Manchester restaurant The Botanist has released a new version of its cult-favourite hanging kebabs – and we think you’re going to want to get involved.
The famous dish has been made even more enticing with crispy panko-crusted chicken pieces stacked on a sizable skewer with peppers, onions and a sprinkling of herbs, as the kitchen puts a Japanese-inspired twist on its most popular menu item.
And of course, the whole thing is finished off with a dish of Japanese curry sauce to drip down the top and a bowl of chips underneath to catch anything that might otherwise go astray.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
The brand reportedly sells three of its hanging kebabs every minute, adding up to roughly 650,000 every year.
Fans online have already reacted euphorically after it posted a sneak peek on its socials earlier this week, leading bosses to warn people they’ll need to be quick if they want to get their hands on one this month.
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The Botanist has launched limited-edition versions of the dish previously, but until now these have been one-offs on key dates – most recently, the hanging pancake kebab, released specially for Shrove Tuesday.
Guy Greaves, Development Chef at The Botanist said, “The response we get to our signature hanging kebabs is amazing – it’s become something of a cult favourite.
“There are fans out there returning to us week after week to get their fix.
Launching today: CHICKEN KASTU KEBAB. It’s our August special- crispy panko chicken with a fragrant katsu curry sauce, served with properly seasoned fries. Book your table now, while stocks last! https://t.co/u584v7vgR8pic.twitter.com/s9mwCviYXR
“We wanted to mix things up a little and get creative with our hanging kebab menu and katsu curry is a crowd-pleasing flavour.
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“We’re looking forward to seeing how it goes down with our guests.”
Hanging kebab menu mainstays at The Botanist include chicken and chorizo with smoked paprika oil, salt and pepper pork belly with bang bang sauce, lamb kofta with harissa jam and garlic oil, and a vegan meatball with marinara sauce.
The Botanist will serve the limited-edition chicken katsu version of the beloved dish across its Manchester site throughout August whilst stocks last.
Feature image – Supplied
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An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
4th August 2022 
