply called Market Place, the ever-growing brand is fast becoming a well-established name, with four venues in the capital already and a fifth coming soon.
Rylands will be their first location outside of London, and with 1,300 sqm of space at their disposal, Market Place Manchester is set to make a significant splash on the high street.
A look at Market Place Peckham.A rough idea of what the Manchester branch could look like.
Developers managed to green-light plans for the Grade II-listed building last November, sharing the first details and glimpses of their vision for the instantly recognisable city centre spot, including a whole new rooftop terrace.
Currently earmarked for a late 2026 launch, the former department store (previously Paulden’s) consisted of seven floors but is now set for a four-storey extension that promises to be a massive and varied retail, leisure and business destination that makes the most of the expansive structure.
Not to be confused with the famous John Rylands Library – a much older, more gothic, historic and hallowed hall over on Deansgate – this task of ‘revitalising a Manchester icon’, to quote property firm AM ALPHA, is a huge undertaking.
In charge of the redevelopment since 2023, the group have been outlining a pretty complete overhaul, with plans to convert the upper floors into premium office space, and the creation of a retail arcade at ground level, on which Market Place Manchester will sit.
This particular Manc corner was a bustling food, drink and shopping complex for the longest time, but has been derelict and covered up by boards for what feels like forever, with urban explorers even roaming the large, abandoned building.
Credit: Supplied
Now, though, the new long-term 15-year lease agreement will see the latest food hall kick off a new era for Rylands, delivering socially focused venues and the range of flavourful, vibrant choices of scran that Market Place have become known for.
With sites in St Paul’s, Vauxhall, Peckham, Harrow and soon Baker Street – as well as their eventual Manchester outpost, of course – the chain is getting bigger and better, meaning its arrival in the North West is an exciting one.
AM ALPHA manager Paul Hodgkiss said in an official statement: “Manchester is a city with a vibrant cultural scene – the perfect environment for forward-thinking concepts like Market Place Food Hall…
“The early commitment to Rylands is no coincidence: it reflects the strength of our strategic and forward-looking approach to development. We are not just creating high-quality space – we are setting new standards for urban mixed-use concepts. Interest from further prospective tenants is strong.”
It was only last week that Greater Manchester’s latest market hall, Campfield Studios, said hello to the general public and with House of Social also opening this summer, among several other similar projects, soon you won’t be able to move for more social hospitality scenes like this:
Manchester crowned one of the world’s best cities for music lovers
Emily Sergeant
Manchester has been crowned one of the world’s best cities for music lovers, even beating out New York along the way.
If there’s one thing Manchester is known and loved for over anything else, it’s music.
From Oasis and Joy Division, to Happy Mondays, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The 1975, and even more modern-day acts, there’s no end to the amount of talented artists this city has produced or been home to over the years, all contributing to Manchester being one of the most prestigious music cities there is.
The city’s live music scene has always been thriving, and that continues right through to this very day, as you’ll see big-name musicians including Manchester as a destination in their UK tour schedules more often than not.
This summer is all set to be a sensational celebration of sound, as not only is an immersive art trail, Music for the Senses, taking over the city from this week, but this year’s annual Manchester Day will be music-themed too, marking one of the biggest years for Manchester music in a long time.
Manchester has been named one of the best cities in the world for music lovers / Credit: Manchester City Council | Eldhose Kuryian (via Unsplash)
Oh, and there’s also the small matter of Oasis reforming for a UK tour, including a run of gigs at Heaton Park this month.
So it’s no surprise that Manchester has been named one of the best cities in the world for music lovers, especially as the IFPI Global Music Report has revealed that the UK has the third largest music market globally – with the music industry’s contribution to the UK economy being £6.7 billion on average.
Taking this recent report into consideration, the experts over at SeatPick have collated data to uncover the best UK cities for music lovers, analysing factors such as the number of concerts, homegrown talents, music businesses, and the total number of music venues, to reveal each city’s overall music score out of 10.
Coming in at second place with a music scene score of 8.97/10 is Manchester.
2025 is all set to be a sensational summer of sound in our city / Credit: Supplied
“Manchester remains one of the UK’s most iconic music cities and with 1,204 concerts between 2025-2026, 116 live music venues, and 380 homegrown acts, the city’s live music offering is as strong as ever,” SeatPick said of its findings.
“2025 is shaping up to be a historic year for Manchester, with Oasis reuniting for the first time in over a decade, with a massive comeback show at Heaton Park – the very spot where they played their last hometown gig in 2009.”
While Manchester may have missed out on the UK’s top spot, with that title going to London, in the global rankings, our city has claimed an impressive sixth place, beating out New York’s influential music scene.
Liverpool and Leeds are two of the other northern cities in the UK’s top 10, taking fifth and sixth place respectively.
“Cities which have a larger number of music businesses are key in creating the perfect city for music fans, as this impacts the city’s cultural, economic, and social vibrancy,” explained Gilad Zilberman, who is the CEO of SeatPick.
“A thriving music scene within a city means it can provide more artistic expression, support a wider range of genres, and enrich the cultural landscape, as well as attracting creative talent.”
Georgina Pellant -
12th July 2021 
