News

This Manchester restaurant is serving chicken katsu hanging kebabs all month

Available for a limited time only, you'll need to be quick to get your hands on one of these

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 4th August 2022

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.

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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.

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.

Read more: Spinningfields has a new ‘comfort food’ canteen – and every dish is under £10

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.  

“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. 

Read more: Frankie’s has opened a Breville toastie stall inside the Arndale Market

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

News

New stations appear across Manchester for city’s rentable ‘Burnham bike’ scheme

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The roll-out of Greater Manchester’s Bee Bike cycle hire scheme has stepped up a gear, with new docking stations appearing across the city centre.

The scheme, nicknamed the ‘Burnham bikes’ as a nod to London’s ‘Boris bikes’, initially launched in Salford and along the Oxford Road corridor.

Several new yellow stations have appeared around Manchester now, with plenty more on the way.

The next phase of the roll-out of the Bee Bikes has seen stations installed around St Peter’s Square and Manchester Central.

‘Burnham Bike’ cycle hire stations near St Peter’s Square. Credit: The Manc Group

By the time the scheme is complete, bike numbers will increase to 1,500, which will include 300 e-bikes.

It’s all part of the vision for a Bee Network – a joined-up, integrated public transport network across the region.

And it’s certainly off to a more successful start than Mobike, which famously withdrew from Manchester due to high levels of vandalism and theft.

The Bee Bikes are funded by TgGM and operated by Beryl, which runs similar schemes in London, Watford and Bournemouth.

Richard Nickson, programme director, Cycling and Walking at Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “The cycle hire scheme has really taken off in Greater Manchester since it was first introduced, and we are seeing significant numbers of riders and distances travelled by on the bikes- which is fantastic, particularly as we are still in the early days of the scheme’s roll out.

“The next phase of the roll-out has now started in Manchester city centre, with new stations installed at key locations including Manchester Central Library, Manchester Central Convention Centre and
St Peter’s Square.

Read more: Manchester is OFFICIALLY in the running to host Eurovision

“More stations are due to be installed in Manchester city centre over the coming weeks, before the scheme continues to expand its footprint to new locations in Salford and Trafford.

“Once complete the scheme will see bike numbers increase to 1,500 – including 300 e-bikes – and over 150 new stations in operation.”

To see all the new stations as they appear and find the nearest one to you, you can download the Bee Network Cycle Hire app.

Featured image: TfGM

News

Manchester is OFFICIALLY in the running to host Eurovision

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The potential host cities for Eurovision 2023 have been announced this morning – and Manchester is officially in with a chance.

The UK has stepped in to host the global singing contest in place of this year’s winners, Ukraine.

As our nation was runner-up this year with Sam Ryder’s Spaceman giving us our biggest success in years, it’s over to the UK to welcome all the countries taking part.

Cities have been announcing their bids for several weeks, with 20 expressions of interest to host sent in.

Sam Ryder came second in last year’s Eurovision. Credit: BBC

But it’s a complicated event, so those who wish to host need to actually have a suitable venue and the financial contribution too, and demonstrate that they will celebrate and honour Ukrainian culture and artists.

The shortlist of seven cities has just been announced live on BBC Radio Two, on Zoe Ball’s breakfast show.

The full shortlist for the cities that may host Eurovision in 2023:

Birmingham

Glasgow

Leeds

Liverpool

Manchester

Newcastle

Sheffield

If Manchester is successful, Eurovision will take place at the AO Arena in the city centre, Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig has announced.

She said: “We are thrilled to have made it through to the next stage to become the 2023 Eurovision host city.

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“Manchester stands ready to put on the biggest party in the UK at the city’s AO Arena, taking our place in Eurovision’s unique history.

Read more: The Eurovision Song Contest will officially be held in the UK in 2023

“We have a large and proud Ukrainian community in Manchester. It would be our privilege to host this iconic celebration on their behalf and we will do everything we can to honour them throughout.”

“We’re exceptionally grateful that the BBC has accepted to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK in 2023,” said Martin Österdahl, the Eurovision Song Contest’s Executive Supervisor.

“The BBC has taken on hosting duties for other winning countries on four previous occasions. Continuing in this tradition of solidarity, we know that next year’s Contest will showcase the creativity and skill of one of Europe’s most experienced public broadcasters whilst ensuring this year’s winners, Ukraine, are celebrated and represented throughout the event.”

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The final decision will be based on scoring criteria from the BBC and the EBU.

It’s expected that the host city will officially be announced in the autumn.

Featured image: EBU / Corinne Cumming

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