Flippin’ heck, it’s creped up on us already. Here's six places to get your pancake fix…
WHY stay at home and toss your own this Shrove when there are so many batterful delights out there to choose from? Considering Greater Manchester holds the record for the world’s largest pancake - a whopping three-tonnes and almost 50 inches in diameter - there’s no better place to get scoffing.
MASONS RESTAURANT & BAR
Where better to indulge in style than in the Grade II-listed surrounds of Manchester Hall? Masons is whipping up the likes of raspberry and blackberry drizzled with honey; chocolate chip drizzled with chocolate sauce; plain with a drizzle of honey or plain with bacon and maple syrup. If you’re in the sharing mood (or feeling particularly gluttonous), you can try all bar the last on one plate - that’s nine pancakes. Masons also have a dessert special; choose from Cointreau with honey, milk chocolate or plain with mixed fruit. Alternatively, try a platter of all three. Ah go on, it’s only once a year. 36 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BT
BUNDOBUST
Pancake Day is Dosa Day at the acclaimed craft beer bar/Indian veggie kitchen. Specially created for Shrove Tuesday (and staying on the menu for Valentine’s) is their Sweet Sweet Dosa (£5) – mango rice crepe with mango, pistachio, cardamom and mascarpone cream. And if you’d rather go savoury, check out their revamped vegan dosa on the new menu. They’ve replaced the yoghurt chutney with a vegan coconut one, plus the filling is now Aloo Gobi (potato and cauliflower). 61 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 2AG
PEN & PENCIL
Its motto is ‘brunch, lunch, cocktails and good times’ - little wonder this NYC-style hangout has a distinctly boozy twist on Pancake Day. Choose from fifteen toppings - from chocolate buttons to sprinkles and fresh strawberries - then round off with one of their homemade syrups. Can’t make today? No worries, it’s on until Friday. Fourways House, 57 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EJ
BEASTRO
Never one to overcomplicate things, the Beastro boys are offering berries, bacon or chocolate on their pancakes. Needless to say, you’ll get a large stack of ‘em too - these guys don't do small portions. Left Bank, Manchester M3 3AG
SWEET DINER
If you’re round Denton way this week, there are few better places to celebrate Pancake Day than Sweet Diner - as the name suggests. Crepes here are hardcore: from Fudgeydoodle with its Hersheys sauce to Sweet Monkey, featuring delights like hazelnut, banana, white choc and Nutella. 48 Hyde Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 3AQ
DON GIOVANNI
Go into Don Giovanni today, buy a drink and you’ll bag a free plate of cannelloni. A bit random perhaps but, on the flip side (sorry), handy for those with a savoury disposition. And come on, you can’t moan at free pasta... Peter House, 1-2 Oxford St, Manchester M1 5AN
