Northern Quarter’s red-hot chicken spot continues to go from strength to strength and now Yard & Coop has dropped a new menu and just in time for that final week of half-term.
We don’t think we’ve ever come across a bad dish on Yard & Coop‘s menu — who doesn’t love Massive Cock? (the burger, you cheeky sods) — but after trying these latest offerings we can’t wait to go back.
Transitioning out of the Christmas and winter specials, the NQ favourite has bolstered its core menu with some seriously tasty new additions, each inspired by different cultures and parts of the world. We know how well they do fusion here.
Offering up everything from burritos and burgers to a new take on their famous ‘Nugz’, fries and even a savoury bonbon, this new menu is like a mini trip around the world.
Yard & Coop new dishes
Starting off with a perfect starter or picky side depending on your fancy, the Y&C chefs have rustled up some ‘Schweet n’ Sour Sticky Nugz‘ and believe us when we say we were smacking our lips long after we scranned them. The perfect mix of tang and crunch, they were gone before we’d ever blinked.
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Just like the nugz, the fries are also undefeated and always perfectly seasoned. However, we were not prepared for their Dirty Schweet n’ Sour twist on these, especially given that they weren’t just chips with fried chicken and sauce chucked on: they were waffle fries with pickled ginger sprinkles. Oh my days. Game-changer.
Credit: The Manc Group
It’s a good job there was plenty of us to spread the carbs out because we came next was so good that we were fighting over who got the last bite. We give you the Messi Burger: “the Argentinian legend in a burger”. Leo would be honoured. Buttermilk fried chicken thigh with fresh zesty Chimichurri, best-pulled beef, creamy Southwest sauce, cheese, lettuce and tomato in a buttery brioche bun. Nom.
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It didn’t stop there either. We were pretty blown away by the flavours on the Amara Burger, created using their own blend of Ethiopian spices and ‘Mitmita’ sauce, as well as Plantain crisps, yoghurt dressing and apricot chutney, all sandwiched between the same delicious bun.
It was unreal and just the right level of heat.
One word: mint.
At this point, some of us were nearly tapping out but we still had a jam-packed Cali Burrito to tend with and were so glad we powered through. Buttermilk fried chicken tenders, zesty pico de gallo, fries and lettuce all folded into one massive soft tortilla and drizzled in that same Southwest sauce.
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Damn.
Last but by no means least, we crawled out of our food coma and across the finish line with Yard & Coop’s new savoury ‘Buff Bon Bons‘ which were, essentially, little balls of pulled chicken joy tossed in their homemade buffalo sauce, smooshed together and fried in crispy Panko. Again, with more Ranch.
Again, Yard & Coop never disappoints and this new menu was absolutely quality, though you might like you need to be rolled out of the door if you eat as much as we did.
You can try all of these dishes as well as the rest of their tries and true fried chicken recipes from Monday, 20 February onwards.
We hope you and your food baby enjoy the nap that will inevitably follow.
Autotrader and viral food brand SpudBros are opening their first jacket potato drive-thru
Daisy Jackson
Autotrader has teamed up with SpudBros, the UK’s viral jacket potato trader, to open the first jacket potato drive-thru in Manchester.
The UK’s largest automotive marketplace is working with the SpudBros duo on the new Autotater drive-thru, where the duo will be handing out free jacket spuds – and which can also value your car in less than 10 seconds.
You’ll be able to visit the one-of-a-kind drive-thru for one day only next month, picking up a baked potato from an exclusive menu that includes the Autotater (a twist on a classic loaded spud) and the Curry In A Hurry (SpudBros’ signature garlic chicken curry).
You’ll also be able to tune into the Spud FM radio with SpudBros co-founders Jacob and Harley. Autotrader and SpudBros have teamed up for the drive-thru experience off the back of new research that has shown 44% of UK drivers have no idea what their car is actually worth.
The same research has also revealed that half of those surveyed are unsure how to determine the value of their car.
So now Mancs will be able to have their car instantly valued in less than 10 seconds, by Autotrader’s award-winning valuation service*, simply by visiting the Autotater drive-thru on 12 February.
Autotrader will be dishing out free valuations, to help ensure car owners don’t get small potatoes for their car and are empowered to choose when it’s the right time to sell.
Autotrader and viral food brand SpudBros are opening their first jacket potato drive-thru
This will be the first drive-thru for SpudBros, a brand which grew a traditional jacket potato van into a national sensation, finding viral fame on TikTok.
With a cult following of more than 4.8m people on TikTok and Instagram, the pair are now bringing their trademark energy offline for a drive-thru window with free spuds.
Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Autotrader said: “We know no one loves admin, which is why we want to make it easier and quicker for people to find out the true value of their car, in under 10 seconds.
“There’s something fun about that moment of surprise when you finally see what your car is really worth. Once you have that information, you can decide what to do next – whether that’s selling, upgrading or simply showing off to your mates.”
Jacob and Harley Nelson, the founders of SpudBros commented: “This is a big one for us. We’ve fed people across the country and even internationally, and Manchester is one of our most requested visits, so this is a really exciting opportunity.
“We love doing things that get people talking, and we also love cars, so teaming up with fellow Northern brand Autotrader lets us serve up something new that we feel passionately about – a free spud, a car valuation, and telling the story through social media.”
The Autotrader drive-thru will open in Manchester on 12 February, at Depot Mayfield. Tickets will be available through a draw on the Autotrader website for a limited time only.
To be in with a chance to get on the guestlist and for more details on the event, head HERE, and to join the millions who value their car free with Autotrader, visit HERE.
You can also follow @autotraderuk on Instagram for the latest updates.
*Highly Commended Winner of the 2025 Car Dealer Power Award in the Used Car Valuations category.
MediaCity’s massive Vue cinema has had a comfort upgrade with new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats
Emily Sergeant
Manchester cinephiles are now able to enjoy the latest movie releases in ultimate comfort.
That’s because, over at the popular MediaCity Vue cinema complex, 75 brand-new ‘Ultra Lux’ seats have been installed across seven screens, offering film fans what is, quite literally, the chance to sit in the best seats in the house.
Each seat provides the very-best view of the big screen and comes with a host of premium features.
Some of these exciting premium features include extra-wide armrests and a personal table for snacks and drinks, your very-own beverage cooler, which is ideal for films with a particularly long run-time, and even a back and legs that recline independently, so you can find the most relaxing viewing position possible.
Vue currently has 93 state-of-the-art cinemas throughout the UK and Ireland, totalling more than 850 screens – and the Quayside cinema is the latest to benefit from upgraded seating.
Ultra Lux seats have arrived at Vue Quayside Manchester / Credit: Vue Gallery / Supplied
This means that anyone heading to the cinema to see some of the latest and upcoming releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash, Marty Supreme, The Housemaid, Fackham Hall, Wicked: For Good, and so many more, can experience comfort like never before.
“We have invested in bringing Vue’s best seating option to our venue and are excited for our customers to enhance their experience on their next visit,” commented Darren Tinsley, who is the General Manager at Vue Manchester Quayside.
“It is truly the best way to immerse yourself in a film and to have the most comfortable experience.”
Tickets for Vue Manchester Quayside start from £6.49, with upgrades to Ultra Lux from £3 on selected tickets.
January is a month where the temperatures are colder, the days darker, and the social batteries a little lower, so it couldn’t be a better time to lose yourself in the power of cinema – and treat yourself to an Ultra Lux experience.
You can book tickets to upcoming films online by visiting myvue.com.
Danny Jones -
20th February 2023 
