A new vegan pizzeria to take over former Dough site in Northern Quarter

Purezza, a new plant-based pizza restaurant, is about to open in Manchester.

Taking over the former Dough site on High Street in the Northern Quarter, Purezza will open to the public on 21 June.

The menu of Neapolitan-style pizzas are topped with the restaurant’s own patented plant-based mozzarella, which they say looks, tastes and melts like the real thing.

The dough can be made with either organic wholegrain sourdough, hemp or ‘Freedom’ (gluten-free) bases.

Pizzas can be made with either organic sourdough, hemp or gluten free base

Each pizza sounds like an episode from Friends, ‘The One With The Friarielli’ with Italian style broccoli, ‘The One That’s Telling Porkies’ with BBQ pulled porketta and ‘The One and Only, Parmigiana Party’ which was the National Pizza of the Year in 2018 and is topped with aubergine parmigiana, crumbled vegan sausages, and a dusting of nutritional yeast.

As well as pizza, meat-free mains include stone-baked lasagna and Cheesesteak Calzone with seitan salami, courgettes and semi-dried tomatoes.

There is a range of vegan desserts too including caramel brownie, lemon cheesecake and The Chocolate One – a sourdough base topped with chocolate-hazelnut spread, white chocolate crumble and ice cream.

The Manchester restaurant will be the fifth site for the brand which opened its first restaurant in the UK in Brighton in 2015, and has since opened restaurants in London, Bristol and Hove.

The Manchester restaurant will be the fifth site for Purezza

Tim Barclay, co-founder and co-owner of Purezza, says: “We’re so excited that our Manchester site is opening, after a few setbacks during lockdowns, and we can’t wait to welcome customers through our doors. We know there’s a vibrant foodie scene in and around the city and that Mancunian pizza lovers will love our menu options, and our sustainable, planet-friendly ethos.

“To celebrate the launch, we’re giving Mancunians free pizza during our soft launch weekend on 18th and 19th June so sign up soon to be in with a chance to win – your friends will love you for it.”

To sign up for the chance to win a table at Purezza on the pre-launch weekender, enter your email on their website here: purezza.co.uk/launch.

Four winners will be selected at random with a table for two and a table for four available on 18 and 19 June, and will enjoy a free a starter, main course, dessert and drink for each person.

Purezza will open on 21 June. To find out more and book a table, visit: purezza.co.uk/locations/manchester.

How to book a table at Escape to Freight Island from June 21

21 June is a date that has been in all of our minds for a few months. But while it’s too early to say whether restrictions will ease further on that date, it’s about time to start thinking about making plans for this summer either way.

Like many venues, Escape to Freight Island has been holding off releasing bookings for after June 21. But they have now announced the release of their next wave of bookings, and are taking reservations up until August 28.

When Freight Island reopened the Ticket Hall last month, they welcomed more food traders and bars (and more seats) than ever before.

The Ticket Hall

Alongside the original food vendors, BaratxuriMadre TacosVoodoo RaysPatty Queen and KRUM, the now line up also includes Belzan Pasta Kitchen, Mi and Pho, Maison Breizh and Plant Grill.

The site now houses five bars too, including a low intervention bistrot, Forever Changes,  The Jane Eyre cocktail bar, a Pomona Island craft beer bar and a Koppaberg bar.

Diners can book tables indoors at the recently opened Ticket Hall, the jungle-like Plant Room and the outdoor area Platform 15.

Every time Freight Island has have released tables over the past few months, they have sold quickly, especially for weekend and evening bookings – so we’d advise booking soon.

Those who are signed up to the mailing list were able to get access to a 24 hour pre-sale tickets from 10am on today (Thursday 10 June) and there’s still time to sign up for early access.

Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 11 June.

To book visit: escapetofreightisland.com/bookings.