A popular Thai restaurant called Giggling Squid is opening its doors in Manchester next year, bringing Thai-style tapas, curries, salads and cocktailswith it.
Popular restaurant chain Giggling Squid first originated in Brighton under the name Mai Ped Ped Ped before rebranding when it opened its second restaurant in Hove.
Now, 41 sites later, it has revealed plans to open its first northern restaurant in Manchester’s Spinningfields district over on Hardman Square.
The new Thai restaurant will open opposite The Ivy in a vacant Spinningfields unit at some point in the new year.
It will serve a selection of Thai dishes, ranging from the likes of Phuket mussels in a red curry broth to Samui zingy prawns, Betel beef on sugar cane skewers, salt and pepper squid and chicken satay.
Whoever wrote the menu here is clearly fond of an adjective, as elsewhere you’ll find the likes of ‘delicious’ Thai chicken wings, ‘yummy’ duck spring rolls and ‘big flavour’ mushroom larb.
You’ll also find Thai staples like Paneang curry, pad Thai and lamb shank massaman on the menu, which is split into seven sections – starters, from the land, from the water, stir fry, curry, noodles and sides, and rice.
Founded by couple Andrew and Pranee Laurillard, the restaurant has grown significantly from its early beginnings in a fisherman’s cottage in Brighton.
That cottage, once the couple’s home, is still the base of their restaurant today – with diners down south able to book in to enjoy dinner in the same space where the concept was conceived.
The initial concept was to cook ‘simple, rustic, fresh Thai food’ and create a menu that ‘people could eat like they do at home’, say the couple, explaining that ‘in Thailand, mealtimes are all about lots of dishes that everyone shares’.
Whilst they acknowledge that the menu has ‘moved on a bit now’, the pair state that some of those original dishes are still guest favourites today.
To date, Giggling Squid has restaurants across the country – all located in various towns across the south of England. The new Manchester site will be its first proper northern opening, joining fellow Thai newcomer Rosa’s Thai Cafe and longstanding Thai favourite Thaikhun in the glittering business district.
To find out more and keep up to date with any new developments, make sure to follow the Giggling Squid on social media here. Check out the restaurant’s website and menu here.
Feature image – Giggling Squid
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UKHSA issues health advice following huge fire at derelict Manchester city centre mill
The UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is just one authority to release a statement following a derelict mill in Manchester going up in flames yesterday.
Thick black smoke clouds could be seen for miles over the city centre from around 4:30pm onwards and into the evening, as fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
BREAKING 🚨 Huge fire in Manchester city centre right now – historic Hotspur Press is ablaze with major disruption to trains out of Oxford Road #manchester#mcrpic.twitter.com/SnA52oiqxm
Around 180 residents in two neighbouring apartment blocks were evacuated, and had to either be put up at hotels, or stay with family and friends overnight.
Train lines were also blocked throughout the night at Oxford Road station after smoke and flames billowed onto the tracks, but as of this morning (Tuesday 24 June), National Rail said all lines had reopened, but did however warn commuters to expect ‘residual disruption’ to services throughout the morning.
Now, the morning after the fire with much of it extinguished, some wider road cordons have been lifted around the Whitworth Street West area, however many do still remain in place, and a significant police and fire presence can also be seen.
LATEST: The blaze looks to have been extinguished after some incredible work by @manchesterfire.
A large cordon is still in place; Whitworth Street is currently closed for the foreseeable and there are major rail delays/cancellations surrounding Manchester Oxford Rd Station.
Appealing to any local residents or members of the public who were in the vicinity of the scene of the fire yesterday, including those spectating as smoke billowed, a spokesperson for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a statement offering some advice and guidance: “The general advice is people should remain out of the smoke. Smoke is an irritant, it can make people’s eyes and throat sore.
“Some substances present in smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages, the skin and the eyes. Respiratory symptoms include coughing and wheezing, breathlessness, sputum (phlegm) production and chest pain.
“Chemicals in the smoke can worsen existing health problems like asthma. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication, such as inhalers, as usual.”
The statement then concluded by urging anyone who may have concerns about the smoke’s impact on their health to contact NHS 111 service, either online or over the phone.
Health advice has been issued following a huge fire at a derelict Manchester city centre mill / Credit: Jonathan Boswell (Submitted)
Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, has also issued a statement following the major incident.
“We’ve been working closely with emergency response colleagues following the major fire incident at the Hotspur Press building,” her statement begins.
“Evacuated residents are now being supported at a nearby rest centre.
“A cordon remains around Cambridge Street along with local road closures, and we thank people for taking fire service advice to avoid the area while crews continue to work at the site. Those living nearby should also continue to keep windows and doors shut to avoid smoke.
“A final thank you to the city’s emergency personnel for their ongoing efforts, acting quickly to keep the fire under control and keeping our residents safe.”
Featured Image – Jonathan Boswell
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Smoke billows across Manchester city centre as historic mill goes up in flames
Smoke is billowing across the Manchester skyline this evening after a huge fire has struck the historic Hotspur Press building.
The former mill just off Whitworth Street West has gone up in flames, with smoke seen for miles.
People have been sharing pictures and videos of the blaze from all over the city centre.
The Hotspur Press stands just below the train lines between Manchester Oxford Road and Deansgate train station, meaning that the fire has caused significant travel disruption.
BREAKING 🚨 Huge fire in Manchester city centre right now – historic Hotspur Press is ablaze with major disruption to trains out of Oxford Road #manchester#mcrpic.twitter.com/SnA52oiqxm
Trains out of Manchester Oxford Road are currently all showing as delayed.
The building was set to be redeveloped into a student accommodation tower block, with a recent planning application requesting to change the original consented brick cladding to an aluminium façade. A large emergency services response is on the scene.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) told The Manc: “Firefighters are currently tackling a large fire at the derelict Hotspur Press building on Cambridge Street in Manchester. An evacuation of the neighbouring apartment buildings is taking place.
“The public are advised to stay away from the area while crews continue to tackle the fire.”
A further update from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service at around 7pm said: “Crews are working hard to tackle the fire at the Hotspur Press building. 20 fire engines from stations across Greater Manchester are at the scene, where three floors of the building are alight. Multiple jets and the air unit are in use to prevent the spread of the fire.
“All floors of the two apartment blocks at 1 Cambridge Street have been evacuated.”
National Rail has said: “There is a fire next to the track at Manchester Oxford Road, closing all lines at this station. As a result, trains may be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 100 minutes or revised.
“If you are travelling this evening, your train may not run its full route and may terminate / start from a different station.
“Please check before you travel as major disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day.”
As the police cordon has expanded, local businesses have been impacted – Bunny Jackson’s on First Street has been evacuated and is closed.
They shared: “We have had to evacuate due to a fire near by! We’re unsure of when we will be able to reopen. Safety first, folks!”
Plumes can be seen for miles, with residents in Salford, Hyde, Bolton, and further afield reporting sightings, including some even in Cheshire – fair to say it’s one of, if not the largest, fire in Manchester city centre for some time.
Witnesses have said that crowds are now being cleared from the area due to a risk of asbestos.
A witness at the scene told The Manc that a police officer wearing a mask was urging bystanders to exit the vicinity immediately, stating that “smoke is asbestos-contaminated because of the roof.”
If nearby, please keep away and urge others to stay safe.
Nearby apartments and buildings are being evacuated, and trains have been hit with heavy disruption due to Oxford Road station being in such close proximity.#GreaterManchesterpic.twitter.com/0mkxEJAj98
Georgina Pellant -
7th December 2021 
