The whole country is holding in a collective breath as we wait to see if England will be crowned champions in the Euros Final this Sunday.
The men’s team haven’t won a major championship since 1966, so history was made when the Three Lions beat Denmark 2-1 on Wednesday night.
With excitement building and bosses around the city handing out extra days of paid leave like they’re going out of fashion, there’s never been a better excuse to make a big day of it ahead of the match.
Get yourself set up for the night with a solid scran at one of these killer spots in the city, dishing up everything from burgers and pizzas to grilled cheese, loaded salt and pepper chips and more.
Bread and Bowl at the Crown and Anchor
A whole loaf of sourdough bread, hollowed out and filled with all your favourite grub? Sounds like the perfect pre-match scran to us. Filling choices include Full English, a ‘nacho bowl’ will chilli con Carne, guac and sour cream, a ‘brie’ bowl with added mozzarella and gruyere, and a Philly cheesesteak stew.
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They’ll even deliver a post-match ‘hangover package’ to your door, so if you’re really taken why not get another on order for Monday? You’re going to need it.
Find Bread and Bowl at the Crown and Anchor, 41 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EE. Open Sunday, 10am-7pm.
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Salt and Pepper have permanently taken over the kitchen at Black Dog Ballroom
Salt and Pepper at Black Dog Ballroom, Northern Quarter
As the name suggests, everything here gets the authentic salt and pepper treatment: from chicken strips and massive king prawns to tofu, sticky beef, and wings. Have yours with boiled rice, salt and pepper crinkle cut chips, or stuffed into flatbreads for the ultimate pre-match scran. S&P has also got a site in the Arndale market, great if you want to take it away.
Find Salt and Pepper at Black Dog Ballroom on 52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW. Open Sunday, 12pm-4am.
The home of grilled cheese in Manchester, these guys do not mess about. They’ve got two sites in the Northern Quarter; a more casual takeaway spot just off High Street, and a cafe with outdoor and indoor seating just down the road off Tib street.
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Breakfast grilled cheeses are served until 12pm, after that choices include ‘The Midnight Bacon’ – their signature three-cheese toastie served with a sticky bourbon-glazed pork chop; and the ‘Pig on a Lead’ – the ultimate mac and cheese grilled sandwich, served with 9-hour BBQ pulled pork.
Find the Northern Soul Grilled Cheese cafe at Unit G20, 21, 44 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA. Open Sunday, 11.30am – 7pm.
Lust, Luck, Liquor and Burn is known for its super slutty burritos, nachos and tacos / Image: Lust, Luck, Liquor and Burn
Lust, Luck, Liquor and Burn
Lust Luck is known for its super slutty burritos, nachos and tacos, all of which come dripping in delicious house-made sauces, for good reason. But don’t overlook the sides here, either – there are some belters on the menu. Our favourite? The bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers, filled with goats cheese and served with a sundried aioli.
Find Lust, Luck, Liquor and Burn at 100-102 High St, Manchester M4 1HP. Open Sunday, 12-11pm.
Rudy’s pizza has the best dough in the city and a great range of changing specials on top of its usual menu, make it a top choice for your pre-match scran / Image: Rudy’s Pizza
Rudy’s Pizza
Fact: it’s impossible to go wrong with a Rudy’s pizza. The multi-award-winnning chain, first started in Ancoats, now has sites across the UK but the quality here is still just as brilliant as ever.
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Favourites include their nduja Calabrese pizza and Capricciosa, topped with prosciutto cotto, kalamata olives, portobello mushroom and artichoke hearts; but you’re just as well off ordering a margherita here – the neapolitan sourdough base is so good, you don’t really need anything else.
Find Rudy’s at their Ancoats restaurant on Cutting room Square or on Peter Street, next to Albert’s Schloss.Open Sunday, 12pm-10pm.
Crazy Pedro’s part-time pizza parlour specialises in NY style, cold-proved pizza served by the pie and the slice / Image: Crazy Pedro’s
Crazy Pedro’s Pizza
With two sites, one in the Northern Quarter and another on Bridge Street, no matter where you are watching the football n town it’s always easy to get to a pre-match scran at Pedro’s.
The pizza here is a world away from Rudy’s: New York in style, not Neapolitan, it comes with crazy toppings and can be ordered by the pie or slice.
Think burger-themed pizzas like the ‘Mac Daddy’, topped with mini hamburgers, jack cheese, burger sauce, a nacho-laden pizza laden with pico de gallo, gauc, tortillas, chilli and salsa, and their ‘World Famous Hot Dog Pizza’.
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Find Crazy Pedro’s on Bridge Street or on Short St in the Northern Quarter, next to Dive Bar and NQ64. Open Sunday, 12pm-12am.
Six Nations to stay free-to-air as broadcasters strike new TV deal
Danny Jones
Good news for rugby fans as the Guinness Six Nations is set to remain free-to-air for the foreseeable future following a new deal being struck between the competition and its current broadcasters.
With the 2025 tournament approaching its conclusion, the organisers are already looking ahead to the next year and how to contest will be marketed, with many predicting the rights to be snapped up by a major sporting channel.
Fortunately, however, the Six Nations‘ present coverage partners have managed to keep the games as part of the current TV license package after striking a new four-year deal.
The agreement between BBC and ITV, who air all of the annual fixtures between them at the moment, will see the pair host the matches until 2029 at the very least.
As mentioned, it was thought that broadcasters and streaming platforms like TNT Sports might secure the licensing for at least part of the tournament as they continue to expand their large and varied service but, for now, UK coverage is staying right where it is.
Under the new contract, ITV will show 10 games per season, including every England match, while the BBC will air the remaining five fixtures.
BBC will also host all Wales and Scotland home games bar when the two nations play England at Murrayfieldand the Principality Stadiums, respectively.
Better still, not only will the men’s competition be staying free-to-air but BBC will continue to show every game during the Women’s Six Nations as the interest in female rugby continues to grow.
In fact, it’s having quite a boom here in Greater Manchester on its own.
Greater Mancs making strides for the next generation.
This year’s tournament has been as blockbuster and nail-baiting as ever, with England still in with a chance of winning the whole thing if they beat Wales with a bonus point – provided France fail to beat Scotland in the final game.
England’s last game gets underway at 4:45pm and it’s all to play for.
You can find all the best places to watch the remainder of the action down below:
Featured Images — Sum_of_Marc (via Flickr)/Guinness Six Nations
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The incredible £5m Hollywood-style mansion with ‘one in a million’ views
Thomas Melia
Ever fancied waking up in a property that feels so LA, that if you walk past your window fast enough you can imagine catching a glimpse of the Hollywood sign?
If the Oscars has you feeling like you want to live a taste of the high life, then fear not, because we’ve got you covered with a property that feels like it’s straight out of the land of lights, camera, action.
This five bedroom mansion is located in Alderley Edge within Cheshire, and with its oval shaped exterior, you can see a full 360 of the surrounding landscapes.
Before you even see the property itself, you make your way up a private road leading straight to the just-over 10,000 square foot house.
The first floor is mesmerising from its amenities such as a music room, media room, study and sitting room as you walk in, to the collective gym, steam room, sauna and pool at the other end of the house.
What a way to let the light in.Who doesn’t want a pool in their house?Credit: Rightmove
Your eyes can’t help but focus on the wide circular hall, lit up perfectly by the sun roof overlooking it, even on a dull day some natural light is always appreciated.
The second floor has five large bedrooms all with en suites and individual dressing rooms, so you can get yourself all dolled up without having to worry about whose turn it is to use the mirror.
One of the bedrooms even has its own lounge space for when you want to admire how beautiful this grand dwelling place really is.
Obviously the master bedroom has the largest wingspan and is curved in nature with doors opening out onto the balcony terrace which is curved like this house’s exterior.
Those remarkable floor to ceiling windows are stunning.The only thing missing is a glass of sangria.Credit: Rightmove
Every window segment for all the rooms contains three floor to ceiling slabs which are all attached to each other, allowing you to see the outside world without having to leave your room.
The land attached to the property is all contained within a walled proximity featuring a formal garden, a wider dome shaped green space and a final rocky terrain with a stone patio taking up one half.
Still not enough to win you over? How about four adjoined stables and an accompanying garage which makes up the surrounding space on the opposite side.
Adjacent to the oval shaped home, the row of stables are detached from the main house with the garage free standing as well.
Stables and a garage, wow.Bird’s eye view of what could be your next mini oasis.Credit: Rightmove
Georgina Pellant -
9th July 2021 
