There is an all-pink cafe in Stockport that looks perfect for the ‘gram and fit for a princess.
Stockport’s Pink Island Cafe is attracting curious crowds and pink lovers to try its sugary treats while witnessing staff serving up burgers, pizzas, desserts and cream-smothered, mallow-flurried drinks.
The pink, pink, PINK, palace looks like it could have been taken straight from the recent blockbuster Barbie movie set, but is strangely housed inside an industrial unit on a business park, going completely unnoticed by those who are unaware.
@pinkislandcafe / Instagram
The picture perfect cafe opened its doors in February and is part of Makeup Artist P.Louise’s Makeup Academy – which offers courses for those looking to go into a career in the cosmetics industry.
Pink Island Cafe is open to all and not just those booking onto one of the makeup artistry courses, with the word spreading fast about this hidden gem – or rose quartz for that matter.
To get a table, you have to book a place in advance which can be done via the website. Once there, you’ll have to buzz to be let inside – so it’s not your average cafe experience.
@pinkislandcafe / Instagram
While it looks nothing special from the outside, upon entering, it’s like being inside a life-sized Barbie house.
Looking around, and briefly expecting Margot Robbie to float down from the ceiling, you’ll notice there are three booths with words in letters covered in Hollywood bulbs that say: ‘Blood’, ‘Sweat’ and ‘Tears’, above each one.
The wording is in reference to the owner of the P.Louise Empire – real name Paige Louise Williams. The entrepreneur grew up on a council estate in Manchester before creating a £10 eye shadow primer, and now the successful businesswoman has grown that into a multi-million pound business.
@pinkislandcafe / Instagram
On her website it says Paige started with ‘a huge dream to make it on her own two feet in the world of makeup’.
The cafe is the perfect setting for a birthday party, and later this month the venue will be hosting its very own princess party with face painting, food and performers, held on August 23rd and 25th.
The P.Louise website also says: ‘where dreams are made a reality and magical moments are guaranteed!’ – so if you want to make your princess dream a reality, this is exactly the place to do it.
@pinkislandcafe / Instagram
Over at the other side of the space, there is a castle that’s actually a shop selling P.Louise makeup products with an array of bright pop-colours and shimmery hues to die for. With 1.5 million followers on her Makeup Academy Instagram page, it’s clearly popular stuff.
You can find the cafe at Orion Business park, Bird Hall Lane, Cheadle Heath, Stockport SK3 0RT. Reservations must be made online, to book click HERE.
Live From The Grill is returning in 2024 for a third year, bringing with it next level barbecue food, drinks, live music and DJs.
Deansgate Square will once again host a weekend of BBQs from some of Manchester’s best restaurants, including Hawksmoor, who will be serving up the ultimate steak sandwich.
Also serving up some top scran will be Knight’s Caribbean BBQ, Japanese robata by Kitten, Food Sorcery Cookery School, and Chit ‘n’ Chaat with Indian street food.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Plus, there’s £3.50 pints all day and other drinks deals exclusively for Manchester’s Finest subscribers – so make sure you get signed up. The free event is taking place on Saturday August 31st and Sunday September 1st, down at one of the city centre’s most exciting new neighbourhoods, New Jackson.
Both Saturday and Sunday’s day-long parties are free to attend with tickets. Saturday will feature Rinse.FM residents Habitat, DJ G2 & Friends, soulful drum and bass from Rare Groove, and Manchester’s longest-running club night, Funkademia.
Manchester’s Finest Group
Sunday is curated by Gigpig and is all about the bands, including rising jazz superstar Kemani Anderson, electro-soul singer Yemi Bolatiwa, 60s and 70s-inspired blues duo Corduroy Moustache, singer-songwriters Ruby J and Grace Kelly, as well as a set from DJ Lenny.
Live From The Grill 2024 is happening at Deansgate Square, New Jackson, M15 4TN, from 12pm till 8pm both days. Tickets are free, grab them here.
What promises to be Manchester’s biggest after work drinks is happening this week, and you can head down for a pint on us.
Manchester’s Finest is serving up complimentary drinks at a secret location in town, and you’re invited to enjoy an after work drink on the house.
This is in collaboration with the new ChinChin app, which helps you organise nights out with your mates.
Manchester’s Finest Group
The massive after work social is happening this week, on Thursday August 15th.
Simply head to the secret location from 5.30pm to enjoy one of 400 pints being given away – choose from Amstel, Inch’s cider or a soft drink.
The fastest and easiest way to make plans with friends, download the ChinChin app to find out where to head and join in the fun.
Manchester’s Finest Group
To secure your invite (and free pint), create your ChinChin account, click the link to let us know you’re coming, and head to the secret spot – which will be revealed on the app.
And if that’s not enough, ChinChin will also throw in £5 Uber credit for attendees to safely get home too – redeem it when you first check-in on ChinChin. Please drink responsibly.
The British Street Food Awards Northern heats are coming to Freight Island this weekend, bringing with it some of the region’s best street food.
Part of the largest street food competition in the world, the free event arrives in the city this summer this weekend, August 17th and 18th.
The Northern champion will be selected by a panel of judges: Matty White, known for his work on Manchester’s Finest and Steph’s Packed Lunch, Luke Payne, chef at The Pack Horse in Hayfield, and British Street Food Awards founder and food journalist Richard Johnson.
Hello Oriental
The participating traders have now been released, along with their taster dishes which are all available at £6.50, as well as an additional ‘killer dish’.
You can sample Caribbean food from Back-a-yard Jamaican, Baldy’s artisan pies, Burgerism, Colombo Street’s Sri Lankan street food, and Asian fusion from Fuku, and Hello Oriental.
There’s Greek classics from Mega Gyros, Mia’s Arepas, Pattersons fried chicken, Indian street food from Payal, Rio-Mex’s fusion of Brazilian and Mexican street food, and BBQ from Smoking Coal.
British Street Food Awards
Don’t miss traditional Malaysian cuisine from Syiok-Lah, That Ziki’s Greek street food with a modern twist, and Zapp, who are bringing traditional Polish street food.
Past winners of the prestigious award include MEATliquor, Wingmans and BAO. The winner of this year’s competition will head to London for the UK finals in September. And in even better news, you can head down yourself and try all of the North’s best street food over the weekend.
Colombo Street
You can also have your say in the People’s Choice award, with the winners of both announced on August 18th.
The awards coincide with Freight’s summer of top tier – and free – music programming too, with Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip headlining Sunday’s line-up, alongside the Body Heat DJs.