Eats

Grand former bank building in Manchester to be transformed into steak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft

'I believe we’ll make Manchester proud'

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 10th July 2024

A former Grade II-listed banking hall in the heart of Manchester is to be transformed into a steak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft.

Already an established name in York and Leeds, the all-day dining spot will open this year on the corner of Mosley Street and York Street.

The huge venue will be serving premium locally-reared steaks, as well as a menu of expertly delivered seafood specials and meat butchered in-house.

The Cut & Craft is currently taking shape inside the former Manchester and Salford bank, one of the city’s finest examples of Victorian architecture, which dates back to 1862 and is now known as Bond by Bruntwood SciTech.

The restoration of the former banking hall includes transforming the former subterranean vaults into private dining and entertainment spaces, including a state of the art ladies room, ‘gossip room’ and sommelier lounge.

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The building itself is a stunning example of a palazzo-style building, having been originally designed by famed Mancunian architect Edward Walters, who was famed for his adopted Italian style.

The Cut & Craft will proudly show off some of the space’s original features, from the cornicing on its double height ceiling to its floor-to-ceiling windows.

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As for the food, the restaurant will focus on quality steak and affordable seafood, served from lunch through to the evening.

The grand former banking hall that will soon be home to The Cut & Craft. Credit: Supplied
The grand former banking hall that will soon be home to The Cut & Craft. Credit: Supplied
The grand former banking hall that will soon be home to The Cut & Craft. Credit: Supplied
The grand former banking hall that will soon be home to The Cut & Craft. Credit: Supplied

Dishes will include freshly-shucked oysters, Exmoor caviar and hand-cut beef tartare with breaded yolk and sesame croutons, plus grilled monkfish, king scallops, fish and chips, grilled lamb cutlets and a signature 10 oz flat iron steak, which is butchered by an expert team in house.

In a LinkedIn statement, Oscar Akgul, co-founder at Lucia and The Cut & Craft said: “Manchester is soon to have The Cut & Craft and in all honesty we simply cannot wait.

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“Our new venue is located on Mosley Street inside the iconic Grade II * building. Filled with history and its original features including vaults, soon to host private dining, combined with state of the art ladies room, ‘gossip room’ and sommelier lounge.

“Our new restaurant will be filled with elegant yet timeless style settings giving you the ultimate luxury at accessible prices.

“Working closely with the local authorities to bring back this rare building to its glorious days. Once this is completed, I believe we’ll make Manchester proud, as well as all the people who’ve worked on this amazing restoration project.

Steak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft is already well-established in Yorkshire. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Steak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft is already well-established in Yorkshire. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Steak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft is already well-established in Yorkshire. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Steak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft is already well-established in Yorkshire. Credit: The Hoot Leeds

“We’re months away from opening and we cannot wait to welcome you all.”

The stunning restoration project for The Cut & Craft is in collaboration with Bruntwood SciTech who have carried out a complete reimagining of the building. With the arrival of Cut and Craft the Bond building is now complete, creating a new destination for the city as well as an exceptional offering for those working in the building.

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Ciara Keeling, Chief Operating Officer at Bruntwood SciTech commented: “We are thrilled to be welcoming The Cut & Craft to Bond.

“In breathing new life into this iconic building, Bruntwood SciTech have created an inspiring new workspace and leisure destination, one which deserves an exceptional hospitality operator at its heart.

“Preservation of this building’s extraordinary heritage and architecture has been front of mind throughout the whole restoration project, and the ground floor banking hall space is no exception.

“In The Cut & Craft we have found a partner that will bring quality, elegance and laid back glamour to this magnificent space, completing Bond’s status as an exciting new destination for the city centre.”

CGIs show how Cut & Craft Manchester will look

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Featured image: Supplied

Eats

Manchester’s first banana pudding bar has opened in the city centre

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Make sure to save room for pudding…because one of the city’s most-talked about dessert brands has found a new home.

Buttercup launched last summer, creating little pots of the hit US dessert made famous by the iconic Magnolia Bakery.

Each dessert features vanilla custard whipped with cream, soft sponge, and fresh banana, which you can then customise with rotating flavours and toppings.

And after a brief disappearance from the Manchester foodie scene, Buttercup is back with a bang with their beautiful new home on Deansgate.

Images: The Manc Group

And when we say beautiful, we really mean it.

Glossy burgundy tiles, butter yellow walls and sleek chrome furniture make up the space beneath the huge arched window, and there’s even a few seats for you to enjoy your pud and watch the world go by.

Open daily from 10am til 10pm, the menu includes three puddings on rotation ready to scoop. 

Images: The Manc Group

Choose from the classic banana, indulgent tiramisu and an ever-changing seasonal special, alongside a wall of toppings for you to customise your own pud. 

Each recipe has been perfected in-house and the proof really is in the banana pudding…because it tastes just as good as it looks. 

Since launching, Buttercup has served around 50,000 puddings, hosted sell-out pop-ups across the city, collaborated with some huge brands, and built a loyal following around its signature build-your-own pudding bar.

Image: The Manc Group

With this new standalone space, you’ll of course be able to indulge in its signature banana pudding, as well as breakfast yoghurt bowls, coffee and matcha.

Officially opening tomorrow Saturday 26 September, the first 50 customers will get a free topping and sauce with the purchase of any pudding, plus a free lip gloss from Manchester-born beauty brand REFY.

Read more: 10 of the best new restaurants, bars and cafes to open in Greater Manchester recently

Featured image – The Manc Group

Eats

‘Remember to support genuine independents’ – Manchester’s rotisserie chicken bistro Tartuffe announces closure

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Tartuffe at Side Street

Rotisserie chicken bistro Tartuffe has called final orders on its time at popular city centre hangout, Side Street.

Serving some of the best rotisserie chicken in Manchester – ‘sexy chicken’, if you will – Tartuffe first landed at Side Street inside the ABC Building back in the later summer of 2024, and quickly became known and loved by critics and customers alike for not just their rotisserie options, but also their stylish bar snacks and standout sides.

Hungry folk can expect seasonal menus, bistro-style dining, and, in the opinion of our legendary former Takeaway Champion Dean, some of the best sandwiches in Manchester.

But despite being a roaring success these past two years, Tartuffe took to social media this week to announce the end of the ‘longest pop-up ever’, with its final service being tomorrow (25 September).

Tartuffe at Side Street
Tartuffe at Side Street
Tartuffe will be leaving Side Street this Friday / Credit: The Manc Group

Announcing its closure on Instagram, Tartuffe wrote: “That’s right, our time at Side Street has come to an end and our final service here is this Friday.

“It’s been an incredible two and a half years cooking for the wonderful people of Manchester and we’re hugely thankful to everyone who’s been to see us whilst we’ve been here.

“Another big thanks to the staff at Side Street who we’ve loved working with. We’ve made some great friends and worked with some absolutely brilliant people.

“We’re going to be having a little bit of a break whilst we plan for Tartuffe part 2. It’s not a goodbye, it’s a see you soon.”

The statement then closed out with an emotional plea to the people of Manchester.

“And remember to support the GENUINE independents out there, or else there won’t be any left,” Tartuffe concluded.

Read more:

The closure of Tartuffe was announced on the same day as Deansgate Mews’ award-winning casual dining restaurant, Another Hand, which fell victim to the difficult and ever-changing economic climate.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

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