The owners of Northern Quarter favourites Dough and Apotheca have unveiled exciting plans for two new premises around the corner on Lever Street in The Hive building, next to the old Police Museum. Opening in Autumn, Bakerie will be a high quality wine bar, baking its own bread on site. From winter, there will also be a tasting store around the corner, selling everything found in the bar to takeaway. ~ 31 Aug
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has re-submitted plans for an Italian restaurant on the plot of The Folly, the long-time derelict club home of Swinton Lions Rugby Club, next to Swinton Station. It's just around the corner from his favourite restaurant, Puccinis, which even boasts a dish named after him. Following original objections from locals, plans for the two storey restaurant have significantly been scaled back to 100 covers (from 175) and 17 parking places are now being offered. ~ 17th Aug
The Kitchen at The Circle has transformed into a new restaurant, with a new head chef, new menu, new look and new name. Sirocco Restaurant & Bar will serve a fusion of Mediterranean dishes inspired by Italian, Spanish, French, Lebanese and North African recipes and will even feature a new indoor garden to create a real Med vibe. New head chef Maros Surovka has been described as 'Slovakia's answer to Heston Blumethal' and worked for restaurants including Palmiro and Harvey Nichols. ~ 16 Aug
Alessio Muccio, the chef behind the Est Est Est group of restaurants and a longstanding former San Carlo employee, is behind the opening ofTwisted Med, a new high quality Mediterranean restaurant located above Bohemia, the bar which replaced Barca. Head chef Steven Smith, formerly of Stock, is set to bring a taste of Spanish, Italian and Greek cuisine to Castlefield when it opens on Friday 19th August. Whilst the name Barca may have been lost, the new restaurant should appeal to those people looking to live the Balearic atmosphere." ~ 11th Aug 2011
'Something For The Weekend' chef Simon Rimmerwas held at knife point at 10am on 8th August at his Greens Restaurant in West Didsbury. Walking through the front door of the Lapwing Lane vegetarian restaurant, the thieves forced the TV chef to lie on the ground whilst holding a knife to Head Chef Barry Heath's head. The would-be robbers escaped empty handed though when they realised that the keys to the safe were not kept on the premises." ~ 9th Aug 2011
There are rumours abound that Gordon Ramsay plans on launching a new mid-market chain of barbecue restaurants in the UK after he trademarked the name 'Fat Cow'. We can't see any substance behind the rumours, other than the name and the fact steakhouses seem to be fashionable at the moment. A spokesman for his company has also played down the news, claiming it's common practice to register names and there are no plans to use this one at present. Read into that what you will. ~ 8th Aug 2011
2011 Inspiring Young Women Award winners Steff Needham and Shaniece Roberts, who are raising funds to set up a drop-in centre and café for homeless young people in Flint, have received a training day at Room in food preparation, costing and front of house skills - all necessary to run 'The Getaway'. The girls, who were once homeless themselves, prepared food under the supervision of 2 AA Rossette chef Pete Taylor before being trained in setting tables and service, with Salford City Reds stars Sean Gleeson and Stefan Ratchford their first diners. 1st Aug 2011
Bla Bla, a new Italian restaurant and live jazz lounge has opened in the building made famous by Courtney's Wine Bar at Parsonage Gardens. ~ 25th Aug
Malmaison has sold its Manchester hotel to Legal & General and will lease it back over 70 years at £6m a year. Four other properties were also sold in a deal that will reduce the company's £272m debts. ~ 20th Aug
Opening September, Tim Bacon's latest project is set to be a uniquely eye-catching venue in Spinningfields, just a few doors down from his Australasia, Alchemist, Olive Press and Marmalade outlets. The Oast House will offer a cheese & meat deli counter, a BBQ and live music. The cosmopolitan range of ales and some of the world's finest wines, not to mention the incredible 19th century style building with its courtyard, should offer an incredible contrast to both the architecture and restaurants that surround it. ~ 18th Aug
Pin-up, a 1950's-themed portable temporary venue, featuring four full-size ten pin bowling lanes, a fully catered American burger diner and cocktail bar, hits Spinningfields from Sep 16th until Nov 6th. ~ 17th Aug
Noticing the popularity of Venetian-style tapas dining in recent months, Italian restaurant chain, Zizzi, are to launch a new cichetti menu across the UK. The small dishes will be available at their Spinningfields, Triangle, Trafford Centre and Didsbury branches from 1st September. ~ 15th Aug
World-famous Le Relais de Venise in Paris (better known as L'Entrecote) is set to open in the former Emporio Armani building on King Street. The highly-celebrated French restaurant is famed for having no menu and for only serving a walnut salad starter followed by steak frites. As well as the original restaurant in Paris, which opened in 1959 and is still ran by the Gineste de Saurs family, this will be the fifth licensed branch of Le Relais de Venise, with the others being in London, New York and Bahrain. ~ 14th Aug
Cafe Istanbul are to open a second Istanbul Grill in the former Priest's Retreat building in Prestwich. ~ 4th Aug
