Boroughs
Sale has been given something of a transformation in recent months, with a bevy of new food and drink operators moving into the Trafford suburb.
From a new Green’s opening from celebrity TV chef Simon Rimmer, to the arrival of city-wide favourites Rudy’s and Sugo Pasta Kitchen at the newly-developed Stanley Square, there’s never been a better time to go and eat there.
The once-brutalist 60s shopping centre has been transformed beyond recognition – tempting local residents to stay in their local area, rather than hawking off to Altrincham or into town.
What’s more, the square’s regeneration is redirecting attention to some of Sale’s long-standing local favourites – such as The Fat Loaf, which has just won a big award, and Michelin-recommended restaurant The Perfect Match.
But it’s not all about the food. There’s also some great retail to be discovered here, as well as great walks, cultural activities and more.
Here’s our guide to this foodie neighbourhood on the rise.
Grapefruit Coffee – Opened by the team behind record, zine and live show outfit Comfortable On A Tightrope back in 2019, this cute little cafe next to the tram stop serves up great coffee and freshly-baked goodies, ranging from gingerbread men to chiffon cake with grapefruit Turkish delight, mascarpone cream and grapefruit marzipan.
Pizza Ammore Napoli – As the name suggests, Pizza Ammore is all about the Napoli-style of cooking, promising a thin base, charred crust and simple but flavourful ingredients.
Cowtown Grill – Cowtown Grill saw huge success in lockdown as one of the few restaurants in the area to stay open for takeaway. Its traditional Canadian poutine, burgers and steaks have proven a hit with locals. Cowtown also claims to be the first restaurant in the UK to serve the national Canadian dish of chips, cheese curds and gravy.
Greens – A fixture in the south Manchester suburb for over three decades, Greens vegetarian restaurant was a trailblazer in its time – and remains so today, as the oldest surviving veggie restaurant in Manchester. Its owners have just opened a second site in Sale.
Read more: Celebrity chef Simon Rimmer is opening a new Greens restaurant in Sale
The Fat Loaf – The winner of the 2022 Restaurant of the Year – North West category at the Food Awards England, this family-friendly eatery is a beloved local gem putting a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. With an open kitchen and al fresco dining in the summer, it serves a light tapas menu, alongside an a la carte feature=ing a white haggis scotch egg and grilled king prawns with nduja and focaccia.
Petisco – Opened by four friends who’ve all known each other since childhood, newcomer Petisco more than holds its own against Stanley Squares’ more established new residents. Here you’ll find all the tapas regulars, alongside some surprise hero dishes.
Read more: Inside Petisco, the brand new Portuguese-inspired restaurant that’s paving the way for Sale’s food revolution
The Perfect Match – A Michelin Guide recommended restaurant, it’s described as a “simple, honest little bistro […] creating tasty, well-crafted dishes from across Europe”.
Dutch Courage – This craft beer bar in Stanely Square can also be relied on for great cocktails, with outside terrace seating making it perfect for sunnier days.
Draft – Another neighbourhood craft beer bar, at Draft you’ll find a regularly changing menu featuring locally-brewed beers and lagers alongside those from further afield.
Sugo Pasta Kitchen – First opened in Altrincham in 2015, this southern Italian pasta kitchen is known for its Pugliese-style handmade pasta dishes, tiramisu, wine list and thoughtfully-created starters. New to Sale, it is the restaurant groups third Greater Manchester site.
Hops and Boogie – A new bottle shop, tap room and record store in the heart of Sale’s newly rejuvenated Stanely Square. Head down to find booze and beats from around the world.
Sale Food Hall – With a bevy of rotating food traders to be discovered inside, Sale Food Hall currently boasts delicacies from boozy ice cream parlour A Few Scoops, Chinese street food from Dim Sum Su, and Ethiopian cuisine from House of Habesha. From the team behind General Stores, you’ll also find a great convenience store and coffee shop inside.
Roti – This Indian-Scottish fusion restaurant is unlike anything else in Manchester, with an eclectic menu featuring a roti ‘chip butty’ made with marinated chickpea chips and curried aloo, Haggis pakoras and an Indian twist on the classic Scotch Egg.
Rudy’s – Manchester’s most beloved Neapolitan pizzeria has recently landed in Sale, bringing its award-winning pies with it. Listed in the world’s top 20 pizzerias more than once, it’s a must-visit – and it’s surprisingly cheap, too.
Cork of the North – This small bar boasts a heated ‘wine garden’ and offers a changing daily selection of tipples by the glass. Its kitchen, meanwhile, serves complementary small plates and various styles of cheese.
Borello – A traditional Italian restaurant in Sale with a huge menu, Borello’s offering spans bruschetta and antipasti, classic pasta favourites like carbonara, bolognese, lasagne, as well as pizzas, mains like chicken milanese, steaks, salmon and more.
Off The Hook – This popular fish and chip shop began life as a pop-up before coming a Sale mainstay. Head down for all your chippy tea favourites, alongside homemade pies, pakora-style sweetcorn and halloumi fritters, and locally-made Grandad’s Sausages.
Maker’s Market – Popping up in Sale on the third Sunday each month, the Maker’s Market is a great place to find gems from local traders in Mancheser – ranging from foodie goodies to plants, homeware, records and more.
Emporium M33 – Home to 37 local independent businesses, Emporium M33 is a true hidden gem. Set across three storeys, it’s drawn a number of comparisons to Affleck’s Palace with traders selling everything from fashion items ad antiques to candles, cakes, buttons, jewellery, pet accessories, bags and art.
Ashby’s Greengrocer – Opened in February 2022, Ashby’s is a new groceries store opened with the mission of bringing back the ‘traditional greengrocer’. Selling a range of organic, fresh produce, this is the place to go for all your fruit and veg.
Idaho – First opened in Altrincham, this charming little shop houses the very best indie brands from all over the globe – from homeware to cards and more.
As a densely residential suburb of Greater Manchester, Sale’s nightlife tends to wrap up rather promptly around 11pm.
It does boast a number of popular bars, with locals recommending The Steamhouse, The Brooklands Tap, and Jackon’s Boat down the road in Stretford as all being good for a night out.
Alternatively, you can always hop on the tram and be in the city centre in under 20 minutes.
As for hotels, on the budget end, you’re looking at either a Travelodge or Premier Inn, whilst on the slightly more premium side of things, there is The Belmore – a charming real ale pub with rooms upstairs and a cracking Sunday roast.
Sale’s cultural hub is right in the town centre – the Waterside arts centre.
This modern complex combines the Robert Bolt theatre, the Lauriston Gallery, a library, studios and workspaces.
Throughout the year, it hosts a massive range of dance, theatre and comedy suitable for all ages and interests, with something to do just about every day of the year.
The waterside location of Sale is also a massive draw for locals and visitors alike.
You can rent kayaks to cruise along the canal, or do the same over in Sale Water Park, with the added option of stand-up paddleboarding.
Sale Water Park is home to one of the prettiest park runs in the region, which loops along the River Mersey too.
Then there’s Walkden Gardens, a stunning bit of green space featuring an arch of wisteria, a Japanese Garden, and a theatre lawn.
Sale is definitely on the pricier side of the scale in Greater Manchester, though it pales in comparison to some other parts of Trafford.
According to the Land Registry, the average house price around here is £346,324, and majority of homes sold were semi-detached properties.
Terraced houses average a bit cheaper at £289,340 and if you can find a flat in Sale, the average for those is £185,196.
Properties get snapped up quickly, but at the time of writing, offerings included this lovely Victorian terrace, this waterside apartment, and this unbelievable 12-bedroom mansion. Wow.
Sale is helpfully on the Metrolink line, with Altrincham-bound trams taking about 15 minutes to get there from the city centre.
There are buses too, but the tram really is the quickest way to get around from here.
Cyclists can take advantage of the traffic-free canal towpath that goes all the way to town, passing Old Trafford.
Sale is also one of those suburbs that’s right next to the M60, so drivers can get on the ring road in mere minutes.
Feature image – The Manc Group / Hops and Boogie
Boroughs
Summer is feeling like it’s right around around the corner, and we’re being treated to yet another bank holiday this week.
After the historic coronation of King Charles III this past weekend, the UK has been given an extra bank holiday to make the most of, and that’s on top of what is already a week packed full of fun across Greater Manchester, so we’ve cherry-picked a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Some of the events we’re going to mention are completely free, while others will set you back a few pounds, and many will need to be booked in advance.
Here’s our top picks.
___
Greater Manchester
Monday 8 May – onwards
Celebrating National Walking Month, there’ll be a range of free walks and activities organised by local residents and organisations across the region.
There are almost 250 walks as part of this year’s Greater Manchester Walking Festival, so there’s always plenty to choose from.
With the event having been created to celebrate the joy of walking and being outside with friends, family, neighbours, and other members of our communities, walks in this year’s festival also include photography strolls, age-friendly routes, and proper hikes.
You can out more and discover walking routes on the GM Walking website here.
___
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 8 May – onwards
Mancs can “unravel the secrets of sound” through experiments, play, and performance at the Science and Industry Museum’s new world-first exhibition.
Fancy getting to march to the beat of your own drum? Turn It Up: The power of music gives visitors the chance to make music together, and play with beat, melody, and harmonies in a newly-commissioned musical playground, as well as find out how music can trigger emotions and memories, whether it can affect what you buy, and even what certain songs taste like.
You can even take part in a musical Turing test and see if you can tell the difference between songs written by humans and machines.
Find out more here.
___
Cibo
Monday 8 May – onwards
How does a three-course premium Italian bottomless brunch with 90 minutes of non-stop Aperol Spritz, prosecco, and bellinis sound?
Cibo Manchester – which has two city centre sites in Castlefield and Great Northern – has updated its bottomless brunch deal for spring, and now, pizza and pasta lovers can dig into three courses of classy Italian favourites alongside a free-flowing drinks menu – all for just for just £49.95 per person.
Diners can indulge in the likes of deep-fried mozzarella frittas, wild mushroom and truffle risotto, Cibo’s pistachio-topped four cheese pizza, and the absolute star of the show, a penne reggiano cooked inside a flaming parmesan cheese wheel at your table with added cognac and truffle oil.
Find out more and book here.
___
Trafford Centre
Monday 8 May – onwards
A giant outdoor funfair full of vintage fairground rides and a circus is back at the Trafford Centre.
After several hugely-successful runs in both 2021 and 2022, the UK’s third largest shopping centre’s outdoor space has “sprung to life” once again, and is back with a whole host of thrilling rides, a glittering circus, and lots of delicious treats for the whole family to enjoy.
Spring Escape has popped up outside the Great Hall, and tickets are now available to buy for the wide range of events on offer.
Find out more here.
___
Corn Exchange
Monday 8 May – onwards
Corn Exchange has installed a book vending machine inside its stunning atrium space.
Whether you’re in need a book for your commute into the city, want to update your bookshelf at home, grab a page-turner for your holiday, or simply have a good read over a coffee or glass of something at Corn Exchange, the new vending machine has you covered.
Book lovers are invited to head on down with their old books, grab a token for the machine, and Read. Swap. Repeat.
With the aim to help the environment and reduce waste for book lovers, the machine includes a mix of pre-loved books of all genres, and you’ll just need to simply bring in a pre-loved book and swap it for a token with one of the Corn Exchange hosts to access the machine and choose your next read.
Find out more here.
___
We have some cracking new openings for you to check out this month.
A suntrap ice cream parlour, a Dutch pancake house, waterside beer gardens, a Malibu beach club, a new sushi and tonkotsu ramen spot, a boozy pasta restaurant, and a Hong Kong-style restaurant in Chinatown serving spam and noodles on its breakfast fry up, are just some of the things the Greater Manchester hospitality gods are delivering this month.
We think you’ll agree there’s a lot to look forward to, so if you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite this week, we’ve rounded up some of the best new openings to try.
You can read our list here.
___
Food Sorcery
Wednesday 10 May
Didsbury’s very-own cookery school, Food Sorcery, is hosting a dedicated Sushi & Gyoza Making workshop this Wednesday.
Japanese cuisine is experiencing more love in the UK now than ever before, and sushi has became one of the world’s most well-known dishes, so, during this three-hour expert class, you will get to learn how to make a whole host of popular types of sushi, such as makizushi, uramaki, California rolls, sashimi, and so much more.
All ingredients will be provided, and you will eat as you cook, as well as get to take home the additional dishes you make.
Find out more and book your spot on the class here.
___
BEC Arena
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 May
A huge two-day event celebrating all things cats is coming Manchester this weekend.
The Manchester Cat Extravaganza and Rescue Awareness Event, which sounds a bit like Crufts for cats, will see “the most beautiful cats in the world” strut their stuff on an actual catwalk.
Being brought to Manchester by organisation Loving Cats Worldwide, and set to take over the Bowlers Exhibition Centre, there’ll be an international cat competition, an adoption event, a Best in Show, and a full shopping village to browse.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
___
Heaton Park
Saturday 13 May
The Clone Roses will be headlining Heaton Park this Saturday.
Cementing their place as the most successful, ambitious, and best-loved tribute to iconic Manchester band, The Stone Roses – and arguably, one of the best tribute bands there is – The Clone Roses are promising “an absolute feast of Manchester music” as they mark their 25th Anniversary with a momentus show at Heaton Park this Saturday 13 May.
Many other tribute bands will be playing on the day such as The Smiths Ltd, The Courtbetweeners, and Happy Mondaze, and not to mention, fellow legends Bez and Clint Boon will be there in the flesh.
Find out more and grab tickets from £22.50 here.
___
Greater Manchester
Saturday 13 May
The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is to be screened live in cinemas across the UK for the first time ever this Saturday.
With fans from across the globe set to descend on Liverpool as the UK hosts the 2023 edition of the world’s biggest song competition on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine, those who weren’t lucky enough to secure tickets will instead by able to head to their nearest cinema to experience the action on the big screen.
Distributor CinemaLive has announced it will be broadcasting the Eurovision grand final show live in cinemas nationwide for the first time ever.
Find out more and grab last-minute tickets here.
___
Manchester City Centre
Saturday 13 May
Cloudwater Brew Co is throwing a multi-venue party and beer festival this Saturday.
Collaborating and celebrating the Manchester beer mile alongside Sureshot, Balance, and Track, Cloudwater Block Party 2023 will see each taproom invite a guest brewery, an independent food vendor, and a handful of live DJS to celebrate Manchester’s thriving beer mile.
Entry is FREE, and you can find out more here.
___
Featured Image – The Manc Group | Eurovision | National Trust
Boroughs
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has revealed it’s invested millions of pounds seized from criminals back into communities across the region.
Over the past year, specialist investigators from GMP’s Economic Crime Unit have been recovering, confiscating, and forfeiting money from criminal operations to the nationwide Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS).
And it’s now been revealed that a total of £15,751,210 in criminal finances has been invested back into communities across Greater Manchester through the scheme.
Non-profit organisations have been the biggest beneficiaries.
These local organisations – which are known to benefit a large number of people across the region – have been able to apply for a maximum of £20,000 to fund 12 months’ worth of activities that GMP says “pledges to support our objectives to fight, prevent, and reduce crime”, as well as keep people in the community safe and care for victims.
Just some examples of where the ARIS funding has gone over the past few years within Greater Manchester include organisations such as WeMove, Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, Get Away and Get Safe, and Deaf Ex-Offenders Network.
Breaking Barriers in Bolton, Rochdale-based organisation Tackling Minds, Tameside Arts, and Wigan Youth Zone are just a handful of other benefiting charities.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the many projects which benefit Greater Manchester’s communities,” explained Detective Superintendent Joseph Harrop from GMP.
“The offenders who commit economic crimes often do so for their own financial gain.
“It is fitting that this money is now put to good use to benefit communities across Greater Manchester, as the money we recover is being used to help fight, prevent and reduce crime, keep people safe, and care for victims – which ultimately makes Greater Manchester a better place to live, work, and visit.”
Not only that, but also as part of ARIS – which is operated by the Home Office – some of the funds recovered will be returned to GMP to be “utilised in furthering asset recovery work”, as well as funding community initiatives and on policing operations.
It’s expected that before the end of 2023, a total of over £5.1 million will have been returned to GMP under the scheme.
Featured Image – GMP
Boroughs
Boroughs
Boroughs
Audio
Boroughs
Boroughs
Boroughs
Eats
The people’s voice of Greater Manchester. Our aim? To make sure you’re in the know, entertained and educated on what’s happened, or what’s happening, in our great city.
39 Princess Street, M2 4FN
[email protected]
Copyright © 2023 The Manc
The Manc is a trademark of The Manc Creative Ltd