We’re all looking for something a little special this Valentine’s Day.
But with just over two weeks to go until the big day arrives, we’ve pretty much resigned ourselves to the fact things will be a slightly different this year, right?
Whilst it is true that we’re somewhat used to adapting our seasonal celebrations for the circumstances nowadays, the loved-up among us won’t have forgotten that Valentine’s Day is new ground for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, given that it was one of the last events to take place ‘normally’ before the stark realities of the crisis set in last March.
That doesn’t mean the occasion should to go un-celebrated in 2021 though.
There’s no need to miss out on feeling the love with your special someone, especially as there’s a whole host of ways to safely celebrate from the comfort of your own home, and plenty of the region’s best businesses are gearing up to deliver Valentine’s Day-themed food, drink and gifts directly to your front door.
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Shopping local for Valentine’s Day has never been more important for independent than it is this year.
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Food & Drink
Our picks for the best COVID-friendly food and drink experiences the city has to offer.
Abeja Tapas
Oxford Road
£28.50 – £48
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Are you looking for a unique Valentine’s feast?
Whether you’re surprising your loved one, having a Zoom date, or celebrating self love Sunday, Abeja Tapas‘ Valentine’s boxes come with all the gourmet goodness you expect from Manchester’s smallest tapas bar. The Valentine’s Special Board-in-a-Box is perfect for those lucky enough to be together, while the Valentine’s Duo Boxes are ideal for those share the love virtually.
All tapas hampers are beautifully-prepared by hand, and are wrapped up in eco-friendly or compostable packaging, and can be ordered for collection or UK-wide delivery.
You can place your order in time for Valentine’s Day here.
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Herd
Northern Quarter
£97
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Herd NQ is the one if you’re looking for at-home luxury this Valentine’s Day.
The menu for the Valentine’s Day Box has been designed to give you “an extra bit of love with some extra luxurious treats during lockdown 3.0”, and allows you to create your own three-course meal – with a “beautiful chateaubriand” on the line-up – complete with a selection of handmade chocolate truffles to round it all out.
Collection is available from the Northern Quarter restaurant, and delivery is available for anyone within a three mile radius, with all deliveries made on the 13th February.
If it’s just a classic household bubble party you’re in the mood for this Valentine’s Day, then you can’t really go wrong with the Party Vibes packs by The Font.
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Packs for two, four and six people each come with a selection of the popular bar’s best selling cocktails and shots, along some treats to sweeten things up and everything else you need for a COVID-safe celebration of love, with prices starting at just £20.
And they’re offering 20% off too.
You can order your Party Vibes packs to be delivered via Deliveroo here.
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Hey Little Cupcake
Spinningfields
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£4.50 – £36
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Hey Little Cupcake has everything you’d need to satisfy a sweet tooth this Valentine’s Day.
With everything baked fresh to order, the Spinningfields-based independent bakery is known for embracing seasonal celebrations with open arms, and the national day of love is no different, as there’s plenty of themed cupcakes, cookies, brownie slaps, cake pops, and more on the menu.
Prices start at just £4.50 for single cupcakes, to £36 for a full-sized Valentine’s Treat Cake, and can be delivered to homes nationwide.
Manchester’s only Michelin Star restaurant is pulling out all the stops for Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day with Mana allows you to get stuck into the creation process too, as this is a fine dining experience to be collected and finished at home, with a menu which reflects the usual style of Mana’s cuisine.
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The vast majority of the work has been done for you and the offering has been constructed with you in mind, but it comes accompanied by clear and concise finishing instructions, which make it easy for you to take part in a fun activity, without it dominating your evening, so you can “spend more time in peace with your loved one on Valentine’s”.
Valentine’s Day with Mana can be ordered for collection on 13th February here.
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Home by Nico
Spring Gardens
£80
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Six by Nico is undoubtedly one of Manchester’s most unique dining experiences, and its lockdown-born at-home menus have proven to be some of most popular on the market, with the Valentine’s Edition set to continue that trend.
The Valentines Edition is described as “the epitome of indulgence”, coming with freshly-made lobster and prawn tortellini, and an aged fillet of beef – leaving cooking preferences up to you – along with the most “delectable accompaniments” and a mouthwatering dessert that have all expertly made, paired with a bottle of Barinas Tempranillo red wine, and delivered to you.
The Home by Nico Valentines Edition comes perfectly portioned for two guests, and you can get your orders in for collection or delivery here.
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Hampton & Voúis
Princess Street
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Hampton & Voúis
What could be more perfect for a Valentine’s Day brunch than Jammy Dodger pancakes?
Princess Street-based Hampton & Voúis is a much-loved hangout for brunch fans in the city centre, offering an extensive menu for the mid-morning meal, but it’s the fan-favourite Jammy Dodger pancakes – which come with caramel sauce, strawberry jam, Jammy Dodger biscuits, fresh berries and vanilla ice cream – that are our pick for the national day of love.
Orders can be made for both collection and delivery, and you can view the full menu and place your orders on the Hampton & Voúis website here.
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Saint Croissants
Radcliffe
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From £22
Saint Croissants
How incredible do these Valentine’s-themed croissants and cronuts look?
Launched during lockdown in May 2020, Saint Croissants is the brainchild of Manchester-based Mum, Aimée Soudry, and the independent business has been developing a much-deserved cult following right across the UK ever since.
The Saint Valentine collection allows you to create bundle boxes of croissants and cronuts that are filled and topped with everything from white hazelnut Bueno filling and caramel cherry chocolate toppers, to fresh banana buttercream, with white chocolate Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and salted caramel chocolates, and even Party Rings, strawberry hearts and pink glitter spray.
You can view the full collection menu and pre-order your bundle boxes for collection or delivery in time for Valentine’s Day here.
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Gifts
Our shop local gift guide this Valentine’s Day.
Atlas Bar
Castlefield
£25 & £39.95
Atlas Bar
The ideal gift for a gin lover this Valentine’s Day.
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Atlas Bar’s Valentine’s Day Home Gin Experiences come with Defiance Strawberry, Pink 47, Hoxton Gunpowder and Rosehip and Aviation gins, along with four premium mixers, from the Fitch and Leedes Team, in South Africa, and some botanicals to enjoy with your gins too.
You and your loved one can also take part in a live gin tasting hosted by Atlas Bar at 7pm on Saturday 13th February as well.
All orders can be made for delivery via the Atlas Bar website here.
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The Sweet Drop
Whitefield
From £3
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Whitefield-based independent The Sweet Drop delivers gifts of sweets directly to your door for every occasion, and Valentine’s Day is certainly no different, as the new My Sweet Valentine collection lets you select either a pink and red Valentines mix of sweets, a rainbow mix, or you can even choose your own instead.
Prices start at just £3 for the simple ‘Love Cone’, all the way up to £20 for a ‘Share Bucket’, and you can even get 20% in the current January sale.
You can grab your orders on The Sweet Job website here.
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Cocoa Cabana
Didsbury & Ancoats
£3.70 – £25
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Valentine’s Day and chocolate is a tale as old as time.
But Didsbury and Ancoats-based independent chocolatiers Cocoa Cabana is putting its own unique spin on the trend, with a new Valentine’s Day Chocolate Range that features everything from heart-shaped and raspberry lips lollies, to a selection of themed artisan chocolate truffles, personalised chocolate hearts and even Chocolate Gift Hampers too.
You can view the full collection and place your orders on the Cocoa Cabana website here.
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Blumin Tea
£25 – £60
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Blumin Tea’s selection of Valentine’s hampers come in a range of prices to suit all, are filled with flowering tea, chocolates, and teddies, and can be specially-wrapped and delivered with a personalised card direct to the door of your loved one.
What more could you need?
You can place your orders for hamper delivery prior to Valentine’s Day here.
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The Cocktail Co.
Stockport
£11 – £57
The Cocktail Co.
Is there really a better gift than a delivery of cocktails and treats for Valentine’s Day?
Stockport-based The Cocktail Co.’s Cocktail Gift Boxes are the perfect way to show someone you care, with hampers filled with a selection popular pre-made cocktails, prosecco, garnishes and even some sweet treats to celebrate the special occasion.
UK-wide shipping is available, along with delivery to locations within a three-mile radius of SK6, or collection.
The Bud & Pot are gearing up for a special Valentine’s Day this year.
Along with two specially-selected potted plants and the classic ‘True Romance’ bouquet, the Prestwich-based florist has launched the stand-out ‘Peach of My Heart’ arrangement that “encapsulates elegance through it’s delicate florals in peach, white and blush pink tones”.
You can order for deliveries to be made on 13th & 14th February right across Manchester here.
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Amelia Rose Floral Couture
Chadderton
£45 – £150
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Chadderton-based Amelia Rose Floral Couture is making “the bouquets of every girl’s dream” this Valentine’s Day.
The Love Heart Sweet collection bouquets are made up of pastel hues, using a couture selection of flowers, wrapped in signature white wrap and presented in white hand-tied bags, complimented with love heart sweeties “for that extra sweet touch”.
Orders for delivery on 13th and 14th February are already booked up, but you can still secure your slot for 12th and prior.
You can view the full Valentine’s collection and place your orders here.
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Fings Manchester
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After something a little different, but keen to show your love for our city as well as that special someone this Valentine’s Day?
Fings Manchester has the gifts you’re after.
The independent online illustration and design shop stocks everything from unique Manchester prints, to quirky greetings cards, post cards and more, available at a range of prices.
You can place your orders in time for Valentine’s Day on Etsy here.
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Not quite found something that takes your fancy just yet?
Don’t worry.
There’s still plenty of time before the big day arrives, and we will continue to update this article with all of the lockdown-friendly, COVID-safe Valentine’s experiences and gifts that we can find from local businesses across Greater Manchester, so keep checking back to make sure you don’t miss out.
Eats
The best Mother’s Day deals in and around Manchester this year
Danny Jones
Mother’s Day is one of the most important days on the calendar at any point, not just in 2026, as it’s a reminder to thank our wonderful mums for everything they do for us all throughout the year.
Of course, you should be grateful for them every day, especially since they had the good sense to give birth to bring you to this part of the world, but we know life can get busy.
However, that’s exactly what Mothering Sunday is for: reminding them that you’d roll out the red carpet and shower them with praise and eternal gratitude 24/7, 365 if you could.
So, without further ado, please rifle through some of the best Mother’s Day freebies, deals and offers your mum can enjoy in and around Manchester this year.
The best Mother’s Day deals and offers in Manchester city centre and beyond | 2026
What is it:A stunning boutique hotel in the heart of Manchester city centre, which is home to a rooftop terrace, a hidden cinema, and a lovely British restaurant.
For their Mother’s Day Deal:They’ve launched a new Manchester-inspired afternoon tea (complete with Vimto macaron and a tribute to the chippy tea), and if you book in between 13 and 16 March, you’ll get an exclusive ESPA Beauty & Wellness Gift Bag to celebrate Mother’s Day. Find out more HERE.
NQ64 – Northern Quarter and Peter Street
What is it:Manchester’s much-loved subterranean gaming bar, where the consoles and cocktails are as retro as each other.
Mother’s Day deal:They’re bringing back ‘Shorty Sundays’, which allows under-18s to visit for a whole family afternoon out gaming. It’s running from 11am until 3pm.
The Refuge – Oxford Road Corridor
What is it:A beautiful, grand restaurant space located within the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on Oxford Road, serving everything from eclectic small plates to one of the best Sunday roasts in Manchester.
For Mother’s Day:There’s a complimentary glass of fizz for mums dining on Sunday 15 March, alongside its Sunday roast menu.
You can always grab her some flowers on the way out, too. (Credit: The Manc Group)
The Head of Steam – Northern Quarter, Didsbury and more
What is it:Beloved group of largely Northern boozers, often found at train stations or in key central locations, including a relatively new NQ branch.
For Mother’s Day:A free glass of fizz for mums when you book in advance, available 9-15 March.
Pip at Treehouse Hotel – Central
What is it:A creative new British restaurant from award-winning chef Mary-Ellen McTague, where the cooking is always comforting and seasonal.
The deal:Signature Sunday roasts will be served with a complimentary glass of fizz for mums. Bookings are live now.
Malmaison Manchester Deansgate
What is it: A four-star hotel located just beyond the main Deansgate strip, featuring the downstairs Chez Mal Brasserie, as well as the rooftop Sora ‘sky’ bar and restaurant.
The deal: Two Mother’s Day Weekend packages from £34.95 per person; choose between afternoon tea or Sunday lunch – both of which include a glass of Lombard and champagne truffles for mum.
Albert’s Schloss – Peter St
What is it: Peter Street’s popular day-to-night bars in town, regularly packed most evenings and all weekend, specialising in Bavarian food and drink, live music, and lots of dancing on benches (not the tables, remember). We always recommend booking where you can.
We don’t really need to tell you what goes on in here, do we? (Credit: The Manc)
The deal: A full day of food, drink and entertainment, starting with a ‘Rise and Shine DJ’ set with breakfast offerings from 9am, lots of spritzes in official partnership with Aperol, their usual Sunday roasts, as well as two Mother’s Day special dishes: curry roasted cod with cauliflower, buttered spinach and fennel sauce, and a decadent sticky toffee pudding with Jameson toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream.
The Ivy – Spinningfields
What is it: Surely needs no introduction, this one – the huge three-storey restaurant and brasserie on the edge of Spinningfields that’s a firm favourite with the city’s more glamorous residents.
The deal:There’s a special Mother’s Day Breakfast on Sunday (complete with Champagne, truffled eggs and mini pastries), with a free bunch of tulips and a box of The Ivy Chocolate Truffles to take home for mums. Reserve your table HERE.
Dirty O’Sullivans – Albert Square
What is it:One of the city’s newer Irish bars, doing Sunday roast ‘cauldron’ feasts, pies, and (naturally) lots of Guinness. Perfect if your mum isn’t exactly a dainty afternoon tea type.
The deal:Mums eat free when dining with a group of four or more on Mother’s Day, plus she’ll get a free glass of prosecco.
Mum will be buzzing if you treat her to a proper posh one like this.
Fenix – St John’s
What is it:A stunning and VERY glitzy Greek-Mediterranean restaurant in St John’s, with a bright Mykonos-inspired restaurant upstairs and smart cocktail bar downstairs.
The deal:All mums will receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine or ‘Lady Athena’ cocktail. Book your meal right HERE.
MAYA – Canal Street
What is it: A stylish Canal Street bar with a renovated basement restaurant, serving elegant food and drinks across a total of three floors – a growing Gay Village favourite.
The deal: A special Mothering Sunday ‘Evening With…’ event for one night only featuring Pianist Eden Binks and RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Viola. There’s also a Sunday Roast available to book from 12-5:30pm, as well as all mums and mother figures being entitled to a complimentary glass of Tattinger with food.
Federico – King Street
What is it: One of Manchester city centre’s most gorgeous new wine bars, serving signature cocktails, spritzes, house DJs and even live jazz in a low-lit setting over at Pall Mall.
The deal: Mother’s Day wine flight of three glasses of wine for £15 available on the Sunday only; the team will create a bespoke lineup based on each person’s tastes.
The Cut & Craft – Central
One of the prettiest rooms you’ll ever eat in. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
What is it: Increasingly one of the best-known steak and seafood restaurants in the North, now serving up gourmet plates, champagne bottomless brunches and more from a beautiful old bank on Mosley St.
The deal: ‘Brunch in Bloom’ event, hosted in partnership with local florists, where guests will be welcomed with a bellini board on arrival and guided through creating their own personalised bouquet to take home, along with a brunch dish and goodie bag from Molton Brown. £60 per person, 10am–12pm.
Electric Shuffle – Deansgate
What is it: One of many places to play shuffleboard in the heart of Manchester, but also happens to be one of the coolest spots to do so, with party-friendly food and sharing platters, as well as a healthy supply of drinks.
The deal: Mothers are entitled to a free glass of Prosecco, and the first 100 mums to join the fun will receive a miniature bottle of Mermaid Pink Gin as a gift to take home. You can book now.
Carden Park – Chester
What is it: One of the most luxurious and relaxing leisure destinations in the North West, offering fine food and drink, spa and wellness services, as well as stunning views of the Cheshire countryside.
The deal: They’re doing an afternoon tea offer for £35pp, which can be upgraded to the sparkling version (Prosecco included) for £44, swapped for gin at £42.50, or an even more glam option of Bollinger champagne for £48.50. You can always book these as part of a full hotel stay.
Piccolino – Central, West Didsbury, Wilmslow, Hale, Knutsford and more
What is it: A tried and tested Italian restaurant that never disappoints; great for a laid-back bite on your dinner break, with their popular lunchtime offer, and is even busier come the evenings. They also do great e-card options if you’re in a pinch.
The deal: A special ‘scented’ Sunday lunch, centred around a roast leg of lamb with all the trimmings (two courses for £40/three for £45); plus, mums get a glass of fizz included and are also invited to stay and design their own Jo Malone fragrance, as well as take home a personalised candle and engraving.
Stock Exchange Hotel – Central
What is it: Well-known Mancunian hotel co-owned by former Man United legend turned businessman Gary Neville, which also boasts the Tender restaurant by Niall Keating in-house.
The deal: They’re offering a special afternoon tea for Mother’s Day 2026, with live performances by the one and only Hallé Orchestra. Prices starting from £40pp.
Zouk Bar and Grill – Oxford Rd Corridor
What is it: Some of the best Indian and Pakistani food not just in the city but maybe even Greater Manchester full stop, offering various deals year-round, from bottomless packages, breakfast and brunches, Sunday roast sharing platters and much more.
The deal: All mums get a free glass of fizz and a red velvet rose dessert for Mother’s Day bookings – worth it for that Sunday roast sharer platter we mentioned alone…
Chotto Matte – Central
What is it: One of Manchester’s newest and swankiest hospitality venues, located inside Gary Neville’s St Michael’s tower, blending the flavours of Peru and Japan, a.k.a. ‘Nikkei’ cuisine.
The deal: They’re serving Peruvian Sunday roast for their Mother’s Day in the city this year, which includes a complimentary glass of prosecco and a special lip gloss for mum to take home (on a first-come, first-served basis).
King Street Townhouse – Central
What is it: One of Manchester’s best and most boutique hotels, with stylish, spa and all-round hospitality services across the board – perfect for any special occasion.
The deal: Traditional Afternoon of ‘High’ Tea for £35pp, or you book them an hour-long ‘ESPA’ treatment (Inner Beauty Facial, Inner Calm Massage or an ESPA Wellness Hour). Find out more.
The Lowry – Salford
What is it: Needs no introduction, really. One of the most famous hotels in the region, if not the entire country, and for good reason – it’s brilliant.
The deal: They’re doing an exclusive Mother’s Day brunch for £25, or £30 with sparkling wine; afternoon tea for £39 (or another tenner with booze once again), OR treat your queen to a full-on RE:TREAT spa day experience, priced at £145 during weekdays and £160 at weekends.
What is it: Similar to The Lowry, the Beetham Tower (and former Hilton) is one of the most famous hotels and parts of the Manchester skyline, and it has luxury food and drink offerings both way up high and in its AA-Rosette ground-floor restaurant.
The deal: They’re doing a bottomless lunch (two courses for £35 or three for £40) over the course of 90 mins, or you can make it a boozy one with rivers of Prosecco at £59.
Browns – King/Brown Street
What is it: A long-standing fine dining restaurant group, with Manc site on the corner of Brown Street and the top of King St, specialising in a wide range of brasserie dishes and British classics.
The deal: Mums get a complimentary glass of fizz for Mothering Sunday when purchasing any main from the à la carte menu; there’s also a special set Sunday roast menu (must put down a deposit to secure your booking).
James Martin Manchester – Great Northern
What is it: Gourmet restaurant by the popular Northern TV chef, located just above Manchester235 Casino, well-known for serving elevated but unmistakably British classics.
The deal: Special set menu – two courses for £48 or three for £52, complete with welcoming nibbles on arrival; available until 15 March 2026.
Seven Brothers – Ancoats
What is it: Local brewery and beerhouse founded in Salford that remains one of the best bars not just on Cutting Room Square but all of Ancoats, if you ask.
The deal: Free glass of Prosecco for mum when you put ‘Mother’s Day’ in the booking notes – you can do so right HERE.
Sexy Fish – Spinningfields
Credit: The Manc
What is it: A swanky seafood restaurant on ‘The Avenue’ just up from Hardman’s Square, specialising in fine dining, sushi, as well as small plates, dim sums, grilled meats and cocktails.
The deal: Exclusive multi-course set menu for Mother’s Day, priced at £48pp, including dessert, a complimentary glass of fizz, and Applied Nutrition X Coleen Rooney Collagen box.
Now, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but this is just a taster of what the city and some surrounding areas are offering for mums this year.
If you do know of any particularly good ones we’ve missed, please feel free to drop them in the comments, and we’ll make sure to update this round-up with as many as we can.
Loafi – The Ramsbottom bakery thrilling customers with its old-fashioned northern bakes
Daisy Jackson
There’s a bakery in Ramsbottom that’s been making waves since it opened last year – but it’s not for cutting-edge bakes or trendy desserts.
Nope – at Loafi, it’s all about stripping things back to basics, with a properly northern menu of old-school bakes.
The bakery may be new, but the baking is not. You’ll find nothing but traditional favourites, including Eccles cakes, shortbread, and cornflake tarts.
And then as your eyes rove across the counter, you’ll land on the star of the show, and the one that’s got everyone (us included) travelling all the way up to Ramsbottom. The custard tart.
Loafi’s custard tarts are tall, like a pastry shot glass filled with just-set egg custard filling.
You can get them classic, or in a Manchester tart format with coconut and raspberry jam, or catch occasional specials when they have surplus ingredients to spare (we got lucky with a lemon meringue custard tart).
None of us should be surprised to find that this bakery is excelling in this particular field, because the man behind it is chef-turned-baker Rich Sharples, who was previously the executive chef of Gary Usher’s Elite Bistros restaurant group.
The lemon meringue custard tart specialTraditional bakes from LoafiThe custard tart and Manchester tart
One of those restaurants he was a mastermind of was Hispi, which is known across the region for its perfect wibbly-wobbly custard tart slices.
The custard tart at Loafi feels more nostalgic and approachable though, and the stream of customers pouring through the doors clear each tray within minutes of them landing.
Beyond that, you can pick up a whole host of bakery bits with proudly northern roots, like individual loaf cakes made with Irwell Works stout, and mini carrot and walnut cakes.
There are others that will whisk you back to your childhood, such as a pineapple and brown butter upside-down cake, and a banana sponge with toffee and cream.
Plus expect treats such as bakewell slices, tiramisu roulade, and flapjacks.
A full spread of bakes at LoafiRich Sharples with the team outside LoafiA selection of butties at LoafiFresh loaves of bread
Loafi has a fabulous savoury offering too, like sausage rolls made with meat from Walmsley’s Butchers, and bacon butties on soft milk rolls.
Around four different sandwiches drop onto the counter at 11am every day, each of them guilt-free, fuss-free, and affordable. Rich believes that getting a butty for lunch shouldn’t feel like a special treat.
The fillings change regularly but are always local ingredients, prepared and made right in front of you, from cured hams and corned beef to coronation chicken.
During the weekday, you can get this as a meal deal with a sandwich drink and a bag of crisps for £7.95.
There are proper cups of soup served with a wedge of sourdough too, which changes regularly – at the minute, Rich is utilising the stock from his potted ham to make a ham, lentil and tomato soup.
Loafi isn’t setting out to reinvent the wheelhouse, but rather to wind back the clocks to create a nostalgic, quality, Lancashire bakehouse. It’s being incredibly well-received already.
You’ll find Loafi in Ramsbottom – just follow the call of the custard tart.
Emily Sergeant -
29th January 2021 
