The Eat Out to Help Out scheme is already into its second week and off to a flying start in Manchester.
Under Eat Out To Help Out scheme, which was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of the UK government’s #PlanForJobs, visitors will receive a 50% discount, up to a maximum of £10 per person, when dining-in at participating venues on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout 3rd – 31st August.
This unmissable offer – which can be used on more than one occasion and will see participating establishments simply remove the discount from customers’ bills – is available on food and non-alcoholic beverages, but does not include takeaway purchases.
The scheme is designed to encourage people to dine-in and support their favourite local hangouts.
Plenty of Manchester’s independent eateries have signed on to take part in the scheme, but if you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat in the city centre without having to leave your pup at home, then the team at dog food company tails.com have compiled a list of 12 dog-friendly restaurants taking part in Eat Out to Help Out this month.
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North Tea Power
Northern Quarter
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North Tea Power
Often talked about as serving some of the best coffee in Manchester, North Tea Power is super dog-friendly.
Dogs are welcomed inside with open arms, plus they don’t even mind if the little ones curl up on the bench next to you. Even better, they’ve also got a covered outside area on the rows where you can sit if you have an extra large furry friend or the tables inside are taken.
For bookings and more information, visit the North Tea Power website here.
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Takk
Northern Quarter
Takk
One of the Northern Quarter’s most popular hangouts, Takk are experts at everything from coffee and tea, to light continental dining, wifi, seating and cakes – the latter made by the brilliant Trove bakery. Plus, it’s also dog-friendly too, so you can take your four-legged friends along with you.
For bookings and more information, visit the Takk website here.
Common
Northern Quarter
Common
You’ll never be unwelcome with a dog at Common.
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With delicious food and drinks, this Edge Street hangout is the perfect spot for you and your pup to get some downtime. Common is known for its quirky artwork on the walls, which seems to change every time you go in, so you’ll always have something to admire whilst you enjoy your food.
For bookings and more information, visit the Common website here.
The Wharf
Castlefield
The Wharf
After a walk along the canal, there’s no better place to make a pitstop with your pub than at The Wharf.
Even if the weather takes a turn for the worse and you can’t sit in their amazing beer garden, you and your furry friend can head inside to the bar area, where food and drink is served all day.
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For bookings and more information, visit The Wharf website here.
The Pen and Pencil
Northern Quarter
The Pen and Pencil
With food and drink served all day, from brunch and burgers, to healthy smoothies, beers, wines, spirits and bespoke cocktails, it’s easy to see why The Pen and Pencil is such a popular Northern Quarter hangout.
It’s also super dog-friendly too, so you and your pup can enjoy the relaxed environment together.
For bookings and more information, visit The Pen and Pencil website here.
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Tariff & Dale
Northern Quarter
Tariff & Dale
Serving up classic cocktails and British Beer in a building that is steeped in true Manchester history, Tariff and Dale offers you a tranquil environment to relax and enjoy some modern British food from the grill and sourdough pizza from the wood oven.
If all this wasn’t enough, your four-legged friend is also welcome to soak up the history with you and will be greeted with a warm welcome by all the staff.
For bookings and more information, visit the Tariff & Dale website here.
Cottonopolis
Northern Quarter
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Cottonopolis
Cottonopolis is a lively warehouse-style venue with an Asian-inspired menu featuring tempura, katsu and steamed asian-style greens, and a bar that serves up every drink you can possibly imagine.
It’s also a great place to take your four-legged friends as your dog is invited to enjoy the complete luxury along with you.
For bookings and more information, visit the Cottonopolis website here.
Rudy’s
Ancoats & Peter Street
Rudy’s
Rudy’s is a relaxed, neighbourhood pizzeria that follows the traditions and artistry of pizza from Naples, and even better, your furry friend can join you while you tuck into an authentic and delicious pizza. The Ancoats location also features a newly-extended outdoor area, complete with canopy, meaning that you and your pup can sit comfortably outside and enjoy the atmosphere of Cutting Room Square.
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For bookings and more information, visit the Rudy’s website here.
The Refuge
Oxford Street
The Refuge
The Refuge is a public bar and dining room set in 10,000 square feet of breath-taking space at the iconic hotel on Oxford Street. Plus, four-legged friends are allowed in until 7pm daily, but if it’s not a busy night, you can usually get away with them staying a little later.
Check out the Winter Garden area, which is full of trees, sofas and fairy lights.
For bookings and more information, visit The Refuge website here.
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Cocoa Cabana
Ancoats & West Didsbury
Cocoa Cabana
Cocoa Cabana has gained a respected reputation for its artisan, additive-free chocolates, homemade cakes and chocolate afternoon teas. This place has it all, from delicious chocolates and a selection of cocktails, to a food menu with plenty of choice.
Your dog is also very welcome here and will even have a little friend for company in the form of resident dachshund, Frank.
For bookings and more information, visit the Cocoa Cabana website here.
The Font
New Wakefield Street
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The Font
Craft beer, cocktails and hearty home-cooked food is always on the menu at The Font.
There’s an outside terrace at the front and plenty of room inside for any size dog. Plus, they host regular events, ranging from pottery workshops, BBQs and dog-themed parties.
For bookings and more information, visit The Font website here.
Richmond Tea Rooms
Sackville Street
Richmond Tea Rooms
Inspired by the desire to enjoy an exquisite afternoon tea in the heart of the city centre, Richmond Tea Rooms’ award-winning ‘Alice in Wonderland’-themed dining experience is completed with freshly made sandwiches, cakes and treats.
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Your pup can enjoy this unique dining experience with you as the tea room is super dog friendly and will greet your four-legged friend with a water bowl and a treat.
For bookings and more information, visit the Richmond Tea Rooms website here.
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The COVID-19 pandemic may have taken its toll on industries of all shapes and sizes over these past few months, but supporting local/independent business has never been more important than it is right now.
The Manc is #BuzzingToBeBack – find out more about eats in Manchester here.
Eats
The Manchester restaurant serving up the ‘world’s hottest curry’ for just a few days
Danny Jones
City centre favourite Zouk is serving up ‘the world’s hottest curry’ again to celebrate National Chilli Day next week.
The popular tea bar and grill located on Chester Street just off Oxford Road is slap bang in the middle of student central and has hordes of patrons lining up day in, day out, to taste their incredible Indian and Pakistani cuisine.
Now, to celebrate every spicy-food lover’s favourite day, Zouk is putting on special, limited-time-only menu to cater to all you heat freaks and speaking collectively on The Manc‘s behalf (several of us having tried it), it’s no joke.
The World’s Hottest Curry will be available for five days from Monday 24 to Friday 28 February, with a challenge on Thursday 27 February with prizes to anyone who can finish the fiery karahi.
The dishes
When it came to coming up with the world’s hottest curry, Zouk didn’t have to look far for inspiration, they simply picked the world’s hottest chilli: the Carolina Reaper Chilli.
Combining the 1,569,000 Scoville scorcher of a chilli with their much-loved and already spicy chicken karahi and vegetable karahi recipes, they knew they were on a winner. You might have to sign a waiver to eat it but that’s all part of the fun, right?
Typically prepared in a wok and cooked over hot flames with tomatoes, ginger, garlic, peppercorns and cumin to create the sauce base, the karahi originates from the Northwest region of Pakistan and has a great flavour. Depending on how brave you’re feeling, you can have it as a kebab or a full curry.
Credit: Supplied
That being said, this version does contain dried Carolina Reapers so you might not taste much beyond the heat of the sun after a few seconds. While the chilli is deemed suitable for human consumption, even Zouk’s chefs have admitted to struggling with the dish. Gulp. So, what can you win?
The challenge and prizes
Us Brits love a good curry and we already know that plenty of you won’t be able to resist the urge to take on the Reaper Challenge simply out of pride, so we might as well just tell you what you’ll have to eat in order to win the prizes.
Here’s what’s up for grabs:
Finish the full Carolina Reaper Curry (either chicken or veg) in one sitting (max eating time 30 minutes and no helping from companions), Zouk will give you the meal for free.
PLUS, a £50 Zouk Gift Card so you can come back at a later date to try their full menu (including some less omg-spicy options).
You’ll also get a Zouk Ice Cream Sunday to help cool off afterwards. Trust us, you’ll need it.
Issuing a statement for National Chilli Day and the Reaper Challenge, owner Tayub Amjad said: “Our food is usually more about flavour than heat but it’s National Chilli Day, and we know our customers love this challenge.
“For those who complete the challenge, you still have chance to come back and dine on us at a future date, so you will still get to experience the real Zouk too.”
What you thinking, Manchester? Are you up for taking on the world’s hottest curry?
Prestwich pizzeria Dokes announces closure as neighbourhood goes through big changes
Daisy Jackson
One of Prestwich’s best-loved independent restaurants has announced the end of its current chapter, saying that it’s become too difficult to operate with tighter and tighter margins.
Dokes, a pizzeria that also served arguably the town’s best roast dinner, has said that it’s going to ‘have to call it a day’ after three years in the proudly independent neighbourhood.
The news comes just months after Rudy’s opened its first Prestwich restaurant just across the road from Dokes, though that of course may just be a coincidence…
The restaurant comes from the same team behind Elnecot in Ancoats, and opened in 2022, promising delicious pizzas made with (wherever possible) British ingredients.
In a statement issued today, chef and owner Michael Clay said that ‘it’s just not been possible for us to make the money required for the size of team needed to run as a pizza restaurant’.
He wrote: “We are a small restaurant and the margins that were there pre-Covid are not achievable anymore at this scale and only getting tighter month on month.”
He then teased that they would be keeping the Bury New Road site on, with plans to reopen as a new concept.
Prestwich has been growing in popularity in recent years, with a blossoming food and drink scene and healthily increasing house prices.
It’s on the precipice of a £100m overhaul too, which will see the Longfield Centre transformed and new facilities built near the tram stop, including a community hub, a new village square, a market hall, flexible retail and leisure spaces, landscaped outdoor and green spaces, a new travel hub off Fairfax Road and around 200 homes.
It’s always been a village packed with local small businesses until this year, when both Rudy’s and Gail’s opened up – prompting this heartfelt statement from another local indie.
Dokes’ full statement reads: “After nearly 3 years of trying our hardest, unfortunately we’re going to have to call it a day.
“Having originally taken on the premises in between the two lockdowns (remember them?!), we’ve been extremely proud of what we have achieved under sometimes unbelievably difficult circumstances. Our staff have been the cornerstone of this and we would like to thank them for all of their hard work. The feedback we have received over the past couple of years on their food, service and hospitality has been absolutely incredible and we are extremely grateful for the hard work they have put in and the commitment they have shown.
“We feel like we have created a product that you have absolutely loved and a space that you have enjoyed coming to and we now really feel like a part of the Prestwich community – and for that we can’t thank you enough! You came for the pizzas and stayed for the roasts and it’s been a lot of fun.
“Try as we might though, it’s just not been possible for us to make the money required for the size of team needed to run as a pizza restaurant. We are a small restaurant and the margins that were there pre-Covid are not achievable anymore at this scale and only getting tighter month on month.
“So it is with a heavy heart that we are closing the door on this chapter BUT…we aren’t going to be leaving you completely…
“We have plans for the place which we will be updating you about very soon so please watch this space for more details. We hope you’re going to love it.
“As Dokes, Sunday 9th March will be our final service so please come down over the next couple of weeks, grab a pizza or a roast and say hello. It would be lovely to see you all. Bookings are open and the cellar is stocked so lets fill the little place up and go out with a bang!
Emily Sergeant -
10th August 2020 
