Popular Filipino fried chicken shop Jollibee is expected to open a new store in Manchester in 2022, as part of a huge UK-wide expansion.
Currently, there are eight Jollibee restaurants in the UK – with the closest stores to Manchester currently based in Liverpool and Leeds.
However, that could all change amid new reports that the former Carphone Warehouse unit on Market Street will soon be home to a Jollibee of its own.
Image: Jollibee
Cooking up familiar favourites with a South Asian twist, the Filipino chicken joint serves up a range of different bucket sharer meals as well as individual meals.
Over in the Philippines, it outperforms both KFC and McDonald’s – so we expect it will be quite a hit here too once it lands in Manchester. (We already know a few people who travel to Liverpool exclusively just for a taste of their chicken).
Think fried chicken tenders, wraps, burgers, ‘Jolly Spaghetti’ and chicken buckets, plus a fried chicken rice bowl topped with rainbow slaw and Asian ginger chilli sauce, sriracha chicken loaded fries, and sides of fries and plain rice.
Image: Jollibee
Burger-wise, you can opt for the likes of a tropical chicken burger (served in a brioche bun packed with a crispy fried chicken breast, pineapple, cheese, lettuce and Asian ginger chilli sauce), a spicy chicken burger coated in a fiery breading and served with sriracha mayo, or a classic burger served with garlic mayo.
As for sides, think pots of gravy in various sizes (yes, you can opt for a big bucket of gravy if the standard just won’t cut it), plus pots of sweet chilli, sriracha mayo, and Asian ginger chilli sauce.
Jollibee’s famous ‘Jolly Spaghetti’ will make you question your beliefe that fried chicken and pasta don’t go together / Image: Jollibee
Elsewhere, you’ll find desserts like mango coconut and chocolate coconut icecream sundaes – both comprised of vanilla soft serve topped with either mango sauce, mango pieces and coconut, or Jollibee’s chocolate sauce and coconut.
Today, Jollibee boasts over 1,400 locations worldwide, spread across Asia, Europe, the US and the UK.
Described as a ‘joyous mashup of Western comfort food served with a tropical twist’, the restaurant has been serving its Chickenjoy, Jolly Spaghetti, and Yumburgers across the world since 1978.
Although no opening date is currently confirmed, reports currently suggest we can expect the new restaurant to open early in the new year. Personally, we can’t wait.
Feature image – Jollibee
News
Police appeal after teen was killed in collision between car and e-bike in Middleton
Emily Sergeant
Police have issued a public appeal for information after a teenage boy was killed in a collision between a car and an e-bike.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, at around 11:55am on Monday 21 July, officers responded to reports of a collision on Rowrah Crescent in the Middleton area, and emergency services immediately attended – but despite their best efforts, a 15-year-old boy was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation has been launched following the distressing incident, and police are are working to establish the full circumstances.
A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in custody for questioning at this time.
Police are appealing after a teenager was killed in a collision between a car and an e-bike in Middleton / Credit: GMP | Pxfuel
Police are also investigating allegations of a theft in the events leading up to collision, and another boy, also aged 15, has been arrested on suspicion of theft as part of that ongoing work.
“This terrible incident has seen the death of a teenage boy, and we are working hard to establish the full facts of this case, in what is the very early stages of an investigation,” commented Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Dean, from GMP’s Rochdale district.
“A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and will be questioned in due course.
“While officers are already in place to support the family of the boy who has died today, I want to remind people that at the heart of this is a grieving family, and I would ask the community to not speculate on social media while we piece together the events of earlier today.”
Rowrah Crescent in Middleton, where the collision happened / Credit: Google Maps
A scene remains in place on Rowrah Crescent, and GMP says officers will be able to assist any locals with queries or concerns they may have.
Now that the investigation is ongoing, police are now appealing to the public for information – with DCI Dean adding: “As our work progresses, I would ask anyone with information to please come forward – whether you witnessed anything, or have any dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage from the area.”
Any information or footage can be submitted by contacting GMP via 101, or on the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1364 of 22/07/25.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Google Maps
News
Live football to be prescribed by some GPs to help treat patients with depression
Danny Jones
Live football looks set to be prescribed by a section of the NHS in an effort to try and help people suffering from depression.
As part of the experimental new wellbeing and mental healthcare initiative, GPs across the UK could soon be able to suggest watching football in person as part of their wider treatment plans.
While it may sound like a somewhat unorthodox approach, it’s sparked plenty of conversation on social media and is already gathering some steam up and down the country.
The scheme is being pioneered by Labour MP, Dr Simon Opher, the representative for Stroud, as well as Ecotricity owner and green industrialist, Dale Vince.
Today we’ve announced Football On Prescription. Football clubs up and down the country and up and down the leagues can take part in this – and I hope they will. Mental health is a big issue, as are loneliness and isolation. One of the superpowers of football is its inclusivity -… pic.twitter.com/OWNOag6Fcc
‘Prescribed footy’, to coin a somewhat jarring colloquialism, is set to be rolled out to relevant patients across the Gloucestershire region diagnosed with depression and some other mental health conditions.
Those on the receiving end of these prescriptions will be offered free tickets to watch local National League side, Forest Green Rovers (FGR), based in the town of Nailsworth.
Vince, who founded Ecotricity – formerly known as Renewable Energy Company – back in 1995, bought Forest Green back in 2010 and is just passionate about football and mental health as the push for clean energy and environmental causes.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio in an interview on Tuesday, 22 July, the 64-year-old Norfolk-born OBE said: “We just do the things that we see, that we think could be done, should be done, that will help; whether it’s helping our planet, our country – people here [in Gloucestershire]…
“When you attend football matches, particularly regularly, you find yourself a part of something, a part of a group of people with a common purpose. It’s a wonderful social experience that we think would be really good for people suffering from mental health problems.”
Despite some doubters and detractors questioning his motives online and in the media, he insists the sentiment is purely altruistic, and FGR hope to aligning itself with big causes like mental health, even making the first fully vegan-certified football kits ahead of the 2025/26 season.
He also went on to add, “We also won’t take adverts or sponsorship from gambling companies: they do great harm in our society.”
As for Dr Opher, he has continued to champion ‘social prescribing’ across his medical and political career, backing it as a viable alternative to common medication such as antidepressants for some individuals with mild-moderate depression.
The live football on presecption concept has been met with plenty of pushback online, including lots of discourse surrounding priorities and the NHS remaining underfunded, but only time will tell how well these early trials go.
What do you make of the idea of football being put forward as an aid for depression and do you think it should be considered by the NHS at large?
Georgina Pellant -
28th December 2021 
