A family-owned independent cheesemaking business is setting out to buck the usual cheese trends and transform people’s eating and shopping habits.
Butlers Farmhouses Cheeses, the masterminds behind Blacksticks blue cheese, want to snap people out of buying the same cheeses every time they’re in the supermarket.
Instead, they say, you can switch out popular choices like cheddar and feta for blue, which isn’t just for your Christmas cheeseboard.
Cheese toasties, salads, burgers, and even beans on toast all pair perfectly with a good helping of Blacksticks, whether you’re slicing, grating or toasting it.
You might’ve spotted these words – ‘Rules are there to be sliced, grated and toasted’ – around Manchester already – Butlers’ have been loudly spreading the word of Blacksticks all over buses, billboards and beyond.
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They say they want to ‘awaken people to new, accessible blue cheese-eating occasions’.
Blacksticks has been spreading the word about blue cheese through huge adverts around Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Matthew Hall, fourth-generation owner at Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, explains: “More households buy cheese than toilet roll! Yet people buy into the same cheeses on autopilot over and over.
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“There is so much joy to be had by injecting mega flavour into more of those cheese-eating moments with speciality British cheeses like Blacksticks.”
The business has conducted research that has found people love eating blue cheese at Christmas but often don’t carry on eating (arguably) the world’s best cheese through the rest of the year.
Matthew said: “Our Christmas sales tell us that people love Blacksticks, so we know that’s not the barrier.
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“Finding it relevant, is, and so we want to help cheese lovers discover Blacksticks and make it more accessible to them.”
There’s a whole new range of Blacksticks designed to make blue cheese slot into your everyday cooking, from the Blacksticks Mega Melts which are ideal for melting on top of burgers to the Blacksticks Everyday, which can be easily sliced, grated, and added to just about anything you fancy eating.
As for why they’ve chosen Manchester to launch their campaign, Matthew said: “Not only are we a local business, Mancunians challenge, break the rules and innovate in food, music, arts and culture. There is such a strong sense of identity here, Manchester carves its own path, which is exactly what we see for Blacksticks.”
Blacksticks is available to buy in all major supermarkets including Asda, Booths, Co-op, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsburys, Tesco, Waitrose as well as in independents, delis and for online delivery direct from the dairy to your front door at butlerscheeses.co.uk.
There’s a new summer terrace in town with a weekend spritz happy hour
Daisy Jackson
There’s a new summer terrace in Greater Manchester that’s the ideal spot to soak in some rays – and enjoy a few discounted spritzes while you’re there.
Over on Chapel Street – just across the river from Manchester Cathedral – you’ll find Embankment Kitchen, which has opened up its terrace for the season.
This stylish spot is part of the CitySuites aparthotel, and has a menu rooted in the warm spirit of Northern hospitality.
It’s worth a visit all year round for their seasonally-focused, local-as-possible menus, but the summer terrace at Embankment Kitchen is a real added bonus in spring and summer.
And following that spell of absolutely glorious weather, they’re opening up two hours earlier every day too for maximum sun-soaking from 2pm.
At Embankment Kitchen you can tuck into a drinks and nibbles menu from 2pm until 5pm, and Happy Hour drinks deals from 4pm until 7pm.
That means two-for-one cocktails, plus discounted wines, prosecco and beers – an ideal post-work haunt.
Cocktails at Embankment Kitchen in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSmall plates on the Embankment Kitchen terrace. Credit: The Manc Group
It’s usually almost impossible to find a happy hour in Manchester at weekends, but these guys are doing two-for-£12 spritzes every Saturday and Sunday between 12pm and 4pm, with flavours including Aperol, Hugo, and limoncello.
Drinks on the menu include signature cocktails that are inspired by the city’s industrial roots, like The Emmeline, Manchester Exchange (a take on an old fashioned), and the Atomic Zombie, as well as classic cocktails such as an espresso martini, limoncello negroni, amaretto sour, and strawberry daiquiri.
As for nibbles, tuck into treats like garlic bread, edamame beans with smoked salt, garlic and parmesan fries, salt and pepper tater tots, and halloumi fries.
Surrounded by lush plants and gigantic parasols, it’s hard to believe you’re just across the river in Salford when you’re soaking up the sun at Embankment Kitchen. To find out more, head HERE.
A huge Irish festival with iconic music stars, markets, food and more is coming to Greater Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A massive Irish music festival with masses of food, drink, crafts, workshops and surprises is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.
Craic by the Creek 2025 will bring together all the best bits of the Emerald Isle for a weekend-long knees-up in a gorgeous countryside location on our doorstep in July.
There’s a huge music line-up (with plenty more still to be announced) featuring Boyzlife, made up of Keith Duffy from Boyzone and Brian McFadden from Westlife.
And this fun-filled Irish Music Festival is the only one of its kind offering full weekend camping, at the beautiful village of Compstall in Stockport.
The countdown is now officially on for this unmissable celebration of Irish music, culture, and community spirit, which will take place between 18 and 20 July.
Craic by the Creek has been hailed as the greatest Irish music festival in the UK and is back for 2025 bigger than ever.
Already announced to perform live along with Boyzlife are The Tumbling Paddies, Derek Ryan, All Folk’d Up, Johnny Brady, The Kilkennys and loads more.
There are still more acts to be revealed in this stacked line-up.
And it’s not just about the music at Craic by the Creek – there’s also a bustling Irish-themed craft market with handmade goods, Irish-inspired food and drink, social dance workshops, and plenty of surprises.
Expect a weekend of tunes, traditions, community vibes and campfire craic.
Craic by the Creek will take place between 18 and 20 July, 2025 – tickets are on sale now via Skiddle, and they’re already flying.
Daisy Jackson -
5th August 2024 
