This week, we tried a DIY delivery kit from a much-loved Liverpool restaurant.
Popular Middle Eastern restaurant, Maray has launched their at-home meal kit and they are now delivering nationwide.
The box which serves two people and costs £45, includes a selection of mezze, a falafel kit and either lamb kofta or aubergine shawarma, as well as a lemon and lime posset for dessert.
We had the lamb and the falafel, which were each very easy to put together. Simply pop on the gloves provided, divide and roll. Both beautifully spiced, the lamb especially smelled gorgeous while frying in the pan.
Each came with little pouches of sauces and sides, the lamb with tahini and a rich cherry sauce and the falafel comes with tabbouleh and a spicy sauce to drizzle on top.
The mezze, which simply needs to be assembled and plated, includes; wonderfully creamy hummus topped with chermoula, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds and sumac; whipped goats cheese with fresh grapes and mini breadsticks for dipping; a fattoush salad with tomato, radish, cucumber, feta, crispy flatbread pieces and fresh herbs. There are also pickles, spicy cashews and flatbread.
Wines and ready-mixed cocktails can also be ordered with the box. We tried two of the cocktails, the Saffron Negroni and Prickly Pear, which come in small bottles ready to pour over ice and garnish.
The box is really well thought out with just enough prep to feel like a fun activity, but not too much that it uses every pot and utensil in the kitchen and leaves you with loads of washing up.
Tom White, co-founder of Maray, said: “We’ve road tested loads of boxes from across the UK and have loved the attention to detail and experience, especially from the likes of Sabor, Arabica and Elite Bistro’s. Gary from Elite went as far as inviting us into the kitchen to see how they put their boxes together.
“We’ve had such great support from our customers and community, so we really hope these boxes bring a bit of a smile back to people’s faces over the next few weeks. We’ve tried to pour as much Maray into them as possible, from the second you tear off the tape, we want you to enjoy yourself.’’
The boxes are delivered weekly on Fridays and Saturdays. Orders close at midday on Wednesdays for the following weekend.
It’s starting to feel like quite a familiar experience, getting your head around yet another new set of restrictions and what it means for everyday life.
And, for Greater Manchester, it pretty much feels like banging your head against a brick wall, repeatedly, for months. It hurts.
Following four weeks of enforced national lockdown, and the government’s many announcements this week, the UK will be returning to a regional tiered system of restrictions from Wednesday 2 December.
The tiers are similar but not quite the same as before – no, that would be too easy.
Greater Manchester has been placed in Tier 3 and the restrictions this time around are tighter than before.
What are the rules?
Under Tier 3, all hospitality will remain closed; there are no real changes for this sector under Tier 3 compared to lockdown.
Restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes will only be able to operate through takeaway, drive-through or delivery.
It also means no mixing of households in indoors or ‘most outdoor spaces’ and no more than six people can meet outside in specific spaces like parks.
Unlike hospitality, all retail, gyms and hairdressers and other personal care businesses can reopen. Exercise classes can take place outdoors but people are being told to avoid higher-risk contact sports. Weddings are again permitted for up to 15 people and funerals for up to 30 people, but no wedding receptions are allowed.
What about the other Tiers?
The restrictions will be reviewed every two weeks and it is possible to move up or even down the tiers if the numbers supported doing so. So if we are able to move down to Tier 2, it’ll be pretty much like the ‘old’ Tier 3, sort of.
There’s still no mixing of households allowed indoors, apart from support bubbles, and there is a maximum a six people allowed to meet outdoors. So this means that you would be able to meet up to six people at an outdoor restaurant or venue.
Pubs and bars must close unless they are operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with a ‘substantial meal’.
All hospitality venues will remain closed in Tier 3
The controversial 10pm curfew has been relaxed slightly, with last orders being called at 10pm and closing by 11pm.
Gyms, hairdressers, hotels and retail will reopen under Tier 2. Wedding receptions are allowed for up to 15 people and funerals up to 30.
Large events like sport matches and live performances can restart under Tier 2 with capacity limited to 50% or 2000 people outdoors, or 1000 people indoors (whichever is lower).
If we ever get there, restrictions for Tier 1 mean that all businesses can reopen and groups are limited to a maximum of six people indoors or outdoors. The 11pm curfew will still apply but alcohol can be served without necessarily providing a substantial meal.
Sport and live performances can have an audience of up to 4000 outdoors or a maximum of 50% capacity and still 1000 people indoors or 50% capacity (whichever is lower).
The impact on hospitality
Today’s announcement is another huge knock to the hospitality sector as a whole and for restaurants and bars across Greater Manchester who were hoping to reopen next week.
The vast majority of the country is now under the stricter Tier 2 or Tier 3 restrictions but compared to many of these places, Greater Manchester has been under these rules for such a long time. And the industry is suffering.
Speaking on Twitter, the night time economy advisor Sacha Lord, who is currently pursuing a legal challenge against the government for implimenting Tier 3 restrictions on Greater Manchester without sufficient scientific evidence, said: “Tier 3 is yet another hammer blow for hospitality in Greater Manchester. Another day of the Governments game of carrot and stick.
“Our R rate is plummeting thanks to the public. Lets see if they try to point score again, as we head nearer Tier 2. We will keep fighting.”
For many of the restaurants, the four weeks until the end of the year could have been a huge help in terms of turning things around. But even if we drop down to Tier 2 in two weeks, it’ll be mid December before these venues can reopen.
Ruby Fryman of Salvi’s, said: “We and many other restaurants have been relying on Christmas trade to carry us through into the New Year. These new restrictions seem heavily biased against hospitality and we’re all very confused as to why we can’t open. Our staff want to come back to work and we want to be able to bring them back as soon as possible.
“Financially it’s having a big impact, we’ve had to really think outside the box in order to make things work. Obviously we’re lucky that we have the Salvi’s Deli which has been open throughout however we were definitely relying on being able to open the restaurants for the Christmas period.”
Another venue which has been left reeling after the announcements is Ducie Street Warehouse.
Jacqui Griffiths, General Manager of Ducie Street Warehouse, said: ‘The latest government announcement is yet another bitter blow for the hospitality sector and the Greater Manchester region as a whole. For all those who have put everything they have into creating a safe environment to be told they can’t operate in what should be the busiest time of year is just devastating. Whilst a review in 2 weeks may see Manchester move down to tier 2, is it too little, too late.
“For the time being, people can still collect cookies, doughnuts and coffee from the Gooey cabin, with Gethin’s batch cocktails coming soon, and we look forward to the day we can open our doors once more.”
For at least two weeks from 2 December, restaurants will have to continue to operate as takeaway and delivery only. But for many, this simply isn’t a viable long term option.
Owner of Common, Charlotte Heyes, said: “After months of uncertainty and ever changing rules it’s getting harder to pick ourselves up after another knock down. There’s talk of pushing to move to tier 2 on 16 December, but that still means operating under severe restrictions and will keep wet led sites fully closed.
“In many cases we’re still paying full rent and have done throughout. As the region most badly affected by this and for the longest period of time, Greater Manchester desperately needs further support to ease restrictions as soon as possible.”
Mital Morar of the Store Group which includes Ancoats General Store, Groceries and Beer and Stretford Foodhall has been able to open the grocery side of their sites as essential retail, but lockdown and Tier 3 mean that they can’t open the food and drink side of the business.
Like many restaurants they have been operating as takeaway only, and will continue to do so once we come out of lockdown, but it has had a huge impact on their business.
Stretford Foodhall
Speaking of the dine-in side of the business, Mital said: “It’s wiped out, I mean it was already wiped out. Whatever little trade we’re trying to get, this second lockdown has been completely the opposite from the first one, especially with the weather, people’s exhaustion with it all and people just aren’t coming out as much.
“We’re lucky we’ve got the retail side just ticking over still, ever so slightly more than normal so that helps keep certain things afloat. I wouldn’t say we were winning at all from this but I feel very grateful that we’re able to trade in some capacity, at least we’ve got some kind of ability to keep bills paid.
“It’s hugely detrimental. It’s not just something you can switch back on overnight anymore. It’s going to take generations to get back to how we were before.
“I think the world is scarred, I think people are going to change their habits, how they work, how they operate, how they spend time with family, everything will change.”
For now it’s business as usual, which for Greater Manchester means continuing to operate and live under the weight of these heavy restrictions.
Let’s just hope that the brilliant independent businesses that make up our vibrant food and drink scene are able to make it through Christmas.
Welcome to our first weekly guide, your round up of food and drink news from across Greater Manchester.
This week, as we come towards the end of national lockdown, we’ve just found out that we will be going back into Tier 3. And, while it’s not what we were hoping for, we’ve got fingers, toes and everything crossed that, with the numbers falling in Greater Manchester, we’ll be able to move into Tier 2 soon.
This week, there are some new at-home kits to enjoy and a couple of venues announce exciting plans for reopening when they are able to.
Trof launch Christmas dinner kit
Options for main include turkey or mushroom and cranberry wellington
2020 has been the year of DIY meal kits, among other things of course, but meal kits have been one of the nice things.
Now, Northern quarter bar and restaurant (and cracking place to get a Christmas dinner on a ‘normal’ year), Trof, has created an Ultimate Christmas Dinner Kit.
For those who want a delicious lunch on Christmas Day without the stress, Trof’s Crimbo dinner kit costs £35 includes everything you need to make a 3-course festive feast, plus a bottle of Prosecco per two people.
There are two options for each course; celeriac and apple soup or chicken liver pate for starter; turkey with all the trimmings or mushroom and cranberry wellington for main; and Christmas pudding with brandy sauce or a chocolate yule log for dessert.
The Ultimate Christmas Dinner Kit can be collected from Trof on Christmas Eve (between 10-4pm). Order here.
Dishoom launch vegan naan roll
Dishoom’s Vegan Sausage Naan Roll kit
The incredibly popular Dishoom bacon naan kit now has a plant-based partner in crime.
The kit has been created in response to ‘polite but numerous requests’ from vegans, vegetarians and people who don’t eat pork or dairy.
The Vegan Sausage Naan Roll kit contains everything you need to make two of the vegan breakfast naans including the naan dough, vegan sausages Dishoom’s signature tomato-chilli jam, fresh coriander and vegan cream cheese. It also includes the spices for their Masala Chai which can be added to milk or a plant-based alternative.
For every kit they send out, Dishoom donate a meal to Magic Breakfast, a charity that provides free, nutritious meals to children in schools in the UK who might otherwise go hungry.
The kits cost £16 for two people and can be delivered nationwide. Order here.
Manchester Union Brewery
Piccadilly brewery Manchester Union Lager has released two new brews this week, Pivot pale ale and a black lager named After Dusk. The brewery originally planned to focus solely on brewing good lager, due to tank space and the length needed to brew (three times longer than ale). However, the ongoing restrictions in Manchester has meant that the business needs to expand its offering.
Created in collaboration with some of the city’s top independent music venues, After Dusk aims to drive awareness of Manchester’s favourite venues. Each can has an image of one of the music venues including the Albert Hall, Hidden, Band on the Wall, Matt & Phred’s and Mint Lounge. There’s also a QR code on the can, which will give the drinker access to live streamed events, gig tickets and radio stations while the venues remain closed.
Christmas by Nico
Six by Nico’s A Partridge in a Pear Tree
Six by Nico has announced its next menu. ‘Miracle On’ will be a Christmas themed tasting menu, centered around a nostalgic look back at the festive season.
Dishes on the six-course menu will include ‘Memories of a Christmas Market’, sausage and onion compote with smoked sausage foam and crispy onions and ‘Partridge in a Pear Tree’, partridge boudain, pumpkin and pear with beech smoke and game consommé.
Chef Nico Simeone said: “Most of us are familiar with the classic Christmas lunch and all its trimmings but this festive season our team at Six by Nico wanted to bring the magic of Christmas nostalgia to the plate with our ‘Miracle On’ menu and create the ideal Christmas dining experience for all our customers”.
Salt and pepper fans, rejoice. Vegans, get ready to eat your bodyweight in battered sausage. Manchester’s first fully-vegan Chinese chippy is set to open in Manchester next month.
Opened in October 2019, Woo Tan Scran was the first vegan chippy to open in Liverpool and now the team are bringing the concept to the people of Manchester.
Taking inspiration from the many Chinese chippies in Liverpool, Woo Tan Scran is the brain child of chef and founder Alex Woo. Alex’s family owned chippies when he was growing up and it was his idea to create dishes for a vegan Chinese chippy.
The idea was to provide a better range of options for vegans, rather than just a bit of tofu or mixed vegetables.
Alex was previously the sous chef at Liverpool restaurant Down the Hatch, which serves meat-free junk food like dirty burgers and loaded hotdogs.
He approached Tim Leah, the head chef at Down at the Hatch and owners Jay Baker and Conrad Sharp with some of his ideas and as soon as they tried his proposed dishes, the team knew they were on to a winner.
Meat substitutes include crispy chilli ‘beef’
From there it was full steam ahead and less than two months later, the four founders had opened Woo Tan Scran on Lark Lane in Liverpool, taking over what was previously a quintessentially British chip shop.
Since then, they have developed somewhat of a cult following. Over lockdown, Woo Tan Scran was the most ordered takeaway in Liverpool on Deliveroo.
The menu features vegan versions of your classic Chinese chippy dishes, including spring rolls, dumplings and sesame ‘prawn’ toast. There’s the very popular Salt & Pepper box which includes chips, spring rolls, samosa, nuggets and onion rings all tossed in peppers, onions and those salt and pepper spices.
The salt and pepper box with chips, spring rolls, samosa, nuggets and onion rings
Meat alternatives come in the form of Char Sui ‘chicken’, crispy chilli ‘beef’ and salt & pepper ‘chicken’. Plus, there’s jackfruit pancakes, their take on hoisin duck pancakes.
In true Chinese chippy form, there are also ‘English bits’ like burgers, chip barms and a vegan battered sausage.
As Alex tells us, Woo Tan Scran already has somewhat of a Manchester fan base. Pre-Covid some people used to make the journey over to Liverpool just to try their food. They’d order from the takeaway and then sit and eat in the pub next door, before heading back to Manchester.
(What I’d give to be able to travel to eat a Chinese chippy tea in a pub right now.)
Luckily, we won’t need to travel much longer as Woo Tan Scran is bringing their dishes to Manchester very soon.
Initially, the menu will be available for delivery only. From a small unit near Piccadilly Station, Woo Tan Scran will be delivering within around a 3 mile radius of the city centre (map below).
Woo Tan Scrans delivery radius
If all goes well, they will be looking for a more permanent space to call home in Manchester.
The plan is to start delivering in early December, but we’ll keep you updated.
Open for just a few days before the national lockdown, the newly-developed Ticket Hall is the second phase of the project following the hugely successful Platform 15. And now, to give more people a chance to visit, the Freight Island team has announced that the venue will be open seven days a week in December.
Plus, taking over the outdoor area at Freight Island will be the Winter Island which will now run until January 2021.
Dan Morris, Managing Director of Escape to Freight Island said: “We opened The Ticket Hall for just five days before we had to close for the national lockdown. This meant disappointing thousands of people booked in during November.
“To make sure we could rebook everyone back into the Ticket Hall and Winter Island, which is located in our outdoor space next to the new Ticket Hall, we have opened up reservations for seven days a week throughout December in both areas and extended Winter Island into January, which means another month of cosy vibes, hog roast, delicious sausages and mulled wine seeing us into 2021.”
The Ticket Hall
The Ticket Hall is located inside the cavernous industrial space of the Mayfield Depot building, opposite Manchester Piccadilly station, which has housed events like Warehouse Project and Manchester Pride.
The fully-heated area has plenty of table seating and lots of new food and drink vendors.
Ticket Hall is fully heated and has plenty of table seating
Now in the Ticket Hall for winter are some of existing Freight Island favourites including Voodoo Ray’s, Patty Queen, Baratxuri, Madre Tacos and Krum Doughnuts.
There are some new faces in the line up too including, popular Northenden Vietnamese restaurant Mi & Pho; Ancoats and Altrincham favourite Sugo Pasta Kitchen; and Plant Grill, a vegan offering from the makers of Fire Bird Hope and Krum.
Joining them are critically acclaimed Liverpool restaurant Belzan Pasta Kitchen, and El Boleto, a San Sebastian style deli serving delicious small plates and fresh produce to enjoy on site or take home.
For drinks, visitors can enjoy beers from the Ticket Hall’s two taprooms, Pomona Island and Camden Town. There’s wine too from independent shop Forever Changes.
Set high up in the heart of the Ticket Hall, The Jane Eyre’s cosy cocktail bar offers great views across the space, and will be serving a selection of classic and signature cocktails.
A bike cloakroom in partnership with Rapha cyclewear is in situ too, meaning that bikes can be parked safely while visiting Freight Island.
The Ticket Hall is now also home to Manchester’s first ice curling rink. Pretty exciting stuff for those of us who got really into the sport at the most recent Winter Olympics – sweeping brushes at the ready! If you don’t know what we mean, bear with us, you’ll be superfans in no time.
Existing food traders will be joined by an exciting bunch of new names
Winter Island
Alongside the Ticket Hall, the outdoor space has been transformed in the Winter Island, which also hopes to reopen on December 3.
Nestled underneath a 45ft Christmas tree, a fully heated outdoor event space with a 1500 sq ft tent which will host new festive traders and stalls.
Visitors to Winter Island will be able to enjoy all the classic festive favourites including traditional hog roast, bratwurst, mulled wine and hot cider. There will also be a local chocolatier and artisanal cheese stall.
The Winter Island has announced it will stay open until January 2021, to give us all the dose of festive merriment we deserve.
Live entertainment
The entertainment schedule has also been re-scheduled allowing for the cancelled shows in November to move into December. The line up includes DJ sets from Hot Chip, Rhys from The Horrors, Huey Morgan, Mr Scruff and DJ Paulette. Plus, festival collaborations from the likes of We Out Here festival and Festival No.6.
Amuse Bouche will continue with its Sunday Drag spectacular with special guests Charlotte Church’s Pop Dungeon, and there will be a weekly Christmas cabaret from The Untold Orchestra performing David Bowie and Stevie Wonder favourites.
For the kids, there will be a big brass band Disney sing-along and some events from The Playhouse Project and Born to be Wild Child.
A comedy night called Just the Tonic joins the line up, plus local talent takeovers by Reform Radio and The Golden Lion.
How to book
Escape to Freight Island is currently accepting bookings from Thursday 3 December for up to six people from the same household both indoors and outdoors.
Amid hundreds of thousands of job losses since the start of the pandemic, it’s unsurprising that food banks and charities that support people in poverty have seen a surge in demand over the last few months.
The Greater Manchester Poverty Action Monitor reported that the number of people living in poverty in Greater Manchester has risen to 620,000, and the number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose by 93% between May and August.
In September, Manchester Evening News reported that the Manchester South Central Food Bank, which supports people in Hulme, Whalley Range, Old Trafford and Moss Side, had seen a 250% increase in demand in August compared to last year. Earlier in the year, they had seen a 400% increase.
In the lead up to Christmas, the food bank is gearing up to offer increased support to individuals and families living in poverty.
They have partnered with the Co-op to provide 500 food parcels which will be delivered over Christmas. This is alongside 180 school holiday hampers in partnership with primary schools to support vulnerable families and 80 hampers for the elderly community which includes treat items and activities like adult colouring in books.
Normally, on Christmas Day, like many food banks, Manchester South Central Food Bank would host a community Christmas meal to provide a meal and a sense of community for those with nowhere else to go.
Unfortunately, this year they are unable to provide that service and so they have created a Christmas dinner in a box which includes all the ingredients needed for people to cook a Christmas dinner along with a supermarket gift voucher to buy fresh meat.
Jo Warmington from Manchester South Central Food Bank
Alongside food provisions, one of the biggest challenges for the food bank, especially around Christmas time, is the mental health and wellbeing of the people they support.
Manchester South Central Food Bank’s project manager Jo Warmington, said: “It isn’t just about feeding people, it’s about giving people a sense of community and company really at Christmas time, particularly for those people that are alone and don’t have support networks and family around.
“A big part of what we do is around signposting people and our aim is that somebody should only have to access – I mean people should never have to access a food bank – but when they do, we only want them to have to access it once or twice. And really part of our role is to help them access longer term support and advice services so they’re not trapped in poverty and they’re not having to rely on a food bank to feed themselves or their families.”
“I think now’s the time for us to be able to put a bit of pressure on the government to make sure that people have the money that they need to support themselves.
“We shouldn’t be relying on food banks to have to support people and families. The welfare systems should be able to do that. That was a challenge prior to Covid. I think what’s happened is Covid has just really highlighted it because a lot more people have been thrown into that poverty and that crisis.”
As well as food banks, charities that support those living in poverty and homelessness are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand.
Coffee4Craig provides vital support for Manchester’s homeless and people in crisis, operating an out-of-hours drop in service in the heart of Manchester city centre seven days a week, where they offer hot food, showers, food parcels, medical support and mental health crisis intervention.
In February, they had vacated the building as it needed to be refurbished, and so when lockdown first hit they were unable to offer many of their services.
Risha Lancaster, co-founder and general manager at Coffee4Craig said: “We were in full swing of the refurb when lockdown struck! As you can imagine, building slowed remarkably, many of our team had to shelter and we were left with two staff and a couple of volunteers to continue the refurb.
“We completed the majority of the refurb on our own.”
Coffee4Craig were in teh middle of refurbishing their building when lockdown struck
The building is now back up and running and Coffee4Craig is working with other charities and services to ensure it is used fully, as they only operate there on evenings and weekends.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of people living on the streets have been significantly less due to the Covid hotels providing accommodation and Andy Burnham’s A Bed Every Night scheme.
However, Coffee4Craig have noticed the numbers of people sleeping on the streets starting to creep up.
“I think this is probably due to the issues surrounding lockdown [for example] job losses, with new faces popping up regularly,” said Risha.
“The demand for food parcels has increased dramatically and people calling for help due to poverty has increased and of course we are still providing meals for the people in the hotels.”
Another Greater Manchester charity, Mustard Tree, aims to transform the lives of people in the region living in poverty and homelessness, by giving them the skills, opportunities and self confidence to reach their full potential.
The charity has community shops in Ancoats, Eccles and Little Hulton and provides a range of services for vulnerable people. This includes access to low cost food through their Food Club, as well as clothing and household essentials such as furniture, pots and pans. Mustard Tree also provides volunteering opportunities, vocational training, help finding work placements, creative programmes and wellbeing support.
Since the start of the pandemic, Mustard Tree’s monthly food costs have increased by more than six times, with more people than ever visiting the Food Club for support.
Jack Barton, communications manager at Mustard Tree said
“We went from supporting 500 clients a month to up to 1,000 a week at the height of lockdown, [both] through on-site Food Clubs and the delivery of food parcels to people self-isolating.
“Winter is always going to be tough, as this is the time of year where more people are relying on our services to make-up shortfalls in their finances, i.e. more people may need to use our Food Club as their heating costs increase, meaning they have less money to spend on food.
“This year has taken all that to another level, including much more people coming to us in crisis for emergency support.”
During the first lockdown, Mustard Tree delivered 14,500 food parcels, supported 4,648 families and gave 1,000 people living in extreme poverty food, toiletries and clothes.
While demand soared for food distribution, the charity had no choice but to stop the other services including community shop, on-site training and creative programmes.
“It turned the charity upside down,” said Jack.
The queue outside the Mustard Tree Food Club during the first lockdown
Having to constantly adapt their model to meet the growing demand and stick to government guidance and restrictions has been a huge challenge for all of the charities.
This time around Mustard Tree are much more prepared to operate under lockdown. However, there is concern over the long term impact of the lack of a physical space on some of the people they work with.
Jack said: “There are a lot of people who are really suffering from mental health problems as a response to having to isolate. A lot of these people cannot access our online services due to lack of hardware, digital illiteracy etc. This is something we’re really concerned about.”
How you can help
Donations are vital to charities and food banks to continue delivering the support that they provide in communities.
What’s heart warming to see is that despite the challenges many are facing, the number of people wanting to donate is rising too.
Jo from Manchester South Central Food Bank said: “I guess one kind of positive of the situation this year, from my point of view I’ve really seen the response of the community and the absolute generosity of people both with their time and their money.
“We’ve had a lot of people offer their time to volunteer. We’ve had probably more donations than ever as well.”
Coffee4Craig, too, has been overwhelmed with messages of support and people wanting to donate.
Risha said: “Trying to juggle the balance of donations coming in the numerous messages and phone calls from people wanting to give us donations, which is amazing, but trying to ascertain what we need balanced with what some people want to give us, finding space for it all sort it all, and move it on is a full time job in itself!”
Last week, Stretford Food Bank announced that it is no longer accepting donations of food as they have been overwhelmed with support from the local community. Their website reads: “We are enormously grateful to the community of North Trafford for their fantastic support, especially over recent months.
“We understand that many in our community wish to collect on our behalf but our stocks are now very full as we approach Christmas and we are confident that we have enough to feed our clients over the coming weeks.”
Many food banks and charities of course still require donations so please don’t let this put you off giving. What’s important is to check with the organisation you wish to give to for what they need at any given time.
There are many ways you can give which include donations of money, food and volunteering time.
Donations are vital to the work that food banks and homelessness charities do
Jo said: “Donating food is always useful for us and we really rely on those donations of food and cash to keep the organisation going.
“When it comes to donating food, we always share on our social media our most needed items and I think that’s a great tip because sometimes food banks can end up with, for example, a mountain of pasta but no pasta sauce. It’s often specific items that we’re in need of.
“The other thing I would say is ongoing support is the most valuable. So if people are able to give a few pounds a month but every month, or a few tins but it’s every month.
“Christmas is always a time when you get lots of donations, but we also need to make sure that in January, in February, in March that we still get that support.”
You can find your nearest food bank on the Trussell Trust website, just make sure to check their website or social media to find out exactly what items they need.
Similar to the food bank, small monthly donations are vital to Mustard Tree and Coffee4Craig, as it means that they can attribute funds to where they are most needed within the charity each month.
If you’re able to give, whether that’s food, money or your time, please consider supporting some of these local charities on an ongoing basis.
As Jo from the food bank said, people shouldn’t have to rely on food banks to feed themselves. Similarly, food banks and charities shouldn’t have to rely on donations to survive. But the sad reality is that they do.
So, please consider giving whatever you can to help these organisations which support the most vulnerable members of our community to get the support they need during an incredibly challenging time.
If you would like to donate to Blackpool Food Bank, please get in touch via e-mail on info@blackpoolfoodbank.co.uk and they will get back to you with the relevant information.
Flyde Food Bank
Not currently looking for volunteers, information on how to donate financially and food donations they need can be found here.
Fleetwood Together
Fleetwood Together are currently looking for Christmas gift donations for families that are struggling at the moment. They are also potentially looking for drivers to help deliver food items.
Blackburn Food Bank
Blackburn Food Bank is requesting certain food items including tinned food, they are also looking for volunteers (warehouse, web editor and more) and also accepting financial donations. You can find all the information here.
Burnley Together
Are on the lookout for local services and volunteers, call 01282 686402 if you’d like to help. They are also currently running a Christmas Present appeal, which you find details of here.
Colne Foodback
Couldn’t find any details, will update when we know more.
The food bank is ran by a collection of local churches, information is hard to find but if you’re wanting to help then we’d suggest looking here.
Rossendale Food Bank
The Rossendale Food Bank updates their Facebook page with donation requests, their latest appeal went out on Nov 21st and you can find it here, as well as information on where to donate.
Morecambe Bay Food Bank
The Morecambe Bay Food Bank has quite a long list of urgently needed food items, which you can find here. The food bank has over 80 volunteers and isn’t currently looking for any more. Financial donations are needed too.
Noor Food Bank – Preston
Preston’s Noor Foodbank has provided over 75,000 meals throughout the pandemic, you can follow them on Facebook here where they are most active. They are currently holding a Christmas food item fundraiser, details here.
To help boost trade over the challenging lockdown period, one Northern Quarter butcher has taken to the streets, serving takeaway meals to passers-by.
The Butcher’s Quarter on Tib Street has opened a burger van outside their shop; a purpose-built BBQ van with a metal hatch which lifts up to reveal an open grill balanced over pools of white hot coals.
The artisan butcher and cheesemonger has used some of their finest ingredients to create this mighty fine burger.
It consists of 100% dry aged beef patties and melted raclette cheese, topped with homemade miso mayo, pickled red onion and gherkins, inside soft brioche buns from Companio bakery in Ancoats.
The burger van is normally open from 12-4pm Friday to Sunday during lockdown. This weekend, the BBC are filming on Tib Street on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November and so if you want these delicious Butcher’s Quarter burgers, you’ll have to get down on Friday. The BBQ van will reopen as normal next weekend.
The Butcher’s Quarter shop itself is open Tuesday to Sunday with amended hours over the lockdown period. This weekend, it will be open 8am to 12pm on Saturday 22 November due to the filming.
As much as we can’t wait for restaurants to reopen, DIY meal kits have been a happy by-product of national lockdowns.
A box full of ingredients and pre-prepared dishes, ready to assemble at home in your own kitchen. They are a great thing to tide us over until we can head back to restaurants and it’s a brilliant way to support independent businesses at this challenging time.
From grilled cheese to pizza, ramen to fine dining, here’s our round up of some of the best DIY meal kits money can buy in Greater Manchester right now.
Higher Ground
Higher Ground has launched meal kits for Lockdown 2
Higher Ground’s meal kits a.k.a. Joe’s 29 Minute Meals are now available for 14-15 and 28-29 November in very limited numbers.
The meal kits are £40 which comes with four dishes for two people, designed to be shared. It comes with a donut for dessert in collaboration with Gooey bakers and there’s a selection of natural wines which can be added to the order.
You can collect your kit from Ducie Street or have it delivered in an carbon-friendly electric van.
Arguably the best thing about the Manchester Christmas Markets, the Northern Soul Grilled Cheese ‘Crimbo Dinner’ sandwich, is back for 2020 in DIY kit form.
Loaded up with turkey, cranberry sauce, pink lady stuffing, gravy and topped with homemade pig in blanket lollypops.
As well as the Christmas special, there’s also; the ‘New Yorker’ with pastrami, house pickles and pretzels; ‘Get Your Goat’ with goat’s cheese , caramelised red onion and beetroot chutney; and a range of other classic flavours like Mac Attack.
All Grill it Yourself kits cost £30 and include a £10 voucher to spend once they’re open, plus goodies like stickers and postcards.
Put away that Pot Noodle! You can now order restaurant-quality ramen and have it delivered to your door.
Yaoyao noodles make everything themselves, including the broths, garnishes like Tamago eggs and even the fresh ramen noodles.
Choices include Pork Tonkotsu with Shiro Miso, Shiitake mushroom & Kombu broth and Shoyu Tori Paitan with Sichuanese chilli oil. Plus, there’s a rotating limited special too.
Kits cost £18 which makes two generous servings. Plus, there’s free delivery if you order two kits or more and extra discounts for spending over £30.
So much more than chips, cheese and gravy, Blue Caribou has compiled a range of poutine kits for you to make this Quebec classic at home.
There’s the classic kit with cheese curds and gravy, the Reuben with pastrami and pickles, Buffalo poutine kit with crispy chicken and blue cheese, a Doner poutine kit, and more to choose from.
All of the kits can be made vegetarian and vegan too, as all gravy, meat and cheese can be swapped for plant-based alternatives.
You may need to dust off your chef’s hat for this one…
Wood’s five course tasting menu for two box is an extra special treat and includes all the pre-prepared ingredients and full cooking and plating instructions. They’ve even included some small plates which you can keep afterwards. Sommelier-recommended wines can also be ordered, as well as their popular cheese board.
The boxes cost £110 for the standard menu and £95 for the vegetarian and vegan versions.
Deliveries are on Fridays and Saturdays, and collection is available from the Manchester restaurant on Saturdays only between 9 and 11am.
Another fine dining experience to have a go at is from Adam Reid, chef at The French and former Great British menu winner.
His three course ‘Saturday night in dinner box’ is a changing selection of dishes each week. Designed as a generous meal for two people, the box is delivered as a package of pre-prepared food with simple instructions to be finished in your own kitchen.
Take your pick from their menu of dishes such as Braised featherblade of beef, a smoked and glazed ham hock sharer, and Sumac roasted half cauliflower. Drinks can also be arranged, and they’ve made some recommendations for wines that work well with particular dishes.
Settle in for the ultimate steak night with a DIY kit from Hawksmoor.
The latest instalment of the Hawskmoor at Home kit is the Rib Eye box includes two British 35-Day dry-aged steaks from the same grass-fed traditional-breed cattle they use in the restaurants, along with bone marrow gravy, creamed spinach, Matt Brown’s Ultimate oven chips and their famous sticky toffee pudding.
It also includes drinks paired by drinks specialist Liam Davy who has chosen a Fuller Fat Old Fashioned, ready-mixed to enjoy at home, two Hawksmoor lagers and a bottle of red wine, Quinta da Boa Esperanca ‘Guilly’s Blend’.
The box serves two people and costs £125 (with alcohol) and £85 (without). Order by noon on Monday for delivery that Thursday or Friday.
This at-home experiences follows a similar format to the restaurants Six by Nico.
A rotating four-course tasting menu inspired by memories or places, Home by Nico provides two people with all the elements to create a fine dining experience at home. This month’s edition is inspired by Bangkok and is available from 25 to 28 November.
The team has also a vegan option called 24 Carrot, with no less than eight vegan dishes made for sharing.
Much-loved Ramsbottom tapas restaurant has just launched it at-home offering, so you can create Baratxuri dishes in your own kitchen.
The menu features classic tapas like croquettas de jamon, gambas pil pil, anchovies, Serrano ham and lots more. Drinks can also be arranged and they’ve made some recommendations for wines that work well with particular dishes.
Local delivery is available on Fridays and Saturdays for £1 per order to Ramsbottom, Stubbins, Edenfield, Helmshore, Haslingden, Rawtenstall, Baxenden, Accrington, Holcombe Brook, Greenmount, Hawkshaw, Tottington, Walshaw, Bromley Cross, Edgworth, Bury, Whitefield and Prestwich. Collection is free from the restaurant.
Longstanding Ashton restaurant, Lily’s Indian Vegetarian Cuisine, has opened its second site in Greater Manchester.
The new deli in Chorlton which opened this week on Manchester Road joins an already-impressive foodie line up in the area, next to Unicorn Grocery and Barbakan.
Like in the Ashton store, there’s a huge counter filled with savouries like samosa and bombay mix and vibrant Indian desserts.
Takeaway dishes include a selection of curries and there’s a deal which is any curry with a choice of four roti or four masala chapati for £7.99. There’s also a range of hot drinks including fresh chai.
The fully vegetarian deli has a huge range of Indian products made by the Lily’s team as well as other brands, including sauces, sweets, teas, poppadums and lots more.
The counter is full of handmade sweets and savouries
This move to more of a grocery offering brings Lily’s back to its roots. The family-run business started in 1972 by husband and wife PG and Lilawati (Lily) Sachdev.
Lily used to make all the savouries by hand, which sold out very quickly at their small shop on Cotton Street East in Ashton Under Lyne.
Eventually all the family joined the business but Lily unfortunately passed away before the restaurant opened and so it was named Lily’s in her memory. Many of the dishes are still made to Lily’s original recipe.
Those who have been to the Ashton restaurant and deli will know how good the food is here. And, it’s been a busy few days since opening for the deli in the lead up to Diwali this weekend.
Parul, daughter of PG and Lily Sachdev, said: “The welcome has been great. We’ve had so many messages saying ‘Welcome to Chorlton’, it seems to be a really good community. We’re looking forward to being part of it, it’s fantastic.
“We’d been looking for a second site for quite a while. Obviously, this is not the full Lily’s, just the deli. So we’d been looking in Chorlton, we’ve had a relationship with Unicorn for a while. So it just seemed the right place to go.”
The new Chorlton deli has been very busy since opening
Currently, the deli is open for takeaway only and people in the store are limited to six, but once the restrictions allow, there will be a few seats for diners to eat in the deli.
And, despite the challenges of opening in a national lockdown, the owners are feeling very positive about the opening.
Parul said: “We are just so blessed, aren’t we? With everything going on, we are extremely blessed to be able to do this, really. You know, we appreciate all of our customers and it’s just fantastic that we’ve been able to do it in lockdown.
“You know what the times are like now, people are going through so much. So, you appreciate everything that’s going on around you. And to be able to do this at this time is very fortunate for us. Blessings from above, from Mum and Dad who started everything.”
I don’t know about you, but I could use a drink right now.
With pubs, bars and restaurants now shut for at least four weeks, it’s time to get planning your at-home booze deliveries. But just because you’re in lockdown, it doesn’t mean you need to lower your standards.
We’re lucky in Manchester to have a cracking array of local breweries, and of course some fantastic pubs and bars.
Read on for some of the best places to order your lockdown booze for delivery or collection.
Hawksmoor
With impossibly perfect timing, Hawskmoor have just launched their range of at-home cocktails.
A mixture of new and much-loved favourites including Ultimate Dry Martini, Sour Cherry Negroni, Fuller Fat Old Fashioned and Hepple Gimlet.
Delivery cost is £8.50 under £50 or free delivery over £50.
The small Stockport pub, Petersgate Tap offers a wide range of craft beers.
Delivery is free to local postcodes (SK1-5, SK8) and for £2 for other local deliveries, SK6,7,9-17, SK22-23, with minimum orders of £20. Outside of that, the minimum order is £50 and delivery costs £6.99.
Having recently opened their Chorlton bar over the summer, Fell has now set up as a bottle shop for sales over lockdown. They sell cans and 750ml bottles of beer, as well as mixed cases of the two.
This Northern Quarter specialist craft beer shop offers free local delivery on orders over £20. Orders under £20 can be collected from their store 11am to 6:30pm Tuesday to Sunday and 11am to 4pm Monday.
Deliveries are on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. This covers all M postcodes, as well as OL9, SK1, SK3, SK4, SK5, SK8 and Altrincham.
Runaway’s selection of unfiltered and unpasteurised beers are available to order in bottle, case and mini kegs for home delivery and click and collect.
Order online for home delivery (normally next day) or collect from the Runaway Brewery Tap Room, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Over the weekend, pre-arranged orders can be collected from neighbours Grub by emailing sales@therunawaybrewery.com.
Blackjack are delivering cans, bottles and mini kegs to your door, as well as 5 and 10L cask ale boxes which last seven to nine days in the fridge once opened.
There’s free delivery inside the M60 as well as Sale, Altrincham and SK1-12.
The Track web shop is packed with lots of great beers by the can or mini keg with delivery to all M postcodes, as well as SK1-12, SK14-16, OL5-10 and WA14-15. Order before midday for next day delivery.
Plus, get 15% off your order using code TIER3… What’s a tier again?
Alphabet Brewing Co’s web shop is packed full of lovely beers and merchandise.
Local deliveries are £3 or free for orders over £30 with code MCROVER30 at the checkout. Same day delivery for orders place by 2pm within the M60. Or pop into the brewery on Northern Western Street Saturdays from 12pm to 2pm for free collection.
Alongside deliveries of their Bavarian-inspired classics like kebabs, wursts, burgers and schnitzels, Albert’s Schloss is also delivering booze to your door this lockdown via Deliveroo.
Enjoy a selection of bottled beers, 1 litre growlers of Paulaner Munich and cocktails like Apple Strudel and Black Cherry Kaiser. Plus, wines and homemade schnapps.
Available Thursday & Fridays from 5pm till 9:30pm and 12pm till 9:30pm on Saturday & Sundays.
The Green Quarter based brewery is providing home deliveries on their selection of cans. They also have mixed cases including Pale Ale, Sour, and the Hops, Hops & More Hops case.
Order before 12 noon for next day delivery and after 12 noon for deliveries in two working days.
Minimum orders £20, £5.95 standard delivery but free over £60 and included in mixed case orders.
Northern Quarter pub, Crown and Kettle had only just reopened after a stunning refurb before being asked to close again under Tier 3 restrictions.
But now, they have opened a new takeaway shop, where you can order a selection of kegs beer, cask ale, ciders and craft cans. Plus, there’s 20% off for a limited time only.
Containers are included or you can bring your own. Open 2pm-8pm.
Delivered across Manchester in refrigerated vans, Cloudwater’s beers are cold and ready to enjoy as soon as they arrive.
Orders over £30 will be delivered from 11am until 8pm daily. On Saturday and Sundays, there are additional delivery windows from 10am until 2pm and 2pm until 6pm available.
Currently delivering to postcodes: M1-9, M11-23, M25, M27-28, M30, M32-35, M40-41, M43, M45, M50 SK1, SK2, SK3, SK4, SK5, SK8.
Marble delivers bottles, cans and mini kegs from their Salford brewery.
There’s free local delivery from Monday to Friday to all Manchester postcodes and Stockport postcodes SK1-9 and SK12. Orders placed before Midday will have next day delivery.
Run by seven actual brothers from Salford who love beer, Se7en Brothers are delivering individual cans and mixed cases.
There is free delivery on all orders over £50. Order before 2pm for next day delivery from Monday to Saturday. Orders made on a Friday after 2pm and on Saturday and Sunday will be dispatched on the Monday.
Collections can be made from the brewery, Monday to Friday 11-4pm.
Manchester’s first and only dedicated craft lager brewery located in Ardwick, Manchester Union Brewery are delivering their central European-style lager.
Available in cases of 12 or 24 cans, or as a 2 litre growler refill (growler must be bought first). Delivery to M postcodes only which is free for cases and £2 for growlers. Order by 10am on Thursday for delivery on Friday.
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With impossibly perfect timing, Hawskmoor have just launched their range of at-home cocktails.
The small Stockport pub, Petersgate Tap offers a wide range of craft beers.
