Fresh from their success at the recent Asian Curry Awards, Manchester’s Royal Nawaab are launching their Royal Morning opulent five star breakfast from Sunday 13th December.
Offering both Asian and Continental items, the five star breakfast buffet is served from 10am until 12.30pm every Sunday.
The Royal Morning breakfast buffet features pancakes, waffles, continental breads, croissants, cereals and yogurts, as well as Halal chicken sausages, hash browns, omelettes and scrambled eggs and favourites including Chicken Keema, Mince Keema, Paneer Paratha, Paya, Haleem, Nihari, Bhaturay, plus much, much more.
Arrive early for the Royal Morning and you won’t be disappointed
Manchester’s longest standing Italian restaurant, Don Giovanni, has won the Les Routiers ‘Newcomer of the Year 2016 award’.
The independently owned restaurant was recently given a £400K refurbishment to celebrate its 31 year anniversary and now boasts some stunning new features including a fresh pasta and dessert station, a spectacular new Italian marble bar, new windows, booths, tables, chairs and lighting.
The Les Routiers awards seek to recognise establishments that meet and exceed membership standards, with the winner being chosen for consistently showing exceptional levels of service, hospitality and quality of food.
Don Giovanni’s proud owner, Adam Karim, said: “The restaurant was given an extensive make over recently and the feedback from our customers and staff has been brilliant. Earlier this year we were voted the UK’s most romantic restaurant in the UK in the Italian Awards, so we are extremely proud to have won this too. We aim to be the best Italian restaurant in the region and these two accolades combined show we are making big advances to reach that goal.”
The Les Routiers brand was established in Paris in 1934 as a guide for the best independent restaurants and places to stay for road users. Today it is formed of members throughout the UK and Europe, including mainly-independent hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, bars, bistros and cafés. Les Routiers champions independent establishments that offer quirky individuality, value for money and a genuine alternative to chain establishments.
Don Giovanni is currently accepting bookings for Christmas & New Year. For more details or to make a reservation click here.
The Oast House in Manchester is lighting up the cosmopolitan area of Spinningfields this December, with an interactive reindeer competition and lighting display. The bespoke installation, by The Christmas Decorators, brings much festive cheer to the canopy which covers the Courtyard area outside The Oast House and offers guests an unusual and delightful visual experience.
To enhance the celebrations further, The Oast House have teamed up with Pepsi Max to offer guests the chance to win one of three BMX bikes. To enter, customers can interact with the reindeers through playing an online game on their mobile device browser. It’s here that they select a colour on the screen which in turn lights up the reindeers in this particular colour and enters them into the competition. There is then the option to have your photograph taken and sent instantly to your device, with the option to share on a social media platform of your choice or simply download for later.
General Manager of The Oast House, Adam Wilde said: “The reindeer competition is a fantastic addition which greatly complements our existing winter offering at The Oast House and Christmas TeePee. We’re sure that both the installation and campaign will be a huge hit with guests.”
The promotion is running until the 13th of January, so to be in with a chance to support any New Year fitness resolutions with a brand new BMX, simply visit The Oast House this December with your device and log on to theoasthouse.uk.com/reindeer - entrants must be 18 or over.
Don Giovanni is proud to present its fresh new look First established back in 1984, this year Manchester’s oldest and finest independently owned Italian restaurant, Don Giovanni, celebrated its 31 year anniversary with a magnificent make over.
The striking refurbishment, which cost a total of £400K to complete, boasts some stunning new features including a fresh pasta and dessert station where diners can watch the team of Italian chefs create signature dishes right in front of their eyes. All dishes are cooked from scratch, including the delicious crab and lobster ravioli, tiramisu and panna cotta to name but a few.
Diners can also admire the spectacular new Italian marble bar, with the option to eat-at-bar alongside relaxed lounge seating where they can indulge in Don Giovanni’s improved cocktail menu and award winning wines with the opportunity to sample rare vintage bottles of boutique wines by the glass.
Other new features include a brand new Prosecco bar, new windows, booths, tables, chairs and lighting. Finally, the new private dining area, complete with polished french oak floor, full AV facilities and stunning duck feathered pendants, is perfect for special occasions and can accommodate up to 50 guests.
Proud owner, Adam Karim said: “A meal at Don Giovanni isn’t just a great lunch, afternoon or evening out, it is a full culinary experience. From watching our chef make pasta fresh in front of them, to enjoying three courses of freshly cooked authentic Italian food, we want our guests to feel like they have really understood what it is that makes us who we are. We have been in Manchester for over 30 years and this year we were voted the UK’s most romantic restaurant in the UK in the Italian Awards. A brilliant accolade that we are proud of.”
Don Giovanni is currently accepting bookings for Christmas & New Year. For more details or to make a reservation click here
Manchester’s Royal Nawaab has been awarded the North West Regional Award for Best Asian Restaurant of the Year at the 5th Asian Curry awards.
The awards ceremony, held at the London Hilton and hosted by Strictly Come Dancing winner and TV presenter Natasha Kaplinsky, was attended by over 800 leading Asian restaurateurs across the UK, embassy dignitaries and VIPs.
Asad Malik, owner of the Royal Nawaab said he was ‘absolutely delighted’ to win the North West Award for Best Asian Restaurant. He added: “The fact that we’ve been recognised as the best Asian restaurant in the region is a great achievement for everybody associated with Manchester’s Royal Nawaab.We work very hard to make sure all of our customers enjoy their experience at Nawaab’s and it’s a very nice feeling to receive this accolade.”
This year’s awards attracted the largest number of public nominations and commenting on this year’s event, chairman Yawar Khan described it as a “truly momentous occasion.”
Fellow judge and former BBC journalist George Shaw reported “a strong industry trend towards more high quality, authentic, regional dishes, with a modern gastronomic twist and healthier, light options on menus.”
The evening’s entertainment included a remarkable performance by renowned musician Shahid Abbas khan and the Shiamak dance company.
Italian fast & fresh brand offers city centre commuters a little bit of Vapiano for their day. Vapiano restaurants are packed full of fresh herbs and ingredients and the new Manchester site, which is set to open at the end of the month, is no different.
To celebrate the opening of the international Italian group’s first UK restaurant outside of London, Vapiano has today placed herb planters all around the city centre and is inviting shoppers and commuters to forage for their own little bag of freshness in the form of fresh basil and rosemary.
Anyone feeling hungry can pick their own bag of herbs to take to their office or home. Vapiano is encouraging them to add the herbs to their lunch or dinner and share a photo with the brand on their social media channels to be in with a chance of winning tickets to the much awaited VIP launch party on Thursday 26 November.
Vikki O’Neill Marketing Director at Vapiano said; “It’s been a long time coming but we are finally nearly ready to open our doors to Manchester. Ahead of the launch on the 27th we have a few little stunts planned to bring a sense of what Vapiano is to the people of the city.
“We hope they will join in and grab some herbs to brighten up their lunch or dinner today and share their pictures with us. We have found that people are constantly instagramming our pasta - plus our toilets have won loo of the year twice now and are the site of many a selfie - so we thought we’d kick start things here in Manchester with this little campaign.’
Vapiano which is famed for its freshly made pizza dough, pasta and salads alongside the best buffalo mozzarella, meats and cheeses will be one of the last to set up shop in the newly revitalised Corn Exchange.
The 400 cover restaurant will span two floors and boast a 100-year-old olive tree and fresh live herbs on the tables. It will offer Manchester’s diners a unique concept as the restaurant is self-service with guests enjoying face-to-face interactions with chefs as they cook their dish to order, just how they like it. Guests order and pay using a smart card system - one per customer - meaning everyone pays for what they order, avoiding the need for tricky bill splitting at the end of the meal.
The restaurant will open to the public for lunch and dinner on Friday 27 November.
Cabana, the award winning Brasilian barbecue restaurant group, has officially opened in the newly redeveloped Corn Exchange building. Bringing their unique Brasilian spirit to Manchester, Cabana’s new 6,000 sq ft restaurant has 230 covers along with a dedicated Caipirinha Bar on the first floor, making Cabana the ideal place to inject some South American energy into your life
Tuesday 28th October saw a VIP tasting evening where Coronation Street starlets Brooke Vincent and Catherine Tyldesley joined friends for a fun evening of Caipirinhas and Skewers, while on Wednesday 29th October, Cabana brought the heat to Manchester with a Latin-inspired party that got people’s taste buds tingling and hips shaking.
With sets from VIVA Ems and Rowetta on vocals, plus critically acclaimed DJ Lewis Robinson, the man behind Mais Um Discos - the Brasilian label representing the NEW sounds of Brasil, the party started early and lasted into the night.
Guests sampled an array of Cabana’s colourful barbecue skewers, including their best-selling Spicy Malagueta Chicken and chilli and cumin Cabana Steak, as well as a selection of Brasilian street food snacks such as Coxinhas (croquettes of shredded chicken and spices) and Bolinhos (crunchy fried rice balls).
But it was the upstairs Caipirinha bar where the party was really at; with jugs of the Brasilian Barbecue’s famous cocktails being served alongside Brasilian craft beers and wine, the hammocks were truly swinging.
Corrie Stars and Celebs Rock at the £500,000 Walrus and Tusk Re-Launch
Thursday the 22nd October seen the Coronation Street stars Catherine Tydlesley, Tina Obrien and Bruno Langley join a host of Manchester’s glitterati to celebrate the half a million pound relaunch of two of the Northern Quarter’s favourite bars.
Guests were treated to drinks from the new cocktail menu and food from new menus created by award winning head chef Chris Byron.
An excellent evening was had by all with entertainment provided by fire-eaters, a Beatles tribute band (The Cheatles), African musicians and local DJ Gareth Brooks.
The Lowry has announced the opening of its new restaurant, Pier Eight, forming part of the new £3m extension set to create an extra 370sqm of dining and event space, officially opening to the public on Friday 27th November 2015.
The new restaurant and bar will provide a unique and dynamic destination for both residents of Salford Quays and pre-theatre diners, as well those looking for a relaxed dining experience in the city. Pier Eight will seat a total number of 300 covers, serving two modern British menus including a casual dining bar menu and formal menu within the restaurant.
The interior takes influence from northern European design, with a calming colour palette and range of delicate textures and design details. Seating styles vary from contemporary armchairs, to intimate booths and longer tables for larger groups, emulating the relaxed and welcoming environment created by the expansion.
Incorporating two shipping containers, providing views over the Manchester Ship Canal, the complete extension includes a terrace area, event space with a second private terrace, as well as the Pier Eight restaurant and bar with extended kitchen. The kitchen will also feature a chef s table, seating up to eight guests for a captivating dining experience.
The Lowry s executive head chef, Oliver Thomas, has devised the new menus for Pier Eight. He comments: My ethos on cooking has always been about sourcing the best local and seasonal ingredients from the great suppliers on our doorstep across Lancashire and Cheshire. The menu will focus on simple dishes and flavour pairings, using ingredients and produce that will shine in their own right.
Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, added: We’re absolutely delighted with the outcome of this project, the new extension has created a range of beautiful, elegant areas for socialising and corporate entertaining that will offer more to the community here in Salford Quays, as well as becoming a destination location in their own right. The event space has a capacity of 100 and is available for both corporate and private hire. For more information click here.
Revolution Vodka Bar founders, Roy Ellis and Neil Macleod, have acquired a 50 per cent stake in Manchester bar operator Trof Group, founded by Joel Wilkinson and Adelaide Winter, with a view to opening the “best entertainment venues and bars in the world” under a new company called Mission Mars.
Trof Group has a £6m annual turnover and operates three multi-award winning venues in Manchester, including Gorilla and Deaf Institute. The first project for Mission Mars is the £3.5m opening of Albert’s Schloss on the ground floor of the grade II-listed 3,000 capacity Albert Hall on Peter Street.
Albert Hall, the 2,500 capacity main chapel above Albert’s Schloss has been operated for two years as a live entertainment venue by Trof Group, hosting more than 130 sell-out events, including gigs by Sam Smith, the Manic Street Preachers and The Script.
Wilkinson said: “We operate some of Manchester’s most successful and exciting venues with Gorilla and Deaf Institute firmly established on the live band and club scene. When we acquired the 3,000 capacity Albert Hall on Peter Street we knew of only two people who had the knowledge and experience that could help us achieve our ambitious dreams for this beautiful and iconic Manchester landmark.
“The addition of Albert’s Schloss to Albert Hall completes the vision we had back in 2008 when we opened The Deaf Institute. It was our dream to have beautiful venues, hosting World-class entertainment with hospitality, food and drink to match. We can't wait to open the doors and invite music lovers in to enjoy an incredible experience, the only one of its kind in the UK. We are also going to be offering private parties, corporate events and conferences along with the weddings we launched last year.”
Albert’s Schloss will be a unique food, drink and entertainment venue, described as a Bohemian pleasure palace. Both bohemian in nature and in spirit; Bohemia is in the Czech republic, bound by Bavaria and Schloss means nobles house for recreation.
Albert’s Schloss will be an upmarket addition to the Manchester bar and restaurant scene with attention to detail like nowhere else in the City. For example freshly brewed Pilsner Urquel will be delivered by tanker, direct from the Czech Republic every week, and on- site blended schnapps made in a specially created vault. The food menu, curated by group executive chef director, Dan Mullen, will contain items of Bavarian, Bohemian and Alpine origin with contemporary twists in addition to other modern classics and will have an in-house bakery providing fresh bread, pretzels, pastries and puddings.
Live music and an eclectic mix of performers will feature most nights on the stage and at weekends from 10pm.
Ellis said: “Our new company, Mission Mars, has been formed to create the best entertainment venues and bars in the world. We aim to have the very best venues to work in, be entertained in, and invest in.”
After months of speculation Manchester’s newest venue “Dive” is set to open its shutters to the Northern Quarter scene.
Concealed next to Afflecks Palace, this subspace venue has a lot to bring to the NQ. From live DJ’s, entertainment and sports to cutting edge drinks and bites; they’ve got something to suit everyone in this social hub.
Based around the American dive bar concept; an informal term for a ‘neighbourhood’ bar for local residents to go to drink and socialise, it is set to become the latest addition to the Northern Quarters eclectic mix of venues.
Adam Shepherd, General Manager said: “After spending time analysing the market and experiencing what the Northern Quarter has to offer we decided to create a multi-faceted venue with something to suit everyone”
Situated in the heart of the creative district, combining elements of Manchester old and new this bar is looking to incorporate the industrial and alternative vibe Manchester’s Northern quarter has to offer. With their legendary cocktail ‘Mary’s Smokin’ this venue is set to become a one stop place for liquor, shots and cocktails.
Joanne Barlow, Sales and Marketing Manager said “From day to night Dive will have a laid back, casual philosophy giving you the opportunity to enjoy drinks and bites with friends from midday before taking in the exciting live acts and high quality DJs into the early hours.”
Wednesday 30th September saw the press launch of Wahaca restaurant at the Corn Exchange Manchester. With an impressive 17 restaurants in London alone and restaurants also in Bristol and Cardiff, the arrival of Wahaca in Manchester had been hugely anticipated with Mancunians keen to get their hands on some award winning Mexican cuisine. Co-owner Thomasina Miers, who was the 2005 Masterchef winner, has made numerous trips to Mexico over the years whilst searching for inspiration to help create an authentic Mexican menu.
Arriving slightly earlier than the planned press launch start time, we found the restaurant bustling with eager diners. The people of Manchester have clearly already got their teeth into Wahaca.
The interior design is worth some admiration, with an impressive £25,000 spiral staircase which was been made in Norway from reclaimed wood, along with some incredible street art throughout the restaurant by Mexican artist Le Super Demon, which really brings the restaurant to life.
We were shown to our table by our friendly waitress, and being ‘Wahaca Virgins’ we appreciated the guidance given with the menu. The food options available are offered as street food, sharing platters and bigger plates, which include burritos, salads and various dishes from the grill.
We were truly spoilt for choice, as everything on the menu sounded so appetising. Our final choice after much debate was a selection of dishes from the street food menu and we were not disappointed. The dishes we tried were all fantastic with the following standing out. The Pork Pibil Tacos, Grilled Steak Tacos, Sweet Potato & Feta Taquitos and the Salmon Sashimi Tostadas. We all agreed that Wahaca restaurant offers good quality food and is incredible value for money, with some dishes on the street menu available from just £3.95. Click here for full menu.
As we are currently detoxing after a busy Summer, unfortunately on this visit we didn’t sample the exciting looking drinks menu, but promise to return in the near future. Since the first restaurant opening in 2007 Wahaca has flown the flag for proper tequila, that is, the double distilled, 100% blue agave sort that earned the name ‘elixir of the gods’.
It truly is an exciting time for the Corn Exchange with some fantastic restaurants and bars opening over the next few months. Wahaca has seriously set the bench mark offering traditional Mexican food and drinks that doesn’t Wa-Haca you in the wallet.
When Gusto Restaurant & Bar opened in the city centre on Deansgate in December (2014), they commissioned renowned local artist Michael J Browne, to complete a huge, intricate, Renaissance style painting of Manchester.
To say `every picture tells a story` would be an understatement for this artwork as Michael (originally from Moss Side) has included a vast array of iconic individuals and places past and present. He also decided to open up to the public an opportunity to submit ideas for a title that encapsulates the project.The winning phrase, Manchester’s own Northern lights, has been painted onto his portrayal of Central Library.
This is a description of the whole project in Michael’s own words…
“The painting is full of faces/achievements of well-known Manchester people from history. Ranging from the subject of the industrial revolution, back to back houses, to the Manchester ship canal, to Coronation Street. In the journey there are Manchester figures ranging from Emeline Pankhurst, Sheila Delaney, Kirsty Howard. Playwrights, novelists, scientists. There's Alan Turing, Ernest Rutherford, Rolls/Royce, Joule, Noel Gallagher, Bee Gees.
There are also sub stories in this painting. The whole image is held together with the theme of renaissance art, as a developmental journey through time. With 'Leonardo Da Vinci' -esque angels carrying books of knowledge, around Central Library, the hub of knowledge and also the 1st public library in the country I believe.
The painting is over 5 metres across by over 1.5 metres high. It is oil on canvas. The initial idea came about via the Gusto interior design team whilst I was living in Rome. The project brief centred around 'Central Library' and muses holding books, showing faces of Manchester's influential figures. Gusto’s location on Deansgate was previously the temporary accommodation of Central library.”
Gusto have filmed the entire project with a time-lapse camera click here to view.
The highly rated Bourbon and Black situated in Didsbury Village has expanded it's wings taking on the old Velvet Central unit on Mount St Bourbon & Black specialise in unique and rare Bourbons, Rye and Sour Mash Whiskeys. The food has gained much respect also with them using a wood burning flame grill inspired by primitive cooking methods using locally sourced and seasonal products including a selection of meats, fish and bird. Chef’s Specials include slow cooked melt-in-your-mouth dishes as well as specials from our Smoker “Elizabeth” and a Bourbon & Black signature steak. _ November 2015
Quill a fine dining restaurant with an exclusive cocktail bar opened its doors in the former Topshop Shoes unit on King Street on the 30th October 2015. Quill is the second venue for the owner On the Wall Group following the launch of Chalk Bar & Grill in Didsbury last year. _ November 2015
Northern Quarter favourites Home Sweet Home have now opened their second venue at the Great Northern Warehouse in the unit which was previously occupied by Lucha Libre. _ November 2015
Fast food chain Barburrito has completed the acquisition of Pinto Mexican Kitchen The Manchester-born business will continue operate the 5 restaurants based in Edinburgh and Glasgow as Pinto for the time being. _ November 2015
Lebanese restaurant Comptoir Libanais is set to open its doors in Spinningfields on 12th November. The site has 280 covers, 100 specifically for the restaurant, and a large area of outside seating. _ November 2015
The French in The Midland Hotel and James Martin at 235 Casino have been named on the highly acclaimed Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants List. This is a welcomed award for Manchester after the missing out again on the recently awarded Mitchelin Stars for 2016. _ November 2015
The popular West Yorkshire restaurant Prashad and beer cafe The Sparrow in Leeds are planning on joining forces bring you Bundobust offering craft beer and Indian street food. The venue is set to be in the ever popular Northern Quarter but the actual location is being kept secret (for now). _ October 2015
Celebrity Chef Gino D’Acampo is opening his first restaurant within the UK at the Corn Exchange Manchester. With the restaurant renovation well under way, the launch is expected to be in November 2015. _ October 2015
The planned launch the acclaimed Tapas restaurant El Gato Negro on King Street has been postponed to early 2016 due to delays in renovations. _ October 2015
Nudo Sushi Box has announced plans to open further sites in Manchester with a second site in Spinningfields. The Japanese takeaway and café also has plans to open a further site in Ancoats. _ October 2015
Albert Schloss opened its doors on 15th October. Albert’s Schloss is Manchester’s first Tankovna, serving the freshest Pilsner and Bavarian culinary delights this side of the Danube. _ October 2015
Northern Quarter based creative studio NoChintz, responsible for the £1.5m Banyan within Corn Exchange in Manchester has developed further designs for venues in Leeds and Harrogate. _ October 2015
Mcdonald’s are opening a new store within Piccadilly Gardens, taking over the former Co-op food store. _ October 2015
Former United legends Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville who both co-own the former Stock Exchange, which once played home to a long term Manchester favourite Stock Restaurant. Have agreed to let the Manchester homeless shelter within the building this winter, whilst also offering them hot food and trade work within the construction site. The site is set to be turned into a plush hotel in early 2016. _ October 2015
Lunya has opened within the Barton Arcade on Deansgate bringing a taste of the very best of Catalan and Spanish food, dining culture and vibe and passion for eating wonderful food and drinking fabulous wines and much more. _ October 2015
