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.
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.
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.
Northern Soul Grilled Cheese
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.
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
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
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.
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 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’.
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.
Feature image – Bread and Bowl.
