This article explores the demise of Almost Famous, a beloved burger chain in Manchester, and prompts a nostalgic look back at other iconic fast-food restaurants that have disappeared from the city's high streets. It highlights several dearly missed establishments, such as The Great American Disaster (TGAD), Pizzaland, and Dutch Pancake House, each with its unique story and impact on Manchester's culinary landscape.
Manchester fast food enthusiasts experienced a wave of sadness this week with the unexpected closure of Almost Famous , a pioneering burger chain. Diane Bourne, a reporter for the M.E.N., described Almost Famous as a true Manchester original, credited with spearheading the 'dirty food' trend in the city back in 2012. The restaurant's towering burger creations, inspired by American fast food trends, became an instant hit in Manchester and beyond.
However, on Monday, Beau Myers, the chain's owner, announced the closure of its locations across Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds, citing the current economic climate and lingering debt as the primary reasons. Almost Famous' demise prompted a wave of nostalgia, reminding many of the iconic burger joints and fast food favorites that have disappeared from Manchester's high streets. To commemorate this era of Manchester's culinary history, we've compiled a list of eight beloved fast-food restaurants that are now sadly gone. This list is not exhaustive, so if you have a cherished memory of a fast-food establishment that should be included, please share it in the comments. One such dearly missed restaurant is The Great American Disaster (TGAD), a burger bar often mentioned in conversations about Manchester's most fondly remembered eateries. TGAD claimed to be the chain that introduced the 'original' American burger to the UK's high streets. As the appetite for the American-style burger surged in the 1970s, TGAD opened branches across the UK, including locations in Manchester, Chester, Birmingham, Aberdeen, and Manchester's Old Half Moon Chambers on Chapel Walks.The brainchild of Peter Morton, who later founded the globally successful Hard Rock Café, TGAD didn't just serve burgers; other popular dishes like West Texas Chilli, Deep Dish Turkey Pie, and The Incredible Hulk Steak were a massive hit with diners seeking an authentic taste of American restaurant staples. After TGAD's Manchester restaurant closed in 1981, the building became home to Daniels and later Grinch. Another iconic restaurant lost to time was Pizzaland. Established in 1970 in London, Pizzaland chose Manchester as the location for its first restaurant outside the capital. The chain eventually expanded to over 140 outlets across the UK, including branches on Deansgate and Mosley Street. In 1980, United Biscuits took over ownership from Associated Restaurants/Associated Newspapers, leading to changes in leadership and business strategy. Unfortunately, this resulted in the opening of outlets in towns that lacked sufficient customers to sustain them. In a bid to boost profits towards the latter part of the decade, Pizzaland introduced an alluring 'pizza for a penny' promotion. Customers could find discount vouchers in newspapers, snip them out, and present them at their nearest Pizzaland for a budget-friendly feast. By November 1996, hospitality titan Whitbread acquired the Pizzaland chain, transforming many of its sites into Pizza Huts. Since the brand's demise, other restaurants with no connection to the original chain have adopted the Pizzaland (or Pizza Land) name, causing the original chain to be forgotten by many
Local News Nostalgia FAST FOOD MANCHESTER RESTAURANTS NOSTALGIA HISTORY FOOD TRENDS PIZZALAND DUTCH PANCAKE HOUSE THE GREAT AMERICAN DISASTER ALMOST FAMOUS
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