A huge vegan market is coming to Manchester this winter, bringing over 80 stalls to Trafford’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre.
Taking place at the huge exhibition centre later this month, the market will showcase the best of the vegan lifestyle with hot and cold food stalls, cookbooks, lifestyle products and more.
Those looking for gift ideas ahead of Christmas will find a host of different products at hand, ranging from organic, natural skincare and cosmetic products to ethical and environmental clothing.
Stalls will be packed with products that you just can’t find at supermarkets, mixing delicious vegan food products to eat on the day and to take home for your cupboards.
Elsewhere, there’ll be inspirational charities and organisations at hand to talk about the work that they’re doing including Miracle’s Mission, a non-profit animal welfare organisation that works with sick, injured and disabled animals worldwide.
Street food available on the day will include traditional Ethiopian curries served on injera bread from Manchester’s own House of Habesha, alongside vegan kebabs from British Street Food Awards 2020/2021 Finalist Seitan’s Kebab, and cooked-to-order hot dogs courtesy of VDogs.
Salford’s DevilDog sauces will on hand with their tasty range of chilli sauces, whilst Manchester-based Gillie Foods will be in attendance with their delicious range of Asian dishes. Elsewhere, you’ll find Kind Hearted Chocs selling a delicious selection of locally-made vegan chocolates.
Other local stalls due to appear on the day include itreatskin, which sells 100% natural products for eczema, acne, psoriasis, and plain-and-simple dry skin; Northern Lashe, an eco-friendly company providing handmade vegan lash products; and the Sea Moss Elixir, a local drinks brand that produces herbal healing and vital nutrient-filled beverages.
Salford-based Saco Superfoods, which works directly with small-scale women producers in West Africa, will also be at the event selling a range of superfoods including Organic Mango, Baobab Powder, Hibiscus Flower and Ginger Flakes.
As for those looking for vegan cooking inspiration, they’ll want to keep their eyes peeled for the Bo’s Book stall – a new vegan cookbook that makes a great Christmas gift and features simple, easy-to-follow recipes (for both dogs and humans!) with all the profits going to help needy dogs at animal welfare and education charity Miracle’s Mission.
Taking place on Sunday 20 November from 1030am to 430pm at Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Trafford Park, entry is just £5 with all funds from tickets going to support animals in need.
Under sixteens can enter for free, and there is also a £15 VIP ticket option available to purchase in advance fro Eventbrite which will guarantee fast track entry on the day, as well as a goody bag full of vegan products, samples, discounts and offers.
These viral sensations are a plush toy created by Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised designer Kasing Lung, who drew inspiration from his love of fairytales to create a character with bunny-like ears, large eyes and big smiles.
They’re swinging off handbags all over the UK at the minute and people are queueing for hours for the latest Labubu drops.
At Sweet Dreams, they’re making edible chocolate Labubus using a special mould flown in from Japan.
Each one has a pistachio kunafa filling and is painstakingly painted by hand.
And that brings us neatly to the next viral craze at play here – Dubai pistachio chocolate.
An army of pistachio chocolate LabubuInside a chocolate pistachio Labubu
Kunafa is a staple in Middle Eastern bakes and pastries but hit the global mainstream last year when thick chocolate pistachio bars stuffed with it went viral online, spawning countless dupes and inspired specials.
And finally, chocolate covered strawberries – hardly a new invention, but this simple dessert has rocketed in popularity especially in food hotspots like Borough Market in London.
Head into Sweet Dreams and you can build your treat from the base up – choose white or milk melted chocolate for your strawberries, layer on pistachio kunafa, then top with either a milk or white chocolate Labubu.
A slightly daft novelty? Yes. But that doesn’t stop them being delicious.
This is the only place in the UK currently selling Dubai pistachio chocolate Labubus.
Beloved Stockport burger joint The Last Stop is closing its doors this month
Danny Jones
Much-loved burger joint and bar The Last Stop has announced it will be closing the doors of its original Stockport restaurant later this month.
The popular burger, gyros and Heaton Chapel hangout spot only just opened back in April 2024, but following the growing pressures throughout the hospitality sector, the team have made the decision to shut down their flagship brick-and-mortar site.
Confirming the news on Tuesday, The Last Stop informed their followers that this weekend will mark the venue’s very last round of service, “firing up the grills for the final time” and hosting one more big blowout on Saturday, 26 July.
They shared a lengthy statement explaining the reasoning behind their decision on Instagram, and fans of their food, drink and atmosphere are understandably gutted.
The post reads: “Despite a fantastic first year for The Last Stop, we’ve decided that the time is right to make a change in the Chapel.
“Over the last year, we’ve been fortunate enough to grow The Last Stop from scratch rapidly: collaborating with The Salmon of Knowledge bars (with a 3rd opening lined up for August), entering into the Egyptian Rooms [Oldham] Produce Hall [Stockport] food halls and having the pleasure of serving you thousands of burgers and gyros in the Heatons!”
“Nonetheless, whilst these ventures prove successful, well-documented cost increases and changes in consumer spending habits, since April in particular, have meant simply that our Heaton Chapel site in its current format is no longer economically viable.”
Bosses Dominic Ingleby and Niall Peters have gone on to assure that existing staff have secured positions at alternative branches, all suppliers have been fully paid up, and that their other locations are thankfully set to remain.
In fact, although one venue will be bidding a bittersweet goodbye, as hinted above, they will be moving into the old Dockyard bar over at MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, which is set to become another Salmon of Knowledge location.
The Last Stop Stockport might be closing but their NQ residence is staying put.As is their neighbouring Produce Hall pop-up stall.Credit: The Manc/The Last Stop (via IG)
We’re relieved to hear that The Last Stop name will be sticking around and it’s going for good, but Stopfordian residents are nevertheless gutted that the Heaton Chapel favourite, which became a regular quiz night, ‘sip and paint’ and late-night stop among locals, will soon be no more.
They sign off by adding: “We’d love to see you all this week for one last smashed cheese in the four walls where it all started, & to toast a pint or 7 on the Saturday!
“Thank you all for being a part of the journey and a pleasure to get to know. We’ll see you soon; maybe sooner than you think… Dom, Dom [Swarbrick] and Niall.”
We’ll leave you guys to try and figure out what that last bit means, but for now, thanks for the memories and the bloody good buns.
Georgina Pellant -
3rd November 2022 
