News

The family-run Prestwich bagel shop with queues out the door

Let's Fress Deli in Prestwich churns out over 4,000 bagels every day - and even more on special occassions

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 22nd July 2022

Sitting on the border of Prestwich and Whitefield, Let’s Fress Deli is the place to go to get your bagel fix in north Manchester.

Sat in the heart of one of Manchester’s biggest Jewish communities, every Sunday you’ll see queues stretching all the way down Bury New Road as local families pile in to get their hands on this family-run kosher deli’s famous six for £5.50 bagel deal.

When we visit, the maestros behind the counter tell us that they churn out, on average, 45 trays a day. With eight dozen in each, by our maths that’s over 4,000 bagels every single day – and they do even more on special occasions, like Mother’s Day. Mad! 

Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats

Filling choices here are traditional and include everything from hot salt beef brisket and smoked salmon to chopped liver, smoked turkey, egg and onion.

This being a deli, there are loads more treats on offer too – from plain and fruity kichels (slightly sweet Jewish cookies) and cakes to Moroccan cigars, sausage rolls and vegetable tzimmus (Yiddish for “a big fuss”).

ADVERTISEMENT

We opt for a salt beef bagel with mustard and pickles, with coleslaw on the side and a cheeky little sausage roll for the road.

It’s easy to see what all the fuss is about here. Dense and not too bready, these bagels really let the filling shine through – just as it should be. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more: The Wild Goose announces closure less than a year after Manchester opening

Image: The Manc Eats

First established in 2001, the deli has been a fixture of the comunity for over twenty years. It might look unsuspecting from the road, sandwiched between a barber shop and an Indian and Bangladeshi takeaway,

Sat on a busy main road with cars whizzing past, it could be easy to miss – btu we implore you to visit if you’re in the neighbourhood, which has been home to Jewish settlers ever since the first German-Jewish immigrant shopkeepers arrived at the end of the 18th century.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more: Inside historic boozer The Ancoats Lad as it reopens following six-month closure

Thanks to these families, there are some brilliant kosher bakeries and deli to discover – chief amongst them Let’s Fress. Find them at 70 Bury Old Rd, Whitefield, Prestwich, Manchester M45 6TL.

Feature image – The Manc Eats

News

Manchester palaeontologist unearths bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A Manchester-based palaeontologist has unearthed the bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile.

This new identification is a crucial part of a fascinating eight-year long discovery journey.

It all started when a seasoned fossil collector named Paul de la Salle found a giant jawbone on Lilstock Beach, near Bridgewater in Somerset, back in May 2016, and then father and daughter, Justin and Ruby Reynolds from Devon, found the first pieces of a second jawbone and another giant bone while searching for fossils on the beach at Blue Anchor, also in Somerset, in May 2020.

And now, a palaeontologist at the University of Manchester (UoM) Dr Dean Lomax, has identified the fossilised remains of the second gigantic jawbone that measures more than two metres long.

Experts have identified these bones as belonging to the jaws of a new species of enormous ichthyosaur – which is a type of prehistoric marine reptile – and astonishing estimations suggest the oceanic titan would have been more than 25-metres long.

Dr Lomax has been working together with Justin and Ruby Reynolds, along with Paul de la Salle and several family members, since the father-daughter duo first contacted them about their groundbreaking discovery in 2020.

A Manchester palaeontologist has unearthed bones of what may be the largest known marine reptile / Credit: UoM

“I was amazed by Justin and Ruby’s find,” Dr Lomax commented.

“In 2018, my team and Paul de la Salle studied and described Paul’s giant jawbone, and we had hoped that one day another would come to light.”

He explained that Justin and Ruby’s new specimen was “more complete and better preserved” than the first find, and that he “became very excited” at the chance to learn more following their discovery.

As mentioned, the Manchester-based research team, led by Dr Lomax, revealed that the jaw bones belong to a new species of giant ichthyosaur that would’ve been about the size of a blue whale, and they have called the new genus and species Ichthyotitan severnensis – which means ‘giant fish lizard of the Severn’.

The bones – which represent the very last of their kind – are around 202 million years old, and date back to the end of the Triassic Period in a time known as the Rhaetian.

During this time, the gigantic ichthyosaurs swam the seas while the dinosaurs walked on land.

The University of Manchester, where Dr Dean Lomax works as a palaeontologist / Credit: UoM

Ichthyotitan is not the world’s first giant ichthyosaur, but the discoveries by Paul, and Justin and Ruby, are said to be “unique among those known to science”, as they appear roughly 13 million years after their latest geologic relatives – including Shonisaurus sikanniensis from British Columbia in Canada, and Himalayasaurus tibetensis from Tibet in China.

Speaking on the confirmation of the bones’ identification this week, Dr Lomax said: “This research has been ongoing for almost eight years.

“It is quite remarkable to think that gigantic, blue whale-sized ichthyosaurs were swimming in the oceans around what was the UK during the Triassic Period.

Read more:

“These jawbones provide tantalising evidence that perhaps one day a complete skull or skeleton of one of these giants might be found.”

Featured Image – UoM

News

Northern Quarter favourite Pie and Ale has sadly closed down

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pie and Ale Manchester closed down

Beloved Northern Quarter eatery and pub Pie and Ale has sadly and quietly closed its doors this week in yet another gutting bit of news for the Manc hospitality sector.

Known for its legendary homemade pies, great selections of ales, craft beers and lagers, not to mention a great little pub when it comes to watching live sport, it’s long been considered an NQ institution.

Unfortunately, however, as confirmed by a sign posted in the window, Pie and Ale has now closed for business after more than a decade.

Safe to say, we’re absolutely gutted, as we’re sure everyone else is.

Credit: The Manc Eats

While no official announcement has been made on their social media as yet, which will no doubt receive love and sadness from its loyal following, the sign in the window simply reads: “Pie and Ale has unfortunately ceased trading. Apologies for any inconvenience.”

The local favourite which was always hailed for being great value for money – celebrated especially for its popular pie and a pint for under a tenner deal – also served up great nibbles and light bites as well as dessert specials.

Although the Lever Street spot previously shut down for a short spell back in 2018 due to what they labelled as “unforeseen circumstances” before reopening just two months later, this latest update looks pretty definitive.

Sister-site Bakerie also ceased trading back in April 2019, with husband and wife founders, Alyson Doocey and David Cook, admitting that all independents had been “feeling the squeeze”.

Read more:

While we have few other details at this stage, it does look like Pie and Ale has indeed closed down for the foreseeable future.

A mainstay on our list of the best pies in Manchester since day dot and just the latest in the list of losses in 2024 so far, they will be sorely missed.

We sincerely hope this is like last time and will keep our fingers crossed that we see the pie pros and expert pourers back in business at some point.

RIP to an NQ icon.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

More News

City Centre

One of Manchester’s largest hotels has reopened after an ‘extensive’ £33m renovation

Crime

Eight arrested and £20k cash seized during early-morning police drug raids in Rochdale

Manchester

Mother of Manchester Arena attack victim to walk to Downing Street to demand new security law

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches