A free exhibition celebratingchildren’s books including The Gurffalo, Zog, Stick Man and Room on the Broomis coming to Salford in time for the summer holidays.
The major new exhibit, which will celebrate author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s award-winning partnership, will open at The Lowry arts centre this summer.
Entitled Julia and Axel – Thirty Years of Favourite Stories, it will bring to life some of the best-loved characters in contemporary children’s fiction.
Kicking off in July before running through to the end of the year, those heading down can look forward to exploring an interactive “Storybook room”, as well as discovering snippets from the animated reimaginings of The Gruffalo, Zog and Snail and the Whale.
The exhibit will also explore how Julia and Axel have collaborated over the years to create some of the most beloved characters in modern children’s fiction.
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From the terrible tusks and terrible claws of the Gruffalo to the Witch, her cat, and her very tall hat, and Stick Man on his journey home to the ‘family tree’, the pair’s eccentric characters have captured the hearts and minds of children around the world.
The exhibition will open on Saturday 22 July at The Lowry and run to Monday 1 January 2024, giving families plenty of opportunities to visit over the course of the year.
Julia Donaldson says: “I am delighted that we are working in partnership with The Lowry on this exhibition and that they are celebrating 30 years of Axel and me working together. It is exciting to be able to share some ‘behind the scenes’ secrets with our young readers and to show what happens before a finished book is in their hands.
“I hope that it will help them to feel creative and to start writing and illustrating their own stories, so that we have new picture-book creators in the future.”
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Axel Scheffler says: “I find it hard to believe that it is 30 years since Julia Donaldson and I did our first picture book together with A Squash and a Squeeze. So much has happened since then and many children have now enjoyed our stories over the years.
“I am very pleased that The Lowry is hosting this special celebratory exhibition and that it will give families the chance to discover more about my illustrations and Julia’s writing.”
Michael Simpson, Director of Visual Arts at The Lowry, says: “This is a unique celebration of the creative partnership of Julia and Axel, whose stories and pictures are loved by children and grown-ups alike. We want every family to think of The Lowry as the place to go for a great day out.”
Glamorous new Salford restaurant speaks out as controversial resident parrot is rehomed
Daisy Jackson
A new riverside restaurant and shisha lounge has addressed the live parrot that was living in the middle of the restaurant.
Gardens Lounge in Salford opened last week, bringing Mediterranean dining to the banks of the River Irwell, just across the water from Manchester city centre.
But among those admiring the stylish decor were many issuing an outcry over Rio, a beautiful blue macaw displayed in a glass box at the heart of the restaurant.
A loud online campaign, Free Rio, was launched this week, including a petition that’s gained more than 10,000 signatures, which described his conditions as ‘suffering’.
The petition said: “Rio is a highly intelligent, wild animal who is being kept in wholly inadequate conditions. He is being used as a prop and décor to attract customers, this is not an appropriate or acceptable use of a living, sentient being.
“His current conditions cause us serious concern: His cage is entirely unsuitable for a macaw of his size and needs. He has no room to fly. He has nowhere to hide or retreat from the loud music and flashing lights he is subjected to for hours on en
“Macaws are highly social animals who mate for life and live in large family groups, Rio has no mate, no companionship, and no ability to express any natural behaviour whatsoever.
The restaurant has since been working closely with those campaigners – Protect the Wild and Vegan Manchester – and has made the decision to rehome Rio the parrot, saying that the bird has always been ‘a much-loved member of the Garden Lounge’s family’.
Gardens said that the parrot’s welfare has always been ‘of the utmost importance’ and stressed that his living conditions have been fully assessed and approved by the RSPCA.
In their full statement, Gardens said: “The welfare of Rio has always been of the utmost importance to everyone at Garden’s Lounge Manchester.
“Throughout his time with us, his health, wellbeing and environment have been thoroughly monitored and fully assessed and approved by the RSPCA.
The cage that housed Rio the parrot visible from the front door of the Salford restaurantGardens Lounge in Salford is open now
“Following extensive discussions and careful consideration, including conversations with members of the Manchester community whose views we greatly respect, we have made the decision to relocate Rio to a sanctuary environment, where he will have the opportunity to fly freely while continuing to receive specialist care and attention.
“Rio has been, and always will be, a much-loved member of the Garden’s Lounge family, and this decision has been made with his best interests at heart.
“We are proud of the love and care he has received over the years and are grateful to everyone who has shown him such affection and support.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Garden’s Lounge Manchester soon and thank our customers, friends and the wider community for their continued support.”
The best Mexican restaurants in and around Manchester
Danny Jones
Whenever we have a bit of decent weather here in Greater Manchester, we always imagine what it must be like for those abroad, just sitting and eating their national dishes al fresco without a care in the world; think, say, Mexican food – a.k.a. one of THE best kinds of cuisine on the planet.
Yes, pound for pound, it’s probably one of our go-tos.
Somewhat inspired by one of The Hoot team recently visiting the country, and partly because we personally can’t get enough of it, we thought we’d give you another one of our famous foodie round-ups.
We’re not sure where exactly it lands in our top five favourites, but what we can do is tell you some of the best Mexican food in central Manchester and a little further afield. ‘¡Venga!’
Top 10 Mexican restaurants in Greater Manchester
1. Madre – Kampus
Up first, where else to start than with the marvellous Madre over Kampus. This Modern Mexican restaurant isn’t just one of the best within its genre, but is arguably up there with the best Latin food in all of Manchester.
Whether you want to stick to menu staples like those crispy pork belly bites and chicken wings, are happy sticking with their tacos, wings and margaritas at sister bar Salon Madre, or perhaps fancy trying their Hispanic Sunday roasts and even a deep-fried pig head, you won’t find a bad mouthful.
Since opening early in the summer of 2025, El Piloto over at Society food and beer hangout has gradually carved a credible little culinary corner for itself, standing out as one of the best vendors of the bunch – and there’s plenty of great competition within that 8,000-square-foot independent trader hall.
Best known for their tacos, but also specialising in other authentic, more roadside-friendly favourites like charred corn ribs, our personal favourites are those chipotle hash browns, not to mention some great quesadillas, we’re big fans of this place.
3. Don Tacos – Piccaddilly, Rusholme and Bolton
Sticking with tacos, they may do plenty of street food, but Don Tacos is still one of the best-known Mexican restaurants in all of Greater Manchester, now boasting a pair of central sites, plus one over in Bolton, not to mention a couple of others across the country now.
Whether you’re after brilliant birra, quesadillas that are just the right amount of greasy (yes, there is an ideal level), Korean twists on tacos, or just some really good barbacoa, you can’t go wrong here. They’ve also featured on our very own Takeaway Champions series, and we can confirm it travels well.
Credit: The Manc Group
4. Birria Brothers – Northern Quarter
Speaking of birria, we can’t go an inch further without singing the praises of NQ legends, Birra Bros, who are posted up in one half of Koffee Pot over on Oldham Street and serve as the perfect transition from breakfast and dinner into tea.
Getting a bit posher now, you won’t find many places as pretty and transportive as Ocasa: the contemporary restaurant and bar bringing “Mexico City soul with Manchester heart”; their words, not ours, but having now tried this place a few times, we’re certainly feeling the love.
Aside from the stunning space itself, this noon-until-midnight venue – 1am on Fridays and Saturdays – specialises in elevated Mexican dishes such as guajillo beef shortrib, some of the best nachos you’ll ever eat, and traditional tortas (think very good sandwiches). It’s also great when the sun goes down here…
Whilst we’re on venues that thrive just as much when it comes to their nightlife as their main menu, there’s much more than just food and drink on offer at Maracas: arguably one of the liveliest spots in all of Salford. There’s also much more than just Mexican classics to enjoy
Located underneath the recognisable Chapel Street arches just on the edge of the city and just over the road from The Lowry Hotel, this is another day-into-night venue that you visit not just for hearty Latin American eats, but for drinks, dancing, and pure vibes. They even do guided language exchanges.
7. Pico’s Tacos – Mackie Mayor, Altrincham and mobile
From a cult favourite cantina among various Latino cultures here in central Manchester, to one of the best indie vendors and food hatches in the city centre, and its equally popular Trafford partner over at Alty Market: the one and only Pico’s Tacos.
Much more than just what the name would suggest, not only do they create some great and unique takes on taco flavours, but they’ll also do one of THE best margaritas in town – they’re super zingy and go great with the spicy rim – not to mention you can now get burritos from their van currently on Oxford Rd.
Since we’re heading further afield, let’s wing our way over to Stockport and one of the very few Mexican restaurants you’ll find in the town centre, sitting pretty on the edge of the marketplace and historic Old Town district; this particular writer actually used to work there when it was the old Blackshaw’s cafe…
While they’ve still kept the original building name, pride of place above the entrance, the food now being served here is way different compared to a few years ago – now they have a great selection of tequila, nail tacos, have a lovely charred and breadcrumbed hispi cabbage, and even do all-day brunch.
Sticking in the SK direction, we’re heading to the Heatons for our second-to-last stop on this Mexican restaurant tour of Manchester, where 113 MCR is not only plating up a reminder to Stopfordians that they ARE, in fact, part of Greater Manchester rather than Cheshire these days, but some great food, too.
Sharing a name with the previous entry, this place is technically three in one: two kitchens, all under one roof – La Capilla and Roost – with 113 bar serving as the third, and they offer everything from cheesy birria tacos to frozen margs, signature cocktails, boozy shakes, and DJs until late over the weekends.
Last but not least, we wanted to show our love to a locally-run restaurant over in Fallowfield that is simply called The Mexican. Sat along Wilmslow Road as you venture into ‘student central’, just before you get the iconic 256 bar, this family-friendly spot has plenty of charm and very solid scran.
We don’t know how much of it is down to the affordable and filling food, the colourful decor inside, or them sticking their adorable son Hugo on socials to guilt trip you into coming a support a Manc businesses, but it all works on us. Even if you only fancy ordering one of their burritos for delivery, do it.
Now, before we wrap this thing up, we couldn’t call it a day without shouting out the likes of the more grab-and-go type venues like Listo, Pancho’s and Casa Mexica, just to name a handful.
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Then you’ve got the likes of other beloved street food vendors like El Jefe Birria, Fuego 1987, and you know what? Beloved British chain Barburrito started right here in Manchester, and we’re damn proud of it, too – it still SLAPS no matter how big they get.
We’re even enjoying Cane and Grain’s current Latin menu over on Thomas Street, and we sincerely hope it sticks around for a long time.
Georgina Pellant -
24th April 2023 
