IT'S NOT the most organic transition for a former logistics consultant and importer of folder ring clips to throw down tools and launch a restaurant in the city centre devoted solely to locally produced Great British butcher bangers.
"Nobody is doing it. Ok, so there's people doing gourmet hotdogs, but not award-winning locally produced British bangers. Say no to weiners."
But husband and wife tag-team Mike and Emily Edge have done just that in the former Jack Spratt site on the corner of John Dalton Street and Albert Square.
"I've had the idea for a proper butcher's sausage restaurant for a while now," Mike told us, "We were looking at a site in Spinningfields but Nandos were hogging the whole rent system, you don't want to take on Nandos. So when this site came up we dived straight in."
Dived in they did. The Splendid design team plunged in to the site so quickly that poor old Spratt got a splash of paint on his arse as he dragged it out of the door. Splendid have turned it over in just under two weeks.
Mike and Emily Edge
So why bangers?
"Simple really," said Mike, "Nobody is doing it. Ok, so there's people doing gourmet hotdogs, but not award-winning locally produced British bangers. Say no to weiners."
You can choose one of ten sausages, from the splendid to the Spanish, the Welsh to Moroccan lamb, then douse it in hand-picked toppings (all £7), or, the lazier option, pick one of nine combo options (from £7.50 to £9), laced with bacon, three cheeses, pretzel pieces, crumbled black pudding, peanut butter, baked beans and battered banana (eh?).
Sides (£1.50-£4.50) include naked, chilli cheese or eggs benedict fries, slaw, chicken bites or cola baked beans... come again? We'll stick to the Henry John Heinz vintage.
Beers, starting at a reasonable £3 include San Miguel, Brooklyn and Kona, wine at £2.50 for 125ml is a steal (£13 a bottle), cocktails start at £6.50 (the pick being the blueberry rum smash at £7), as do the boozy shakes - the monkey's nuts shake looks dicey.
Bonus: The first 500 to order this weekend get the first round for FREE. Three meals a day, three free rounds. Triumph.
#noweiners
Looks like this...
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