Almost Famous is giving away one of its Banksy prints on its last day flipping burgers in its Northern Quarter restaurant this Saturday (July 23). The print - which is worth somewhere in the region of £5000 - will be the prize in a treasure hunt, which will send diners around the city.
Those eating at the NQ spot will find the first clue on their bill, which will then lead them to the next, and then gradually towards the coveted prize. As well as the Banksy, a piece called Forgive Us Our Trespassing - one of three Banksy prints the restaurant has up on its walls - the winner will get a pair of ‘black cards’ too, giving them free burgers for a year.
The restaurant, which first opened in 2012 to queues down the street, closes this weekend, but will in fact be re-opening around the corner to the former site of Home Sweet Home, which is run by the same company, Beautiful Drinks.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, co-founder Beau Myers said: “It’s the end of an era really. We’ve ridden the roller coaster. It’s been a crazy time, so we want to recreate some of that magic with the closing party.
“The first two people through the door will get black cards, and the first 20 people will eat for free. Plus we’ll be giving out drinks, shots, t-shirts, and two more black cards. We started with a bang and we want to go out with a bang.”
As for the move to the Home Sweet Home site on Edge Street, he added: “It’s just time to grow up a little bit, go slightly more mainstream, but we’re doing it in the funnest possible way. The new place will be a more traditional restaurant, but still fun and quirky.”
The first Almost Famous opened up an unassuming flight of stairs on High Street in the Northern Quarter in 2012. The restaurant’s no bookings policy meant that queues soon snaked all around the corner, making it one of the most sought-after tables in town.
“We wanted it to be a word of mouth kind of secret,” he added. “Like you were part of a secret society, and I think Manchester really loved that and it was part of why Almost Famous was so successful.
“They were hazy but crazy days. We’d have to go over to other restaurants to borrow chairs. It was one big party, and one big family.”
A second site then opened at the Great Northern Warehouse, as well as spots in Liverpool and Leeds.
They are also now expanding the brand across the country, partnering with bowling alley company Lane7, opening new locations in Leicester, Bristol and Newcastle.
Get the latest What's On news - from food and drink to music and nightlife - straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
Inside the hit Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant opening in Manchester this weekend
Manchester Piccadilly to get first fish and chip shop on station approach
Hit Leeds ramen restaurant House of Fu is heading to Manchester
Heaton Park's popular Lakeside Domes where you can dine in the park are back for summer
Insults with your burger? A sweary night out at Karen’s Diner where the service is the pits
