The Good Food Guide has just released its list of the 100 best local restaurants in Britain – and there are PLENTY of entries for Greater Manchester.
From city centre gastropubs to Michelin-recommended hidden gems to proper local Italian restaurants, our city region has shone throughout the list.
And while the top spot in all of Britain went to Bavette in Leeds (a firm favourite of our friends over at The Hoot), there are plenty of restaurants to shout about closer to home too.
The overall winner in the entire North West was named as Cibus in Levenshulme, a laid-back spot that’s a huge part of Levy’s culinary levelling-up.
In fact, Greater Manchester has completely dominated the Best Local Restaurants list for the North West, taking seven out of the 13 spots.
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Widely considered one of the city’s best restaurants, Higher Ground has shot onto the list, along with fellow Michelin-recommended spots The Sparrows and Another Hand.
Also featuring in The Good Food Guide’s prestigious list is The Pearl, a newcomer in Prestwich with its own wine window.
Bombay to Mumbai in Stockport made the guide too, as did the brilliant Lily’s Vegetarian in Ashton-under-Lyne, and Covino just down the road in Chester.
And completing the list for the North West is The Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats, a gastropub that’s been named one of the best in the country.
Back to the big win for Cibus though.
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Cibus in Levenshulme is loved locally and beyond for its modern Italian menu, which features everything from salted doughnuts to cicchetti and pizza and pasta.
The Good Food Guide noted that Cibus’ cooking and the effort they put into their seasonal menu is so brilliant, ‘it would shame many-a fancier joint’.
They also wrote: “It has transformed the food scene in Levenshulme and is the type of place we all wished we had on our doorstep.”
The Pearl in Prestwich has made it onto the list of the Top 100 Local Restaurants in the Good Food Guide. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Edinburgh Castle also made the top 100 in the Good Food Guide. Credit: The Manc GroupHigher Ground is officially one of Britain’s best local restaurants. Credit: The Manc Group
Owners Giorgio Fontana and Marco Bracchitta said of the award: “We are thrilled and humbled by the news that Cibus has been voted the Best Local Restaurant in the North West!
“It is a huge honour, and we are overwhelmed with joy. Thank you to all of our supporters.
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“We feel loved and embraced by the community around us, and we reciprocate that with our love and passion in what we do here at Cibus.
“This recognition is a massive burst of morale for the Cibus team. We are like family, and we work hard together to provide a great experience for our guests. Our hard work has paid off.”
This year, more than 60,000 votes were cast in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants guide, leaving a panel of experts to anonymously eat in the front-running restaurants across the UK.
Elizabeth Carter and Chloë Hamilton, co-editors of The Good Food Guide, said: “You came out in force this year, casting an astonishing 60,000 nominations for your beloved bistros, brasseries, pubs and cafés.
“We, and our undercover inspectors, have been touring the country to ensure the list is made up of the best of their kind.
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“Places that are home to extraordinary local creativity and talent, personal hospitality and genuine community spirit, and that are wonderfully affordable too.
“Eating out locally has never been so diverse, so enjoyable, so satisfying. Let’s make sure it stays that way.”
The best restaurants in the North West according to The Good Food Guide 2024
Cibus Levenshulme [regional winner]
Lily’s Vegetarian Indian Cuisine Ashton-under-Lyne
Smash-hit sandwich shop Earl’s is set to open another site in Bolton
Danny Jones
Yes, beloved Bolton butty shop and bar, Earl’s, is set to open up their second location in the Greater Manchester borough, taking the food from the town centre over to Farnworth.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a metropolitan expansion either this year or next, but for now, we’re just glad to hear we’re getting more of the good stuff.
Earl’s Day and Night Deli, to give them their full name, is the latest name to join the lineup of new foodie faces joining the culinary boom over at the Farnworth Green development.
Soon, the stacked sandwiches, quality coffee and laid-back vibes will be coming to one of the best up-and-coming new neighbourhoods.
Founded by two local lads, Jonny Eckersley and Andy Partington, the first venue only opened back in December of 2024, but has gone on to become a North West-wide sensation.
Carb connoisseurs will literally travel for this scran, and having tasted it for ourselves a couple of times now, it’s no wonder.
Taking inspiration not only from regional food and drink, but also from the wider atmospheres and culinary cultures of Lisbon, Sydney, Antwerp and more, if they can translate even half the levels of chill from the OG Earl’s into this soon-to-open sister site, we’re sure it will hit the ground running.
As per an official press release, fans and those who’ve never tried it before can “expect a menu packed with freshly made sandwiches, alongside a line-up of hot and cold options available for both grab-and-go and delivery.”
Crucially, they’re also looking to carry over that feeling of a seamless transition between services, blending everything from morning coffee runs and the lunch rush with casual evening hangs.
Co-founder Jonny said in a statement: “We are staying true to our roots by bringing a second Earl’s in Bolton. This new venture helps to fuel our expansion plans and widen our catchment area so even more local people can enjoy the Earl’s experience.
“We have big plans for the space and can’t wait to get started.” An exact opening date hasn’t even been confirmed yet, but we’re already getting excited.
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital and Centric (the developers behind Farnworth Green) added: “We back standout local operators, and Earl’s is right up there – great food, loads of energy and a proper following already behind them.
“Farnworth Green is shaping up to be a neighbourhood with real character, and Earl’s is only going to add to that. Expect it to be busy.”
Crown and Kettle set to take over another former Northern Quarter bar
Danny Jones
The team behind beloved Ancoats pub The Crown and Kettle have announced that they are set to take over another former bar and restaurant location in nearby Northern Quarter.
We were gutted to see the old place go, but at least we can’t think of many better to take over the unit.
The historic watering hole on the corner of Oldham Road and Great Ancoats Street is said to have stood in that spot since the 18th century, but now the present owners have confirmed they’ll be taking on a third venue, having also opened The Rat and Pigeon back in June 2024.
Many of you may have been to one or multiple of its previous iterations of the site in question over the years, but most recently, it was the Calcio sports bar – and soon it’ll become ‘The Badger’.
Revealing the news online last week, Crown and Kettle wrote: “We’re delighted to announce that our new pub, The Badger, arrives on Dale Street this spring!
“Once home to Calcio, Allotment & Nickelbys, this beautiful old building first served as The Haunch of Venison public house back in the early 1800s. Over the past few months, we’ve been hard at work, quietly bringing it back to life & returning it to its roots as a community pub.
“With The Badger, we’ve set out to create the kind of place we love most, warm, welcoming, full of character, with all the charm of a great countryside pub in the heart of the city.
“Expect cosy corners, traditional pub foods, fine ales & the warmest of welcomes. Made for regulars. Open to all. Worth returning to. We can’t wait to welcome you to your new city centre local. GET SET(T)…” Oh, very good indeed.
We visited Calcio many times over the past couple of years, both for work and pleasure in our own free time; it was a great place to watch the footy, enjoy some matchday scran and roll back the years with retro videogames.
As mentioned, though, not only did it used to be one of multiple Allotment vegan and vegetarian eateries in Greater Manchester – thankfully, their presence still remains in multiple buildings – but it has a past long before that which many people bring up on social media.
Insert, “I remember when…’ post.
While we might not know much about what they have in store for this next chapter, knowing how much we love their current city centre favourites, we’re very excited.
As it stands, we’re also yet to hear anything about a more precise opening date, but at least we know it’s coming sometime soon, and we have every faith they’re going to smash it.
Daisy Jackson -
24th July 2024 
