It’s a new service that’s launched in 10 areas of Greater Manchester
12:16, 02 Dec 2025Updated 12:19, 02 Dec 2025
The whopping shepherd’s pie from Bill’s(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
It might sound lazy, but sometimes you just want someone else to sort tea for a change don’t you.
Often just finding something the whole family will eat can feel like a chore and when it’s such a busy time of year with Christmas shows and other activities, it’s not unusual to find yourself struggling for time to do the shopping and cooking every night.
That’s why Deliveroo has stepped up its offering in Manchester by launching Family Dinneroo, with family-friendly sharing dishes from local restaurants including Bill’s, Bella Italia, Pizza Express and more.
You may well have seen the adverts for it fronted by ambassador Giovanna Fletcher, who has three sons, Buzz, Buddy and Max, with McFly singer Tom.
Giovanna Fletcher is front the ads for Family Dinneroo(Image: Tom Harrison)
We jumped at the chance to try the new service and sampled two separate meals from Bill’s – the family shepherd’s pie and the family mac n cheese with bacon – both of which came with activity sheets and crayons.
I wasn’t convinced each meal would feed four as promised. We like big portions in our house and we have teens rather than little ones so often ‘feeds four’ just doesn’t cut it. But I was pleasantly surprised by the size of these – and how warm they’d manage to stay given the distance.
I think the quality of food surprised us most though. Like most people, we’d previously only had fast food delivered on the app, so it almost seemed a little alien to be getting a such lovely dishes that tasted better than something we’d cook up at home.
The fresh meals from Bill’s were delivered by Deliveroo as part of the new Family Dinneroo service(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
The flavours were so rich and you could tell that the best ingredients are used here. The kids really enjoyed them too, which can’t always be said when one is such a fussy eater.
Every family meal comes in at under £25, which I think is quite reasonable given the effort that goes into making them and bringing them to your door. Plus you don’t have the added cost of eating at a restaurant where drinks often add a small fortune to the bill.
It’s not something we’d be able to afford to do each week, but it definitely makes life easier when you’re always on the go and I’m sure a lot of families would feel the same. It also takes the guilt away when you know you’re ordering a hearty meal.
One of the best bits is you can order them up to five days in advance, so if you know you’ve got a busy day in the week ahead, you can get it planned in advance.
The tasty family mac n cheese with bacon(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
Speaking about her role as Family Dinneroo ambassador and her own experience of busy family mealtimes, author and podcast host Giovanna Fletcher, said: “As busy parents, family time is everything, and in our house getting everyone around the table for dinner is a precious moment we try to protect. But there’s often so much to get done, from planning, to cooking, clearing up, all while juggling everything else. That’s why I love Deliveroo’s new Family Dinneroo. It’s a lifesaver on hectic days, with family sharing meals everyone will enjoy from some of the UK’s most-loved restaurants.”
She added: “The fact you can pre-order so dinner’s ready when you walk through the door makes such a difference. For me, it’s about balance. Some days I love to cook, other days I don’t have the time, and that’s okay. What matters most is sitting down together and really enjoying that time as a family.”
We even got activity sheets and crayons(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
Carlo Mocci, chief business officer at Deliveroo, said: “Family dinner time is one of the most cherished parts of the day across the country. Yet, we know many parents are time-poor, and plating up balanced meals for varying taste buds is a source of stress. As a parent myself, I can relate to the chaos of everyday family life, so this new offer is designed to help relieve some of the mental load.
“Restaurant delivery has been traditionally perceived as an indulgent treat, reserved for a Friday night or weekend. Many of our restaurant partners believe this is not the case, and that delivery can play a greater role during the week. Family Dinneroo offers a way for restaurants to unlock new meal occasions and new customer demand during off-peak hours.”
Deliveroo’s Family Dinneroo is available Monday to Thursday, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, with the option to pre-order up to five days in advance from Bella Italia, Bill’s, Itsu, Las Iguanas, Wagamama, Pizza Express, Prezzo, Zumuku and Banana Tree.
The mac n cheese with bacon was a winner(Image: Manchester Family / MEN)
The 10 areas of Greater Manchester able to access it, include:
- Cheadle
- Chorlton
- Didsbury
- Withington
- Eccles
- Hulme
- Manchester Central
- Rusholme
- Sale
- Salford