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
Streamer AngryGinge ‘arrested and banned’ from Silvestone at the British GP
Danny Jones
Popular Manc influencer, ‘AngryGinge’, was arrested, fined and ultimately banned from Silverstone at this year’s British GP.
The Salford-born Twitch streamer, YouTuber and social media personality (real name Morgan Burtwhistle) was detained at the circuit after being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
Ginge recently starred in Soccer Aid 2025 and is a well-known face both on the internet and in the sporting world, regularly working in and around football, and is an avid Manchester United – even featuring in the club’s third kit launch video last year.
The 23-year-old and two other fellow streamers, ‘Chazza’ and ‘Samham’, were accused of criminal damage after sitting in an F1 car whilst recording around the Silverstone complex.
AngryGinge returned to streaming after being detained by police for 15 hours
The streamer and several friends were arrested for climbing into a display F1 car at the British Grand Prix pic.twitter.com/WDSYb6MVtj
“On Friday, July 4, NP received a report that a classic Formula 1 car on display at Silverstone Circuit during the British Grand Prix event had sustained several thousands of pounds worth of damage, which was alleged to have been caused by someone accessing the display stand and climbing into the vehicle.
“Officers carried out initial inquiries, and suspects were identified. Three men, aged 23, 25 and 27, were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a vehicle and taken into police custody.
“Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident, all three men were released with no further action.”
Burtwhistle went into more detail on the incident on socials, explaining that the trio were taken away in handcuffs and “locked up” for several hours – 15 hours, according to SamHam (Samuel Imie).
All three individuals deny causing any damage to the racecar, even despite users sharing clips from the livestream footage captured for the Red Bull online Content on the day that many argue incriminates them, or at least sounds like it – we’ll let you watch and decide for yourselves.
Ginge himself went on to detail that ridculousness of the situation, explaining how he was effectively detained for watching someone else climb into the vehicle.
He’ll be dining out in this one for some time, you can be sure of that.
He’s literally a brands dream isn’t he 😂 so quick and smart with it
Featured Images — Soccer Aid/angryginge13 (screenshot via Twitch)/Samham (via X)
News
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton is coming out of retirement after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Mancunian and British boxing legend Ricky Hatton MBE is coming out of retirement after more than a decade for his first competitive fight in 13 long years.
This is sure to be one to watch.
The Stockport-born and Hattersley-raised fighter first retired back in 2011, but did flirt with a comeback a year later in what turned out to be a one-off fight and defeat to 35-year-old Ukrainian welterweight, Vyacheslav Senchenko.
‘Hitman’ Hatton also got back in the ring for an exhibition match against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, enduring eight two-minute rounds after a decade away from fighting, but now he’ll be undertaking an official fight over in the United Arab Emirates.
Lacing up his gloves at 46 years old, Hatton will be facing fellow veteran Eisa Al Dah (same age), who was the first professional boxer in the UAE.
The ‘Pride of Hyde’ may have been out of the competitive sporting sphere for a while, but he’s still remained an active figure in the boxing world.
In addition to training his son, Campbell, who has followed in his father’s fighting footsteps, Hatton has continued to coach other young boxing talents from his gym in Tameside, including John Hedges and Chloe Watson.
Campbell, 24, has won 14 of his 16 fights, losing just twice since he began in 2021.
Meanwhile, his dad – who still boasts a record of 45 victories from 48 matches, 32 of which were by knockout – will be once again focusing on getting himself back in fighting shape for the Dubai bout.
The local athlete has done plenty to dispel the old jabs of ‘Ricky Fatton’ in recent times, mind you, having taken his talents as a once-promising young footballer to play in the Manchester Remembers charity match, as well as the aforementioned Barrera exhibition.
Set for this winter, Ricky Hatton will face fellow veteran Eisa Al Dah in a middleweight contest on Friday, 2 December, telling national media via video call in the recent press conference that confirmed he would be coming out of retirement: “What you’re trying to do there for boxing in Dubai is fantastic.”
Meanwhile, Al Dah added: “It will be a true fight, true action. And I will do my best, because everybody in the UAE and the Gulf, they will watch this fight. The place will be sold out, and it will be watched around the world.”
Will those Haymakers still hit like they used to? Well shall see before the end of the year.
Georgina Pellant -
28th December 2021 
