Caravan, one of London’s most popular all-day restaurant destinations, is finally ready to open its doors in Manchester for the first time.
Caravan is a hotly-anticipated eatery famed for its brunches, sourdough pizzas, coffee and cocktails, which has been slowly taking shape in the St John’s neighbourhood.
The huge new space is now complete, offering room for up to 170 diners plus a cocktail bar, a private dining room and a full working roastery producing some of the freshest coffees in the city.
There are massive floor-to-ceiling windows that will open all the way on sunny days, adding to the brand’s New Zealand cafe culture roots.
Caravan in Manchester has been decorated in neutral colour palette with loads of texture – brick tiles, natural wood, rattan lampshades, rust-coloured leather banquettes, and stone-coloured crockery. It’s beautiful.
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A central bar is well-stocked with wines and spirits for their list of cocktails, including their delicious tiramisu martini, made with caravan espresso and salted caramel syrup.
The restaurant’s ‘well-travelled’ all-day menu features dishes like jalapeño cornbread with chilli butter, sourdough pizzas, and healthy (but hearty) grain bowls.
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Open seven days a week, there’s also a full brunch menu that includes Korean-style buttermilk fried chicken with kimchi pancakes, and, of course, fry-ups.
Co-founders Chris Ammermann, Laura Harper Hinton and Miles Kirby, all native New Zealanders, launched Caravan back in 2009 and are finally ready to bring the Antipodean favourite up north.
Caravan Manchester will officially open on Tuesday 20 August.
In pictures – Caravan opens first Manchester restaurant
A full spread of its all-day menuCaravan is ready to open in St John’s, ManchesterA tiramisu espresso martiniCheese and kimchi on toast at Caravan in ManchesterCaravan cocktailsPoached eggs and whipped yoghurt with flatbreadSmacked cucumber and jalapeno cornbread Caravan cocktailsSmacked cucumber and jalapeno cornbread Caravan cocktailsA Bloody Mary with Caravan’s own spice mixCaravan’s famous jalapeno cornbread. Credit: The Manc GroupCaravan is ready to open in St John’s, Manchester
Drake-backed Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in the Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
The cult LA-born fried chicken brand backed by Drake is expanding in Manchester once again, this time with a brand-new site at the Trafford Centre.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to open its latest location inside the huge shopping centre, bringing its signature Nashville-style heat to The Orient food hall.
Already causing a stir with its first Manchester site at the Printworks, the fast-growing US chain has built a reputation for long queues and a chicken spice level so extreme you have to sign a waiver to eat it (The Reaper is not for the faint of heart).
And now hoardings have appeared at the bottom of The Orient at The Trafford Centre, joining Five Guys, Shake Shack, and Slim Chickens.
The new Trafford Centre restaurant is expected to follow the same winning formula, serving up its famous hot chicken tenders and sliders, available in seven spice levels and served on a slice of bread to soak up all the spice levels.
Fans can also expect a menu packed with loaded fries, creamy mac and cheese, kale slaw, and indulgent top-loaded shakes, alongside refreshing slushers to cool things down after the heat kicks in.
Born in a Los Angeles car park back in 2017, Dave’s Hot Chicken has exploded in popularity in recent years, with Drake becoming a high-profile investor as the brand rapidly expanded across the US and into the UK.
The Trafford Centre opening marks another major step in the brand’s UK growth, following successful launches in London, Birmingham, and Manchester city centre, and signals that the fried chicken heavyweight is only just getting started.
If the scenes at previous openings are anything to go by, Mancunians can expect queues, hype, and plenty of spice when the doors finally open.
Popular Manchester brunch spot Bruncho teases what’s to come with new Northern Quarter cafe
Daisy Jackson
Bruncho has shared a glimpse of what’s to come when it officially opens the doors to its new Northern Quarter cafe.
The brunch spot has had queues down the street since launching on Deansgate, with enough popularity to warrant it opening a second location.
Bruncho is moving into the old Feel Good Club, a huge unit in Hilton House that’s been left empty since the cafe’s shock closure.
And as the clock ticks down to Bruncho’s launch into the Northern Quarter, they’ve shared an exclusive look inside at their very big plans.
The team have now confirmed that the new venue will have a salad bar and vegetarian buffet, as well as coffee raves with DJs at select hours.
New CGIs of the space also show a drastic change from the site’s days as Feel Good Club, filling the giant cafe with wooden tables, hanging pendant lights, plants, and soft textures.
Bruncho is known for its brunch dishes that have a real knack for going viral on social media, including New York-style breakfast rolls in croissant bread; fresh coconut water and matcha served in the coconut; and its absolutely stacked French toasts.
A glimpse inside Bruncho Northern QuarterBruncho will have a vegetarian buffet when it opens in the Northern QuarterHow Bruncho Northern Quarter will look
It’s consistently packed out at its original location on Deansgate, and now it’s taking over a 4,378 sq ft unit in the Northern Quarter too, set to open this June.
Omer Umut Mutlu, owner of Bruncho, said: “Manchester has shown Bruncho so much love, and expanding into the Northern Quarter feels like the natural next step for us.
“Hilton House gives us the space to elevate what we do – more covers, more events, and a new home for the kind of food and atmosphere people will make the journey for.
“We’re excited to bring something fresh to the neighbourhood, with the opening scheduled for June 2026.”
Daisy Jackson -
13th August 2024 
