I said maybe… or maybe not.

Manchester’s been spoiling us this week. Warm, blue-skied days that make the city feel more Mediterranean than Mancunian. And with Oasis in town for their Live '25 celebrations, there’s a tangible buzz everywhere you go. Over in Spinningfields, the official Oasis pop-up shop has taken over The Avenue, and it’s drawing fans in like moths to a (bucket-hatted) flame.

Also worth noting: just outside the Oasis pop-up, people were handing out free Nuii ice creams - an excellent move and absolutely essential in this weather. Hats off (bucket or otherwise) to whoever greenlit that idea.

The plan? Head to Crazy Pedro’s for their legendary £6 lunch deal (2 slices and a drink). Simple. Effective. Until it wasn’t.

I arrived right on time, joined the line and within literally one minute, it turned into a full-blown queue of Oasis fans fresh from the merch drop, belting out Wonderwall as if it had just been released yesterday. Inside, Wonderwall was already on repeat (standard), creating what can only be described as a chaotic tribute to the '90s. It was clear: Pedro’s had become the unofficial Oasis fan hub.

With the queue stretching out like a vinyl reissue box set, I bailed.

Enter: Franco Manca - or as I like to call it, Franco… Man-ka? Marn-ka? Monka? (Still no clue, but the pizza speaks for itself). Just a short stroll away on King Street — our Plan B, and a calm oasis (pun intended) away from the frenzy. While their £12.50 lunch deal only runs at the Piccadilly branch, we stayed put and ordered anyway. I went for the Spicy Salami, Billy went Chorizo.. interesting moves on a hot day, but both landed perfectly. Bold, flavour-packed, and chased with cold drinks under the Manchester sun.

To round it off, I grabbed an extra pizza to go! Partly out of generosity, mostly to keep the peace with hungry colleagues back at the office. Safe to say it was appreciated.

So no, we won’t look back in anger. Crazy Pedro’s will get its moment another day. For now, we’re fed, sun-kissed, and fully set-up for the weekend ahead.

Pizza: handled. Ice cream: claimed. Friday: won.