Manchester’s Finest

THE CHORLTON-GROWN MUSHROOMS THAT WILL BE FEEDING BILLIE EILISH AT CO-OP LIVE From a shipping container on the Chorlton/Whalley Range border to the VIP at Billie Eilish at The Co-op Live - this is not the usual journey of a mushroom. But here we are. Last week, we went to visit…

THE LEGENDARY EASTERN BLOC RECORDS IS TURNING 40 THIS WEEKEND Without @EasternBloc_, we wouldn’t have half the club scene we have in Manchester. That’s just a fact. With 808 State’s Martin Price, John Berry co-founded this temple of dance music, a place that - with barely a…

THE SOUTH AFRICAN-INDIAN SOUL FOOD POP UP YOU NEED TO TRACK DOWN IN REAL LIFE Huggy, the man behind Saffa Soul, started making South African Indian soul food in his family’s kitchen in Johannesburg. And if you didn’t know that South African Indian food was a thing, it’s time to…

The best Manchester gigs and club nights this August. Full list here: manchestersfinest.com/arts-and-cultu…

The best things to do in Manchester this week. Read the full list here: manchestersfinest.com/arts-and-cultu…

THE CHIP SHOP IN MARPLE BRIDGE WHERE THE PIES CAN’T STOP WINNING AWARDS Richard isn’t your regular chip shop owner. After a career in the fashion industry, he segued into it via a stint running food stands at music festivals. Six years ago he became the owner of Town Street…

500 FREE BAKES AND COFFEES AS POLISH-CANTONESE RAMEN JOINT HAKKAPO OPENS NEW BAKERY HakkaPo is the best type of fusion. Fusion done with love, respect and innovation. We loved it when it first opened last year, fusing the wild skills of old friends Krzysztof, Simon and Kit to…

SUGGESTED BY YOU: A MELTING-BEEF CHEEK STIFADO AND TWISTS ON GREEK CLASSICS When Paddy tipped us off about a new spot doing hot honey feta, slow-cooked lamb flatbreads and standout Greek wines, we didn’t need asking twice, so we got Matt White to head down. Kallos is a calm,…

RICHARD ASHCROFT ANNOUNCES HEADLINE MANCHESTER SHOW Following his stint as the special guest on the Oasis Live '25 tour, Richard Ashcroft has announced his own Manchester show at the Co-op Live on 8 November 2025. The former Verve frontman has been supporting Oasis on their…

The best things to do in Manchester this week. Full list: manchestersfinest.com/arts-and-cultu…

AFRO-CARIBBEAN STREET FOOD SENSATION RITA’S REIGN HAVE A NEW FOOD TRUCK DESIGNED BY LOCAL ARTIST PIICASA It’s been a hotspot for lunch on Piccadilly Gardens for years (not least within the Manchester’s Finest office) and now Rita’s Reign are giving the people what they want - a…

Manchester’s prodigal sons return to their hometown together for the first time in 16 years tomorrow night, as they begin the first of their five shows at Heaton Park. ⁠ ⁠ Whether you won the great Ticketmaster wars and got a ticket, or just want to experience the atmosphere,…