Another month, another list of new Manchester restaurant and bar openings – and what a list it is.
Not only do we have the return this month of Manchester’s Christmas markets, which bring with it a host of exciting and varied food and drink stalls, we also have a host of new wine bars, bakeries, pasta restaurants and food halls to shout about.
Keep reading to discover where to put on your list this month.
The Manchester Christmas Markets, City Centre
Image: Panc Foods
Image: The Manc Eats
This month sees the return of the Manchester Christmas Markets and with it an array of food and drink stalls. Expect all the classics from the Bavarian Bratwurst, beer and Glühwein stalls, to the crepes and mini-pancake stalls to be there as usual.
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Old favourites the Pig and Barrel will be making a welcome return to the Winter Gardens offering up their delicious pork barms and cosy seating area with entertainment on most nights, whilst on King Street Habas, part of the El Gato Negro group, will bring its Middle eastern-inspired menu out into the streets.
Market newcomers Parmageddon will join a mouth-watering line-up of food and drink that also includes vegan bratwursts from Panc, plus cookie dough, Amsterdam Frites, and two bars serving a selection of international ales.
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There’ll also be appearances from the likes of Northern Soul Grilled Cheese, Great North Pie Co., and Porky Pig — a.k.a. the home of the famous Yorkshire pudding wrap.
10 November
Little Blonde Bakes, Ancoats
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Image: Little Blond Bakes
Image: Little Blond Bakes
Cupcake and bespoke cake bakery Little Blonde Bakes is opening its doors in Ancoats this month, taking over the former Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria kitchen with sweet treats like sticky toffee blondies with hot custard, school cake and Cadbury caramel cookie cubes.
November, TBC
Exhibition, Peter Street
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
New food hall Exhibition is set to open on Manchester’s Peter Street this month, adding three new kitchens and two new bars to the area’s already thriving food and drink scene.
Put together by the team behind the aperitivo and coffee bar Haunt, which opened in the same building last summer, the new opening Exhibition will bring together three of Manchester’s best chef operators inside the iconic St George’s House.
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11 November
Pastan, Cross Street
Image: Pastan
Image: Pastan
Pastan, a plant-based pasta kitchen that first began life in London’s Covent Garden in April 2021, is taking over the former Vertigo site on Cross Street this month.
The new restaurant will focus on simple, fresh pasta dishes, serving up the likes of fried gnocchi loaded with a choice of sauces including BBQ jackfruit, cheese, pepper or pomodoro, alongside time-tested Italian classics like cacio e pepe and carbonara at lunch.
Elsewhere, you’ll find cavatelli mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs and crispy onions, plantshakes loaded with donut skewers, Lotus Biscoff mini doughnuts and scoops of ice cream.
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4 November
Loaf, Oxford Road
Image: Loaf
Image: Loaf
Whilst furloughed from his fashion retail job, Loaf founder Aiden Ryan started baking from home to raise money for the NHS to tackle PPE shortages and a lack of staff food on site. Now, he’s opened his own cafe on Oxford Road.
Here you’ll find a range of classic loaf cakes alongside loafnuts, Loaf Au Choc and Brioche Loaf served by the slice with your choice of toppings.
Open now
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Nonna’s, Deansgate Square
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Taking over the kitchen at The Green Lab from now until Christmas, at Nonna’s you’ll find mouthwatering pasta dishes infused with red wine, white wine and vodka.
Think: taleggio and pesto arancini, white wine gamberoni, red and white seafood linguine, truffle malfadine with wild mushrooms and parmesan, and rigatoni alla vodka, plus classic cocktails like espresso martinis and negronis.
Open now
Indian Affair, Chorlton
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A newcomer to the South Manchester neighbourhood of Chorlton, at Indian Affair you’ll find a selection of sumptuous small plates alongside dishes from the tandoor, biryanis and classic mains like butter chicken, lamb nihari and prawn masala.
Open now
Juicebox, Didsbury Village
Situated between Saints & Scholars and the former CAU restaurant, this new natural wine and craft beer shop and bar offers bottles and cans to drink in alongside a short list of snacks featuring tasty local produce.
Open now
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Gooey Cafe, Selfridges, Trafford Centre
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Manchester’s instagram famous, queue-round-the-block, bakery and café is heading to Trafford this Christmas opening a 30 seat Gooey Café within Selfridges.
The pop up will be home to the brand’s insta-famous warm, gooey cookies and sugar coated stuffed brioche donuts plus a selection of barista served coffees, soft drinks and boozy hot chocolates.
Open now
Project Halcyon, City Centre
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Image: Project Halcyon
Image: Project Halcyon
This speakeasy-style cocktail bar and arts venue was first opened before the pandemic by local craft gin distillers Zymogorium.
Following a lengthy closure, it has reopened in the refurbished 1800s red brick warehouse on the Old Granada Studios site, beneath the original Coronation Street cobbles.
Open now
Ewe Restaurant & Bar, Bolton
From the team behind Deansgate restaurant ‘Yours’, Ewe Restaurant & Bar is set to replace India Gate in Westhoughton.
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Opening later this month, the million-pound project has a capacity of 150 and will serve a modern, British and globally inspired menu using quality, local suppliers. It will feature a private dining room, garden room, open plan bar area, and baby grand piano.
18 November
Provence, Spinningfields
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Provence is a new independent wine bar that has opened in Spinningfields selling Manchester-made charcuterie and cheese boards, alongside a selection of carefully-chosen wines.
With a menu of nibbles like olive tapenade, bread and oil, olives, hummus and a handful of veggie small plates, alongside craft beers, soft drinks and a small cocktail list,, it’s well worth a visit.
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Open now
Rudy’s, Didsbury Village
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Rudy’s has opened a new site in Didsbury, taking over the old Mad Giant food hall which has lain empty since 2020.
Fulfilling its promise to lockdown launch more satellite restaurants in the suburbs, the smash hit pizza house is now serving its award-winning Neapolitan pies on Wilmslow Road.
Open now
Feature image – The Manc Eats / The Manc Eats / Supplied
Eats
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Lina Stores has opened its very first restaurant in Manchester, taking its beloved mix of handmade pasta and deli food outside of London for the first time.
80 years after opening for the first time in Soho, Lina Stores has headed north to open a 150-cover restaurant.
Blending coffee shop, delicatessen, restaurant, and bar, the new space is styled in traditional Lina Stores shades of pastel green hues, warm timber woods, and terrazzo and timber flooring.
You’ll find bespoke marble tables, original vintage Bentwood chairs, dark green booth seating and opaline globe lighting inspired by the original Brewer Street delicatessen.
Diners will be spoilt with an Italian-inspired breakfast menu, featuring dishes like truffle scrambled eggs with toasted sourdough, Greek yoghurt with Italian Macedonia fruit salad, and a selection of breakfast panini.
At lunchtimes and dinner there’ll be antipasti such as ricotta and herb gnudi fritti with Calabrian chilli marmellata, and tuna crudo with capers, pink peppercorn and salsa verde.
Lina Stores Manchester will have the brand’s beloved pasta dishes, such as the 30-egg yolk taglioni with black truffle, and lamb sausage ragu pappardelle, plus new options like lemon sole and potato raviolo.
For secondi (because this is Italy darling, you can have two mains!) there are dishes like chicken Milanese and Luganega fennel sausage.
And for dessert, it’s set to be a feast of Sicilian cannolo (filled with ricotta, pistachio and chocolate) and tiramisu.
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester. Credit: Rebecca Hope
In the open-plan delicatessen, you’ll be able to grab filling salads, freshly-made panini, and delicate cakes and pastries.
Shelves will be stocked with Lina Stores Collection pantry essentials, from olive oil to traditional biscotti.
And just next to that will be Bar Lina, serving classic and modern Italian cocktails for aperitivo hour until late at night.
Expect favourites like the bloody martini, Rinomata americano, and the basilico with gin, vermouth, basil and lemon.
The bar will have a versatile wine list from all corners of Italy, including the brand’s own signature collection.
Lina Stores Manchester will be located on Quay Street in the recently-refurbished Quoin building, right opposite the Opera House theatre.
Masha Rener, Head Chef of Lina Stores, said: “We’re extremely excited to be opening in Manchester this spring.
“The city feels like a natural home for us considering the area’s rich history, vibrant culinary scene and lively nightlife, and look forward to sharing our passion of great Italian food and produce with the Manchester community.
“Quay Street is the perfect location for us to do so, sitting right in the trifecta of Spinningfields, St John Street and St Peter’s Square.”
Wilmslow Street Fest returns for a trio of sunny dates later this year
Danny Jones
Down the road in Cheshire and just beyond the reaches of Greater Manchester, the Manc-adjacent market town of Wilmslow is once again hosting a big street festival this summer.
The stylish suburb might be a short trip out of 0161, but this popular and now annual celebration is well worth the journey.
Following a smash-hit inaugural event last year, Wilmslow Street Fest is back for 2025 and what we’re sure will be an even more successful second series of dates.
Consider our train tickets booked already.
Credit: Wilmslow BID (supplied)
Set up by Market Co. in association with Wilmslow’s Way Better organisation, which is funded through the Wilmslow BID (Business Improvement Districts) and aims to develop the town centre with local business at the forefront, it’s part of a wider programme of events and activities each year.
Most importantly, the festival is completely free to attend and designed to capture that community spirit at its highest: when the sun is out and shining bright – touch wood.
Based around a main hub on Wilmslow‘s Bank Square, natives and visitors from around the North West have not just one, not just two, but three different chances to enjoy the festivities.
And since you’ll be there all evening, you’ll be glad to hear there’s plenty of scran to be enjoyed. Expect Jamaican delicacies from Hungry Little Critters, a delicious Cheeky Swine Hog Roast, delights from the Thai Food Van and tonnes more. *Deep inhale*…
Cheeky SwineCan’t go wrong with a hot dogOr a burgerCredit: Supplied
And it doesn’t stop there – not even close: there’ll be crepes from Flippen Good and top-tier ice cream from Gingers Comfort Emporium (big fans), as well as all the drinks under the sun from Vintro Bar.
Besides eating and drinking your weight like we do in summer, there’ll also be plenty of free entertainment, including live music performances and DJs, stilt walkers and even a bubbleologist.
Yes, that is someone who blows giant bubbles.
Put simply, there’ll be something for everyone and having heard strong reviews from the debut event last year, we won’t be missing out on it this time.
Wilmslow Street Fest 2025 is taking place on Friday, 25 April, Fri 27 June and Fri 29 August 29th, all of which will kick off from 5pm and start wrapping up at 9pm.
Speaking on the upcoming sophomore event, Verity LeChapois of Wilmslow BID said: “We’re so excited to collaborate with Market Co. again to bring Wilmslow Street Fest back for 2025. These events are all about showcasing Wilmslow at its best – live music, great food and an unbeatable community vibe.
“Street Fest offers something for everyone, whether you’re a foodie looking to try something new, a music lover eager to hear live music from talented performers, or you’re simply looking for a great night out with friends and family.
“We’re hoping to build on the success of last year’s events and make them bigger and more successful than ever. Entry is free – bring your friends and family and join us in Bank Square for a fantastic celebration in the heart of Wilmslow.”
Georgina Pellant -
1st November 2022 
