Warburtons and Morrisons have teamed up to give away thousands of free crumpets to anyone who ‘asks for Ellen’ this Easter holidays.
After first introducing the initiative to huge success back in July of last year during the school summer holidays, Bolton-born bakery Warburtons has decided to join forces with supermarket chain Morrisons once again to relaunch the ‘Ask for Ellen’ initiative this Easter, and serve up a whopping 100,000 crumpets for free.
It means that anyone and everyone who ‘asks for Ellen’ at one of the 395 Morrisons Cafes across the UK will be given toasted crumpets with butter and jam, completely for free with “no questions asked”.
The offer will be available all day every day of the Easter holidays, while stock lasts.
Warburtons and Morrisons are giving 100,000 free crumpets across the UK this Easter (Credit: Morrisons)
With 300,000 portions of free crumpets having already been provided as part of the much-needed scheme, and even more set to be given away over these next couple of weeks too, the ‘Ask for Ellen’ initiative aims to help “alleviate holiday hunger“.
This comes after research revealed that over six million families notice an increase in their weekly shopping bill during school holidays.
This is the kind of retail and high-street news we like to hear.
It also works to ease the additional financial strain often put on parents, carers, and guardians when children are not at school.
This latest ‘Ask for Ellen’ giveaway, which is running UK-wide from Monday, 25 March to Sunday, 14 April, comes as stark new research was commissioned by The Warburtons Foundation, and polled 2,000 parents of school-aged children.
The study detailed that over six million British families notice an increase in their weekly shopping bill during school holidays, with an overwhelming 82% of parents stating they have to spend more on snacks to “keep up with the demand” from their children too.
Research also highlighted that, on average, children ask their parents for a snack three times a day during the school holidays and because of this, more than a third (35%) have to go shopping more often to keep their children satisfied.
When taking into account the ongoing cost of living crisis as well, initiatives like this are so crucial.
Anyone and everyone who ‘asks for Ellen’ will get free toasted crumpets with butter and jam. (Credit: Warburtons)
“With families continuing to feel the financial pinch as we head into the Easter break, we’re looking forward to providing a little support for those who might need it,” commented Jonathan Warburton, who is the Chairman of Warburtons,as the ‘Ask for Ellen’ initiative relaunches from Monday.
“We are expecting to serve a further 100,000 free portions of crumpets to families up and down the country as part of the scheme this Easter holiday too.”
As well as running the ‘Ask for Ellen’ initiative, Morrisons is also continuing to provide its ‘Kids Eat Free’ promotion all day, every day, throughout the Easter holidays too, meaning families can get a free kids meal when purchasing an adult meal that costs £4.50 or more.
To get your free Warburtons crumpets this Easter, all you’ll need to do is head down to your nearest Morrisons Cafe and ‘ask for Ellen’.
Featured Images — Warburtons
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Pep Guardiola hints at when Manchester City fans can expect to see their latest arrival
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given supporters a rough timeline as to when they can expect to see their new signing, or at least their latest arrival, make his first appearance.
The Blues wrapped up the January transfer window with four major signings: their new attacking number seven, Omar Marmoush (who has already bagged a hattrick on his home debut) promising defensive duo, Abdukodir Khusanov and Brazilian Vitor Reis, as well as their ‘mini-Rodri’, Nico Gonzalez.
However, the club has had another late arrival who was technically signed back at the start of last year but who has spent for the last 12 months or so loaned back to his previous parent club, River Plate in Argentina, waiting to make the move over to the Etihad Stadium – and now he’s here in Manchester.
Speaking on his touchdown in 0161, Pep said Claudio Echeverri won’t be thrown into first-team action straight away but did give a rough estimate as to when City fans could expect him to get involved. You can see him discussing the integration plan in his post-match press conference following the Spurs win.
The mention was only brief but there’s still plenty of reason for Man City fans to be excited by the late January signing.
“Yeah, he [Claudio Echeverri] is going to start to train and mainly will be for the end of the season, maybe the [Club] World Cup and as soon as possible [that] he arrives he can adapt quick for the future.”
As mentioned, the 19-year-old Argentinian attacking midfielder from Resistencia officially put pen to paper with CFG back in January 2024 and was quickly dubbed ‘the next Messi’.
Now, although the football world is often quick to jump the gun with these things and he isn’t the first and certainly won’t be last to be slapped with this premature title, he’s done more to back up these claims since then than he has rubbish them.
Starring at the 2025 Under-20 South American Championships, netting six goals in nine games to finish the tournament as the second highest scorer thanks to notable braces against Brazil and Uruguay as the young Argentine’s finished as runners up.
He also notched 48 senior appearances for River Plate thus far, netting four goals and grabbing eight assists in that time, not to mention having already captained his national team at the 2023 Under 17s World Cup, where he scored another five.
Safe to say there’s plenty of talent to be tapped in this lad.
Once again, Echeverri won’t go straight into the senior set-up for a little while yet, barring a major injury crisis, but he’ll be a more than exciting addition to the City Football Academy and for future first-team lineups for years to come.
Who knows, maybe he’ll be included in an FA Cup matchday squad? Nevertheless, you can expect him to not just come of the bench but hopefully show what he can do at the Club World Cup this summer.
City‘s first fixture as reigning champions of the competition will be against Moroccan side Wydad AC on 18 June 2025.
You can watch Echeverri’s first full interview as a Man City player down below:
The new Man City signing is excited to be finally be part of the club 13 months on from agreeing his contract.
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.
Emily Sergeant -
21st March 2024 
