Rosso, the popular city-centre restaurant and bar co-owned by Rio Ferdinand,has confirmeditwill be closing its doors after nearly a decade and a half of business.
The former footballer’s Italian eatery has existed as a glamorous dining destination in Manchester for 14 years, with the ex-Manchester United star beginning his business portfolio with Rosso in November 2009, but the restaurant has now confirmed it will soon be shutting for good.
Issuing an emotional statement on social media, Rosso said, “It is with mixed emotions that we announce the closure of our Rosso Restaurant & Bar.
“Last night, after nearly 14 years, we were delighted to hold a final service for our wonderful customers.”
The statement went on to say: “It wasn’t an easy decision to close this wonderful restaurant which has flourished into an icon of the Manchester restaurant and social scene. It feels like the right time to go out at the height of our popularity and look ahead to new horizons.
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“Rosso wouldn’t have been the same without our wider family, suppliers and our wonderful customers whom we have had the enviable pleasure of serving.
“We could not be more grateful to our Champions League-winning staff both past and present. Our thanks go out to each and every one of them for making Rosso what we are today.
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“We always believed we should close Rosso on a high and we thank each and every one of you for being part of our championship team.
The restaurant didn’t give any specifics as to the reasoning behind the King Street site shutting down, but given the ongoing cost of living crisis and businesses all over the country struggling to pay energy bills and rent prices, it shouldn’t come as too huge a shock.
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It was only this past November that fellow footballer turned businessman, Gary Neville, confirmed that The Bull & Bear would be shutting after chef and owner Tom Kerridge said that energy bills at his restaurants had surged by over 600%.
As for co-owner Ferdinand, the 44-year-old is yet to issue a statement following Rosso’s unfortunate news, but will no doubt be heartbroken to see his flagship venture outside of football come to an end of so many years of success.
Rosso becomes just the latest casualty in a long line of hospitality closures in Manchester. In another shocking bit of Eats news, Oxford Road’s popular food village and trading hall Hatch revealed it has been bought out, with vendors given just a month to find a new home.
Featured Image — Rosso Restaurants (via Instagram)/The Manc Group/Google Street View
Eats
Popular Manchester restaurant bar to give out FREE sausage rolls to people called ‘Greg’
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s much-loved restaurant bars is doing a free sausage roll giveaway next week… but there’s a catch.
The catch being you have to have a certain name in particular.
It was only last week that popular high street chain Pret A Manger announced it would be slinging out free sandwiches to any Mancs with ‘Nic’ in their name over the late May bank holiday weekend, and now Tariff & Dale is getting it on the giveaway action, and it’s all to celebrate the iconic event that is National Sausage Roll Day.
In case you didn’t know – which is very likely, let’s be real – next Thursday (5 June) is the day dedicated to all things sausage roll.
So what better way to mark the occasion than with free portions of Tariff & Dale‘s legendary meaty treat?
The popular Northern Quarter restaurant bar is known for its creative comfort food, craft beers and cocktails, and laid-back industrial vibe, with one of the cult-classic dishes on its menu having always been the honey pork sausage roll – which just so happens to be a whopping 15-inches long, by the way.
Resembling something more of a pork wellington than a sausage roll, if you will, the dish is crispy, golden, and glazed with honey on top.
But to celebrate National Sausage Roll day, instead of parting with £9.50 for a portion or £48 for the full 15-inch thing, people with one specific name can actually get a slice for completely free of charge.
Tariff & Dale is giving away FREE sausage rolls to people with this name next week / Credit: Supplied
And that name is ‘Greg’, because if we’re honest, when it comes to sausage rolls, we all tend to think of Greggs.
So whether your surname is Gregory or Gregson, or you’re simply just called Greg, then all you need to do to claim your complimentary slice of sausage roll heaven is head on down to Tariff & Dale next Thursday 5 June from 12pm up until 9pm.
Make sure you show your valid ID proving your name when you order at the bar, and get ready to stuff your face.
Failing that, anyone not called Greg will just have to pop into actual Greggs instead.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
Eats
Plans to open a brand-new pub on the site of the Rovers Return
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new pub is set to open in Manchester city centre net month, with treats in store like complimentary bowls of crisps, an outdoor terrace, and a games parlour.
The Stables Tavern is taking shape in the St John’s district, poetically on the same site that was once home to Coronation Street’s iconic Rovers Return pub.
They’re promising this will be a ‘historic tavern reimagined for today’s lover of a proper pint’.
The pub will come from Shiko Group, which is also behind Courts Club, where you can play tennis or basketball followed by court-side pints, and Side Street, a bar-restaurant-events space with a mid-Century interior.
Neighbouring the Bonded Warehouse, The Stables Tavern will join this rapidly blossoming new creative district, just across the yard from Caravan, The Trading Route and Aviva Studios.
Inside, punters will find multiple beer taps with local beers, served with complimentary bowls of crisps as well as a menu of pub snacks like handmade sausage rolls and local pies.
The pub will be split into three sections – an outside terrace, a main bar, and a parlour area at the back of the pub for live entertainment, old school games, and rounds of whiskey.
This might be a new district but it’s a historic area for the city – the same building was a busy watering hole back in the early 19th century for workers, merchants and visitors who made use of the nearby canals and cobbled streets.
It was then the home of the Rovers Return, back when this area was the home of Granada Studios.
Hayley Sammé, Marketing Director, said: “We’re so excited to bring The Stables Tavern back to St John’s. The area’s extensive historical backdrop and burgeoning hospitality scene provides the perfect landscape for a traditional British pub.
“It’s the perfect addition to the existing scene, and we hope it’s going to become a popular spot in our new creative district.”
The Stables Tavern will open at St John’s on Friday 6 June.
Danny Jones -
18th September 2023 
