YES, THIS WAS AN APRIL FOOL STORY.
NIGELLA LAWSON is coming to Manchester on Saturday 14 April to open her first branded first teashop.
It will occupy the old Burger King unit in Piccadilly.
"There'll be plenty for them to tuck into and I want to show them some jolly decent middle-class virtues."
Nigella's Muffin Kneading MagicSpeaking exclusively to Confidential Nigella said, "I can't wait to come 'Up North' as we say down here. I really want to show people what I have up my sleeve and further along a bit. I have lots of recipes. People will be able to enjoy my beautiful buns, my firm cream muffins and my billowy D-cupcakes."
There will be twenty staff employed said Nigella. "The waitresses will be proper women, fuller figured, and every hour will dance a gentle swing dance, we call the Jiggle-bug."
And what type of food and drink can people expect?
"There'll be morning tease, afternoon tease, evening tease and special deliveries for people living in apartments of high tease."
Isn't she worried though about the reputation of that particular site? The Burger King previously attracted more police call-outs than any other food and drink place in the city.
Some of the Cup Cake range"I would welcome the usual customers," Nigella said. "There'll be plenty for them to tuck into and I want to show them some jolly decent middle-class virtues. Maybe they'll learn by example."
"After all," she continued, "this place as it stands is already a bit of a social experiment on Friday and Saturday nights, filled with a great many people, including women, who binge drink rather than spreading their alcohol consumption through the day alone at home waiting for hubby, or in charity luncheons with the ladies."
So will she be frequently in Manchester?
"Not really, darling," she told Confidential, wiping some cream off an apple turnover and slowly licking it from her finger with a giggle. "It's not really my cup of tea, but I hope my teas are your cup of tea."
The new venture will be the first of an initial roll-out of ten outlets across the UK.
Nigella Lawson
