The runaway success of Six By Nico is continuing, with the popular affordable restaurant about to open its second restaurant in Manchester.
Six By Nico is famed for making tasting menus affordable, with six courses for only £39.
And it’s built up a solid base of returning customers by changing its menu to a different theme every six weeks, taking inspiration from places, memories, literature and imagination.
For its newest opening, Six By Nico has returned to Manchester again and is launching a 75-cover restaurant on John Dalton Street, directly opposite IKaro.
The beautiful restaurant space features sage green walls, brown leather banquette seating, and dark marble and mahogany tables, as well as a checkerboard tiles floor and impressive overhead gold light fixtures.
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The brand new restaurant space splits into two areas, with a relaxed bar area looking out on the street outside.
Its design takes a few nods to Manchester’s history too, from huge woven hangings inspired by the city’s illustrious cotton trade, and timber and antique brass details.
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Inside Six By Nico’s new Manchester restaurant. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Six By Nico’s new Manchester restaurant. Credit: The Manc Group
For its launch, the menu will be Cooking Tokyo, available until 14 January.
The newest menu has once again been created by founder Nico Simeone, following a research trip to Tokyo, inspired by street food favourites and Japanese classics.
Dishes include chicken karaage, tempura mushroom, oknomiyaki (a pork and prawn pancake), ramen, and panko pork cutlet, with a white chocolate, matcha and strawberry dessert.
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As always, a full vegetarian version is available, where the protein is swapped for ingredients like kimchi, tofu, and pumpkin.
There’s the option to add a selected drink pairing for £30 alongside your £39 menu, plus a selected aperitif, which will be the £9 Sakura (gin, cherry, ginger, and lemon).
Panko pork cutlet and glazed pork belly at Six By Nico. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Cooking Toyko dessert at Six By Nico. Credit: The Manc Group
In 2023 alone, Six By Nico has opened sites in Leeds, Cardiff and Birmingham, and now has a second Manchester restaurant to its bow.
Nico Simeone said: “We are very excited to be opening our second venue in the vibrant city of Manchester.
“Since launching in 2019, our Spring Gardens venue has gone from strength to strength, prompting demand for a second site in the heart of the city. The support we have had from the people of Manchester and further afield, as well as the team we have had there since day one, have all helped make a second-site possible.
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“Our aim at Six by Nico is to help our guests create memories and stories together, by pushing our creative boundaries with a new menu every six weeks.
“We look forward to welcoming new and regular guests when Six by Nico Deansgate opens its doors on 30th November.”
Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display
Daisy Jackson
Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it.
The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure.
Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap.
And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.
Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub.
As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots.
There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet.
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pubDelicious spring drinksInside The Tavern at The Black Friar
A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals.
Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta.
And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut.
Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce.
“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar.
“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather!
“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”
To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE.
Team behind award-winning Higher Ground to open new Bar Shrimp seafood bar in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Higher Ground, one of Manchester’s very top restaurants, is to open a brand-new seafood bar later this year.
With Bar Shrimp, they’ll be bringing a brand-new offering to town, with cocktails, beers on tap, British seafood and snacks.
Bar Shrimp will come from Daniel Craig Martin, Joseph Otway and Richard Cossins, who at this point are a well-oiled operational machine.
They’re the team behind proudly British bistro Higher Ground, which grows much of its own produce at its Cinderwood Market Garden and earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand within a year of opening.
The same team are also behind Flawd, the beautiful waterside wine bar at Ancoats Marina.
And they’ve cemented themselves as one of Manchester’s most widely acclaimed hospitality teams – even Rick Stein says Higher Ground is one of the best places to eat in the entire country, which is high praise indeed.
Bar Shrimp, set to open in Manchester this winter, aims to be a ‘relaxed and focused bar with delicious food’.
They say: “Whether it’s a beer after work, some food with friends or after dinner drinks late into the night, Bar Shrimp will be a dynamic space where the music and energy evolves throughout the evening where everyone and anyone can come together for a memorable experience.”
They announced the news this morning on Cerys Matthews’ BBC 6Music Show.
British seafood with a side of cocktails? Sounds alright to us.
A location, opening date and more info on Bar Shrimp will follow – stay up to date with their latest HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
27th November 2023 
