I don’t know if it’s the change in the seasons that’s got us craving a little bit of comfort food, but this week’s list is especially indulgent.
From the naughty smash burgers that were one of Manchester’s most ordered takeaway items during lockdown (over 1,000 a day, thank you very much) to garlic bread burritos, candy floss ice rolls and the most beautiful hand-rolled Iberico croquettes, you might want to have a cheat week after reading this.
Keep scrolling to discover some of our top picks in the city this week.
Image: Burgerism
The ‘best smash burgers in Manchester’ pop-up at Trof
Manchester burger institution Burgerism is popping up at Trof, serving up their famously good smash patties from the NQ kitchen for the next ten weeks every Monday and Tuesday from 4 to 10 pm.
There’ll be four of the brand’s signature burgers on the menu: ‘beefed,’ ‘cheesed,’ ‘veggied,’ and ‘baconed’, served with optional cajun fries on the side and a choice of dips like ranch, blue cheese and buffalo alongside BBQ ranch, BBQ and ketchup.
Make sure to get down for one – 1,000 orders a day during lockdown don’t lie.
Find them at 8 Thomas St, Greater, Manchester M4 1EU.
Bocadillos and top-tier croquettes on King Street
Whilst the September sun still lasts, now is the perfect time to bob on over to King Street to sample the tapas at Tast.
The swanky Catalonian eatery is split across three floors, each offering a distinctly unique experience. Down in the bar though, it’s all about big jugs of sangria and classic tapas dishes done very well – plus a few surprises, like their dunkin’ donuts (a mixture of white chocolate, foie gras and raspberry).
Think bocadillos, patatas bravas, blistered padron peppers, and hand-rolled ham croquettes (apparently they sell around 2,000 croquettes a month here), plus big boards of cheese, charcuterie – and an amazing dish of duck egg, crispy squid and potato that blew our minds.
Pull up, order a drink or two. and try and wangle a seat with a view of the passers-by for a perfect afternoon of people watching. Perfection.
Find them at 20-22 King St, Manchester M2 6AG.
Image: American Pies
Garlic bread and pizza burritos at American Pies
If it’s a carb-fest you’re after, look no further than American Pies. We didn’t think that the deep-dish pizza brand could be any more of a guilty pleasure, but they’ve really gone and done it this time.
Serving up their own take on garlic bread and pizza burritos, this is the ultimate cheat day scran if ever we saw it.
Find it at unit 1, 58 W Mosley St, Manchester M2 3HZ.
Image: Zizos Gelato
Candy floss ice rolls at Zizos Gelato
If you’re looking for a sweet fix this week, there’s a trader on the square at the Great Northern Warehouse selling delicious pots of ice rolls loaded with sweeties, chocolates and sauce that will have you covered.
Think big candy balls of floss, bright pink flying saucers filled with tangy sherbert and multi-coloured sweet and sticky sauces – all served in neat little pots to make your treat easy to enjoy on the move.
It’s not just ice rolls, either. You’ll also find some seriously indulgent bubble waffles and ‘thick’ ice cream shakes here. Be advised, the winter menu is also on its way too – and we see that Biscoff bubble waffles are likely to be on it.
Find it at 223 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4QB.
News
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
“We are definitely going to see the very best of what Rochdale has to offer over the next 12 months and people will come from far and wide to see it.”
Featured Image – Rochdale Council
News
The Lowry Theatre undergoes revamp following Biffa Award grant
Danny Jones
The Lowry in Salford Quays has had a bit of TLC with one of its biggest theatre spaces undergoing a pretty significant refurb this past month.
Following a well-deserved grant distributed via the Biffa Award, a multi-million-pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through community and environmental projects across the UK, the legendary local theatre received nearly £75k last year.
As a result, all 440 seats and various other aspects of The Lowry‘s Quays Theatre have now been renovated and refurbished.
The short story is, she looks more gorgeous than ever – see for yourself:
Being initially handed over in March 2024, The Lowry was awarded a total of £74,816 to reupholster seating in the venue’s Quays Theatre with new padding and fabric.
After almost 25 years of constant use as one of the most popular theatres in the North, the seats in the Quays Theatre were much in need of a refurb, and with work completed in December, Lowry visitors can now enjoy watching the venue’s wide range of theatre, dance, comedy and drama in comfort.
The work was actually carried out between July and December, with seats being carefully removed in batches and reupholstered off-site.
This was made possible due to the Biffa Award’s most recent ‘Cultural Facilities’ theme, which aims to improve recreation, interest and education, drawing funds from the UK government’s wider Landfill Communities Fund.
The old fabric and padding were disposed of sustainably, with lots of it being repurposed where possible to minimise waste and all the new materials used meet current guidance for safety and quality.
The Lowry’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Development, Gwen Oakden, said of the long overdue update:“It is so important that our audiences are able to enjoy our world-class performing arts programme in a comfortable and welcoming space.
“For many visitors to the Quays Theatre, this is their first experience of live performance – often to see a family show or as part of a school trip. We really want it to be the best experience possible, and for them to begin a lifelong relationship with Lowry.
“As a registered charity, without the generous support of this Biffa Award, for which we’re hugely grateful, we couldn’t have carried out this important work for our audiences.
As we head into our 25th Anniversary year, we are delighted to be able to welcome audiences and visitors can enjoy the beautiful and revived Quays Theatre.”
As for the Biffa side of things, Grants Manager Rachel Maidment added: “We are delighted to have supported The Lowry in refurbishing the Quays Theatre seating, ensuring audiences can continue to enjoy performances in comfort.
“Through Biffa’s Cultural Facilities theme, we fund projects that provide engaging and inspiring spaces for communities. The Lowry is a key cultural venue, and we’re proud that our funding, made possible through the government Fund, has helped enhance the experience for visitors for years to come.”
Like most Mancs, we love The Lowry, so here’s to hosting countless more theatregoers in the most comfortable seats possible for generations to come.
We’ve been to some brilliant performances around here of late.
Georgina Pellant -
20th September 2021 
