Eats

Luxury steak and champagne bar Ikaro shuts down less than a year after opening

It only made it nine months.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 27th June 2024

A luxurious restaurant in Manchester city centre has shut its doors only nine months after opening.

It appears that Ikaro, the lavish steak restaurant and champagne bar that had moved into the former site of the iconic nightclub Panacea, has already closed down.

The space had been transformed last September into a modern 84-seat restaurant, filled with black marble and dark velvet furniture, along with massive screens outside projecting colourful digital art onto John Dalton Street.

Ikaro’s menu was split into two portions – fire and ice – and included dishes like grilled lobster tails, Japanese A5 Wagyu steak, torched hand dived scallops and bluefin tuna otoro.

There also used to be a huge selection of champagne, including frequently-changing selections of rare bottles available until 2.30am.

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Company director, Zack Issak, said at the time of the Ikaro opening: “It’s long overdue that this popular space opened its doors once more and we’re thrilled to be able to do that.

“IKaro will create an unforgettable experience from start to finish. Guests will enjoy a choice of the world’s finest Champagnes, paired with the best Wagyu steaks and seafood on the market.”

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Inside Ikaro, which opened in the former Panacea site in 2023
Inside Ikaro, which opened in the former Panacea site in 2023.
Inside Ikaro, which opened in the former Panacea site in 2023.

But despite such lofty ambitions, it does seem that Ikaro has gone for good.

All the social pages for the restaurant have vanished, it’s listed as permanently closed on Google, and emails to book a table now bounce straight back.

Ikaro was opened by the same team behind SakkuSamba and the brand-new Habbibi, a decadent Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant in Spinningfields.

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SakkuSamba closed at the end of May for ‘an exciting refurbishment and upgrade’ but hasn’t yet reopened.

The Manc has approached Ikaro for comment.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

The best Sunday roasts in Greater Manchester according to the Good Food Guide 2024

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

The Good Food Guide has named the best Sunday roasts in the UK and there’ve been a few nods for Greater Manchester (naturally).

After 18,000 public nominations, the guide and its team of inspectors have pulled together a list of the very best roasts around the country.

While the overall top spot went to The Abbey Inn in North Yorkshire, there were plenty of shouts for roasts in the North West.

Shrub in Chester took home Best Vegan, with judges saying ‘You miss nothing and gain everything’ with its brilliant trimmings.

And although it’s one of the London branches that was technically listed, Blacklock nabbed the title of having the best Sunday roast for group dining.

Blacklock recently opened its first restaurant here in Manchester, serving traditional chop house food with a modern twist.

The Good Food Guide said: “Unrivalled if you’re with a group of friends, this Canary Wharf chophouse (part of a small London group, with a Manchester outpost), is considered a ‘Sunday wonderland’ by its many fans.

Blacklock has been listed in the Good Food Guide's Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied
Blacklock has been listed in the Good Food Guide’s Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied

“With ‘super-accommodating staff’ and roasts that are ‘almost as good as mum’s’ (their words), it’s a star turn. Order the ‘all in’ sharing feast, which comprises a trio of ‘succulent’ dry-aged beef rump, lamb and pork loin with gigantic yorkies, duck-fat roast potatoes and limitless gravy.”

Another cosy spot in Marple Bridge in Stockport also made the Good Food Guide’s Sunday roast list, hailed for its fire-roasting.

The guide said: “‘Sophisticated yet comforting’ is the verdict on the elevated Sunday deal at this bottle shop and bistro in one of Stockport’s more comely corners.

“Fire-roasting is Fold’s USP, and the flames lick around everything from aged beef bavettes with ‘Yorkie bits’ and smoked salt to porchetta with Manchester ale, fennel and Pink Lady apple. Each plate comes with a wagyu-fat potato slice, but it’s worth ordering some extras (perhaps roast sandy carrots in lamb fat). Great for kids.”

Outside the Pack Horse in Hayfield
Outside the Pack Horse in Hayfield
Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group

The Pack Horse in Hayfield – which recently caught our eye with its brilliant breakfasts – has rightly been praised for its post-hike atmosphere and its ‘stylishly rustic and warmly welcoming interior’.

The guide said: “All the Sunday roast trimmings come as standard, whether you’re ordering the melting beef sirloin, the braised lamb shoulder, the venison loin or even the veggie option (carrot, tenderstem broccoli and Tunworth tart, say).

“Everything is thoughtfully prepared, full of flavour and of the highest quality, and the kitchen runs proudly with the seasons.”

Hawksmoor has been listed in the Good Food Guide's Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied
Hawksmoor has been listed in the Good Food Guide's Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied
Hawksmoor has been listed in the Good Food Guide’s Best Sunday Roasts list. Credit: Supplied

And finally, to absolutely no one’s surprise, Hawksmoor also placed comfortably on the top 50 Sunday roasts list.

‘The quality of the meat is unrivalled,’ observed one fan, and there were also rave reviews for the crispy beef-dripping roasties and ‘bottomless’ bone-marrow gravy.

Where’s your favourite roast in Greater Manchester?

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

The Pack Horse – the Michelin-recommended Peak District pub serving the best pre-hike breakfast in the North

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The full breakfast at The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group

There’s a pub in the Peak District that’s comfortably established itself as one of the very best in the UK, and this banging local isn’t just about pints and Sunday roasts.

The Pack Horse in the village of Hayfield is also a purveyor of an excellent breakfast, perfect to fuel you up before a big hike in the surrounding hills.

Want a little taste of this pub’s accolades? In the space of just one week, The Pack Horse placed in the Top 50 Gastropubs and then got added to the Michelin Guide – a stunning double header.

The restaurant in Hayfield was praised by Michelin inspectors for being ‘a true village local’.

Just this week, it was also added to the Good Food Guide’s list of the best Sunday roasts in the UK.

Headed up by chef and co-owner Luke Payne, The Pack Horse in the village of Hayfield is an outstanding establishment.

Here is a pub where you can have a world-class meal that shows off the best of British produce, while sipping an ale, with muddy boots on your feet.

Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside The Pack Horse Hayfield. Credit: The Manc Group
Outside the Pack Horse in Hayfield
Outside the Pack Horse in Hayfield

It doesn’t really matter who you ask, The Pack Horse is readily and consistently named one of the best pubs in the entire UK and anyone stepping through its door would struggle to argue with that. 

Because although the price point sits a little higher than your average boozer, it still has all the trappings of a proper country pub. 

Yes, there are crisps behind the bar. Yes, there’s a pub quiz. Yes, there’s a resident pub dog (Lola the Labrador will sit and stare you out if there is anything edible in your immediate vicinity). 

But what we haven’t seen anywhere near enough people harp on about is the breakfast at The Pack Horse.

The ingredients on their breakfast menu are all sourced so locally you could probably hike to any of them with a bit of grit and determination.

From Port of Lancaster smoked kippers to bacon cut thick and laced with maple, everything is of the highest quality.

You can’t go wrong with The Pack Horse signature breakfast, which has eggs, bacon, Manchester sausage, crispy hash browns, Doreen’s black pudding, wild mushrooms, confit tomato, trotter beans, AND sourdough.

A bacon and egg muffin at The Pack Horse Hayfield
A bacon and egg muffin at The Pack Horse Hayfield
Coffee, juice and a breakfast menu at The Pack Horse. Credit: The Manc Group
Coffee, juice and a breakfast menu at The Pack Horse. Credit: The Manc Group

You can have the full portion for £20 or just take one of each item for £10 and then immediately regret not having more.

The bulk of the menu beyond that centres around the pub’s homemade English muffins, toasted and buttered and filled with whatever breakfast item takes your fancy (scrambled egg and bacon for me, always).

It’s a breakfast worthy of the fanciest hotels and most popular of brunch spots. 

Once you’re suitably fuelled and ready for a walk there are two hikes nearby that aren’t too strenuous and crucially don’t take too long (those daylight savings hours really mess with a big hike, eh). 

The Sett Valley Trail starts just across the road and is a consistent and mostly flat out-and-back.

Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group
Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group
Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group
Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. Credit: The Manc Group

You can follow it all the way to the Torrs Millennium Walkway in New Mills if you fancy, or just turn back when you’ve had enough.

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Or you can head the other way through Hayfield out towards Kinder Reservoir – the loop will take you over streams and stepping stones and little wooden bridges, past the huge body of water, through woodland and fields, and place you within sight of Kinder Downfall waterfall. 

This is the poster child of the Peak District and one of the National Park’s best, most comprehensive walks. 

You’ll also be close to Kinder Scout, but this is a more challenging hike and at this time of year we’d really recommend setting off nice and early to get maximum daylight hours.

And that would mean no time for a Pack Horse breakfast, which just won’t do. 

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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