Wing Fest, the world’s biggest chicken wing festival, is returning to Manchester this summer – bringing some of the best street food traders, restaurants and BBQ teams with it.
Serving up a whopping 200,000 wings over the course of two days, we’ve been looking forward to its return since the announcement was made in March.
But now that the festival has released its Manchester trader line-up, we’re even more excited – if that’s humanly possible.
Traders at this year’s Wing Fest will, as ever, be on hand serving up their signature bites – be they deep-fried, spicy, baked, sweet or sticky as all hell.
Lockdown sucess story Mexican Seoul are ones to watch at this year’s festival. / Image: Mexican Seoul / Wing Fest
There’ll also be a number of bars selling different bourbons and beers, axe-throwing stations, fairground rides and live music to set the party atmosphere across the weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bringing together pop-ups from across the country with some established Manchester names, local chicken wing fans can get stuck into favourites from the likes of Kong’s Chicken Shop, Wing Dash and Yard and Coop, as well as discovering new eats from further afield.
Brighton’s The Bok Shop, Liverpool’s Japanese street food-inspired kushikatsu stall Sutikku, and Edinburgh’s Down the Hatch are all also down to attend, as is Nottingham’s Sri Lankan eatery Colombo Street.
ADVERTISEMENT
London’s Chick ‘n’ sours will make its festival debut in Manchester this year. / Image: Chick ‘n’ sours via Wing Fest
Those traveling from further afield include London’s Covent Garden restaurant Chick ‘n’ Sours, whilst Bayou will come all the way from Tooting with their red hot wings to take part in the festival.
South-west London’s award-winning Mexican Seoul – where wings receive a Mexican-meets-Korean treatment – will also appear at the festival.
Just like Manchester hit Kong’s Chicken Shop, Mexican Seoul is another lockdown success story, first set up by founder Ashley Chipchase whilst on furlough.
ADVERTISEMENT
Filthy Wings is another newcomer at this years festival. / Image: Filthy Wings via Wing Fest
Image: Dirty Chicken UK via Wing Fest
Other traders confirmed on the line-up include Poor Boys, Eat the Bird, Uncle G’s, Filthy Wings, Wings ‘n’ Tingz, WingerzWingz, Tings n Wings and Mezani Grill.
Taking place this year at The Trafford Centre, the UK’s finest chicken experts will be showcasing their culinary skills by means of cooking demos and a festival-wide competition – all bidding to be crowned the Wing King or Queen.
This year’s competition is split into two categories: The Best Buffalo Wing and The Best Wild Wing.
The first, rather self-explanatorily, will see food traders battle to have their spicy sauce crowned the best, whilst the wild category will encourage chefs to let their creativity run wild with different flavours and toppings.
2021 champions Chicken George ft The Rib Man, The Bok Shop and Poor Boys, and local favourites Kong’s Chicken Shop and Yard and Coop, will be amongst those competing to win your vote.
Eat Poor Boys will appear at this year’s festival. / Image: Wing Fest
In total, 8,000 lucky chicken wing fans will have the opportunity to cast their vote for their favourite wings across the weekend.
True wing aficionados should also consider taking part in the very saucy wing eating competition, where brave and hungry individuals compete against one another on the main stage to see who can eat the messiest wings.
The ‘Get Heated’ lava wing challenge hosted by, The Food Review Club and Clifton Chilli Club will be causing carnage, with only the brave entering the UK’s hottest wing challenge.
Taking place across Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September 2022, those heading down can expect a day full of chicken-eating, as well as plenty of music and entertainment.
ADVERTISEMENT
To get your tickets for the giant Wing Fest, click here.
Feature image – Wing Fest
News
Family pays tribute to ‘much-loved son’ who died after Wigan bus crash
Daisy Jackson
The family of a man who died in a tragic bus crash in Wigan have paid a moving tribute to him.
Luke Hill, 28, was involved in a collision between a bus and a motorbike earlier this month, and sadly passed away in hospital the following morning.
The incident occurred on the Wigan Road junction of Alexandra Road, at around 11.54pm on Thursday 6 August – and GMP are still appealing for members of the public to come forward with CCTV, dashcam, or information.
The driver of the bus remained at the scene following the crash, and continues to support police with their investigation.
Paying tribute to Luke, his family described him as a ‘rock and much-loved part of the family’.
His mother said that living without him feels like a ‘terrible nightmare’.
Paying tribute, Luke’s mum, Sharon, has said: “Luke was my son, my rock, and a much-loved part of our family. There are simply no words to describe the pain of losing a son, especially in such a tragic way.
“It still doesn’t feel real. I keep expecting this terrible nightmare to end and for you to be here with us again.
“Luke was a beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew and grandson. He meant so much to so many people, and he will be deeply missed by all his family and friends.
“We miss you more than words could ever say. The pain of losing you is something we will carry with us forever, but so will the love and memories you gave us.
“The whole family is deeply saddened by this heartbreaking loss. We kindly ask that everyone respects our privacy and allows us the time and space we need to grieve.
“You will never be forgotten, Luke.
“We love you and miss you so much.”
Officers are continuing to appeal for any witnesses who may have seen the moments leading up to this incident, or anyone who has mobile phone or dash cam footage, to come forward and assist the investigation.
Anyone with information can contact police via 0161 856 4741 or our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk, quoting the log number 4225 of 06/08/2026.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Government issues UK-wide temporary ban on sale of disposable barbecues due to wildfire risk
Emily Sergeant
A temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues has been issued nationwide.
Following the UK’s fourth heatwave of the summer, and as many regions declare drought conditions, the Government has made the decision to issue a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues due to wildfire risk.
A disposable barbecue is defined as a fuel tray or grill grid that includes charcoal fuel ‘sufficient to provide cooking temperature for the duration of a single cooking episode’.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the UK as a ‘tinderbox’ and urged ‘all retailers big and small’ to withdraw the sale of disposable barbecues to prevent further wildfires, but following the shocking scenes in Stourbridge which raged overnight, it appears this has been escalated to a formal temporary ban.
The ban applies to all producers and distributors of the product – including retailers that make disposable barbecues available on the British market – and includes online sales too.
A Government statement reads: “During the current drought and heatwave conditions, the Government considers that the supply and subsequent foreseeable use of disposable barbecues poses a significant risk to the public, and the environment, and therefore cannot be considered a safe product.
“They should not be made available for supply either in store or online at the current time.
“These guidelines will be kept under review, and will be withdrawn in consultation with relevant departments and agencies, as weather conditions change sufficiently to significantly reduce the risks.”
Georgina Pellant -
30th May 2022 
