Society Manchester is going back to school this September, as the Barbirolli Square food hall takes a trip back to the days of plastic trays, questionable uniforms and racing to the canteen before all the best pudding was gone. Launching on 1st September, its five indie street food kitchens and bar are putting their own spin on the school dinner classics of years gone by for a limited-edition September menu.
Smash burger masters Slap & Pickle have gone straight for some of the biggest playground favourites, starting with Cheese & Bean Loaded Fries (skin-on fries loaded with melted Red Leicester, cheese sauce, Heinz beans, cracked black pepper and chives). They’ll also be serving The Golden Nugget Burger, stacking three crispy chicken nuggets with melted Red Leicester, crisp iceberg and Heinz ketchup in a toasted sesame brioche bun. Completing their Back to School line-up is the Cheese & Bean Toastie, made with buttered St Pierre brioche loaf, melted Red Leicester and Heinz beans, pressed until suitably gooey and cheesy.
Crust connoisseurs Noi Quattro are combining pizza night with a school dinner staple for their Fish Finger Pizza. Their classic Neapolitan dough will be topped with a mushy pea base, fish fingers, chips and ketchup - a combo that would have caused quite the stir in the school canteen.
Pan-Asian pros Manzoku are putting a retro favourite front and centre with their Spam & Egg Sandos, served with a side of prawn crackers. Because no trip back to the school canteen would be complete without it, they’ll also be serving Mini School Cakes for pudding.
Taco masters El Piloto are getting in on the action with School Cake Churros, alongside their own Mexican-inspired take on Fish Finger Tacos, bringing a little extra kick to the childhood classic.
Meanwhile, Korean Fried Chicken legends Yoki Social Table are taking their cues from the lunch trays found in Korean school canteens, serving crispy duck with a choice of rice or chips for their Back to School special.
Society’s bar team have been doing their homework too, turning three school pudding faves into limited-edition cocktails. The School Cake mixes Chambord, Koko Kanu, coconut cream and lemon juice, finished - naturally - with a generous helping of multicoloured sprinkles. Crimble Crumble is a boozy nod to the classic apple crumble, mixing peach liqueur, apple, lime and ginger beer, topped with a Kraken Rum Float and toasted cinnamon stick. The Treacle Tart rounds everything off by mixing Hennessy with creme de cacao and black treacle, served with a crushed Hobnob rim for good measure - another old-school favourite thrown into the mix.
Society’s limited-edition Back to School menu is available throughout the whole of September.