Manchester

The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck has finally announced its return to Manchester

The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck will roll into Greater Manchester this weekend.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 30th November 2021

Holidays are coming, and the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck has finally confirmed that it will be heading back to Greater Manchester.

The big red vehicle always marks the start of the festive season when it rolls onto our screens in the Coca-Cola advert.

The Christmas Truck first visited the UK in 2010 and now tours the UK every winter.

Last year’s event had to be called off because of the pandemic – but it’s full steam ahead with its 2021 visit.

The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck will roll into Greater Manchester this weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT
A snippet from the Coca-Cola Christmas advert / Credit: YouTube (Coca-Cola)

It will be parked up at the Trafford Centre between December 3 and 5.

Dates have been being added gradually to the tour, with the drinks giant saying: “This year, we’re planning to stop off at as many cities around the UK as possible – but we don’t want to spoil the surprise just yet.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more: Alternative ‘tat free’ Christmas Markets have taken over Manchester breweries

“We’ll be revealing which cities we’ll be rolling into over the next few weeks, so keep your eyes on our social media or website for all the details.”

The truck will be open between 11am and 8pm on all three days.

Featured Image – Coca Cola

Manchester

The new BBQ restaurant beneath a Manchester railway arch where meat is cooked very, VERY slowly

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The new BBQ restaurant beneath a Manchester railway arch where meat is cooked very, VERY slowly

There’s a new BBQ spot beneath a railway arch in Manchester, and it’s cooking its meat very, very slowly.

Sandy’s Smokeshed has just opened in Castlefield, where Sam – and his smoker, Angela – are serving up serious Texas-style BBQ, with queues already stretching out the door.

The idea is simple: take great cuts of meat, cover them generously in seasoning, put them in the smoker and give them all the time they need.

That means beef shin smoked over oak and cherry for 10 hours, eight-hour smoked beef chuck and the Boston Butt, alongside brisket, short ribs, chicken and plenty more.

Sam has always been a fan of BBQ, but decided to take things rather more seriously when he bought the enormous smoker now sitting underneath the arch. It’s a serious piece of kit, cooking the meat from all directions and producing the kind of results where everything practically collapses in your hand.

And the location only adds to the atmosphere. While you’re eating, trains rattle overhead, giving the place an appropriately industrial Manchester soundtrack.

Sandy's Smokeshed is beneath the arches in Castlefield
Sandy’s Smokeshed is beneath the arches in Castlefield
Owner Sam seasoning his pulled pork
Owner Sam seasoning his pulled pork
Juicy, pull-apart chicken
Juicy, pull-apart chicken

The BBQ comes with plenty of proper sides, too, including pit beans and slaw, plus garlic BBQ sauce for pouring over the top.

There are also some particularly good sandwiches, made with Holy Grain sourdough from next door and filled with pulled pork, steak, or braised ox shin.

Sandy’s Smokeshed kicked things off last weekend with a free food, BYOB feast, and judging by the queues, word has travelled quickly.

It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am – but only until they sell out.

Vegetarians, look away now. Everyone else, you’ll want to get there early.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Manchester

Manchester band Westside Cowboy release ‘thrilling’ debut album that critics are calling one of the year’s best

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

One of the UK’s best rising bands have released their debut album today to glowing reviews from critics and fans alike.

AND they’re from Manchester… sort of.

Jimmy Bradbury, Reuben Haycocks, Aoife Anson O’Connell, and Paddy Murphy – better known together as Westside Cowboy – formed back in 2023 when they were students at the Royal Northern College of Music, so while they may not all be from Manchester, they definitely have the spirit of our city at the heart of everything they do.

After playing in different bands across the city throughout their student years, the four-piece joined forces to create Westside Cowboy – an indie rock collective credited with self-coining the genre of ‘Britainicana’.

Put simply, Britainicana is a cultural concept that mixes the hazy, mythic feel of American country and folk, with the sound of raw British punk, indie rock, and small-town life.

Westside Cowboy have released their debut album, It Goes On / Credit: Clementine Schniedermann (Press Shots – Supplied)

If that sounds like your cup of tea, then you’ll be pleased to know that Westside Cowboy have released their debut album, It Goes On, to the world today (21 August).

And the reception from critics, arguably, couldn’t be better.

We’re talking four-star and five-star reviews from some major music publications, including the likes of heavy-hitters Rolling Stone UK, NME, Clash Magazine, DIY Magazine, Far Out Magazine, and Stereogum, among plenty others.

Prior to the release of their debut album, the band had released two EPs, including So Much Country ‘Till We Get There in January earlier this year, and had started to make a name for themselves with their popular debut single ‘I’ve Never Met Anyone I Thought I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)’ in 2024.

They went onto make even further waves when they supported equally-rising American rock band Geese on their UK and Irish tour back in March – with many fans calling it one of the best support and main act combinations in some time.

Three singles from their debut album were shared with the world ahead of its release – ‘Kick Stones (The Boys)’ came first, followed by ‘Pin Up Boys’ and ‘Dobro’.

Read more:

So, it’s fair to say the anticipation for album was high… and if the reviews are anything to go by (which we think they are), it looks like the band has very much delivered what they set out to achieve.

Westside Cowboy’s debut album It Goes On is now available to stream, or you can purchase a physical copy in a range of formats from their website here.

Take a listen👇

Featured Image – Press Shot (Supplied)

More Manchester

Live music venue

Art & Culture

BBC Introducing LIVE is back with events across the North for grassroots music artists

Live from Wythenshawe Park – lineup, travel, tickets, times, and everything you need to know

Audio

Live from Wythenshawe Park – lineup, travel, tickets, times, and everything you need to know

Manchester Village Pride - ticket prices, lineup, parade, and more

Manchester

Manchester Village Pride – ticket prices, lineup, parade, and more

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches