Manchester biggest garden neighbourhood, KAMPUS, has its very first resident – and it’s a bloody cool one.
Situated in an ex-security cabin on stilts, opposite Canal Street, developers Capital & Centric and HBD have transformed ‘the Bungalow’ into a flexible, creative space.
Higher Ground, led by Joseph Otway and Richard Cossins, is a pop-up restaurant that will bring together North West ingredients, Manchester brewed beer and natural wines in a chilled out setting.
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Joseph, ex-Head Chef of Where The Light Gets In in Stockport and ex-Relæ in Copenhagen, will be in the kitchen creating a daily changing menu, including an oxtail madras pasty – a homage to his late-night visits to Longsight.
It’s set to open on Friday 21st February, where there will be beer on tap from a local brewery and a wine list to die for.
Joseph commented: “We were drawn to the Bungalow from the very beginning, and as we learnt more about KAMPUS and the focus on building a community, we knew it was the perfect fit for us.
“It’s a great opportunity to move into a casual space and share what excites us. We want to offer something that’s approachable and easy for everyone to enjoy, whilst also supporting growers and producers we are passionate about.
“We’ll be serving a small selection of beers from just down the road and we’ve put together a carefully selected list of wines to drink by the glass or bottle. Plates are going to be simple and delicious, nothing complicated, and ideal to share.”
The Bungalow will also become KAMPUS’ very own village hall, supporting community uses and activities as the site reaches completion.
Higher Ground is located in the Bungalow at KAMPUS and accessed via Minshull Street. It opens on Friday 21st February with walk-ins and reservations welcome.
Eats
An indulgent trip to Northcote – Lancashire’s Michelin-starred gem doing fine dining the northern way | Review
Will Kendrick
Some meals are just meals. Others stay with you, not just because the food is great, but because the whole experience feels special.
That’s exactly how I felt after spending an evening at the well-renowned Michelin Star restaurant, Northcote – tucked away in the beautiful Ribble Valley countryside.
The place itself is stunning. Northcote is a countryside manor that manages to feel grand without being stuffy, and not to mention the views are picture-perfect too. A pre-meal perch on the terrace outside with a glass of non-alcoholic elderflower spritz set me up for a perfect afternoon.
But of course, I wasn’t there just for the scenery. I was invited to dine in a private dining room with an open kitchen, where Great British Menu star and MasterChef: The Professionals judge, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, and her incredible team cooked right in front of us. Lisa recently returned to lead the kitchen after a brief time away, and so this meal felt like a celebration of her return. From the moment she stepped into the kitchen, it was clear she was exactly where she belonged.
Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Chef Patron and Director at Northcote / Credit: Jonny Lake (Supplied)
The menu was thoughtful, seasonal, and beautifully put together. Every course felt carefully considered, with bold flavours but nothing fussy or overdone.
Words from Lisa herself endorse this, as she says: “This menu reflects everything the Northcote kitchen stands for – a deep respect for produce, a commitment to innovation and a passion for pushing culinary boundaries. It’s elegant, playful and full of flavour and more than that, it’s significant, because it marks the start of a new era.”
My favourite course was the chilled Isle of Wight tomato. I’m absolutely hooked on goats cheese at the moment and it paired so well with the fresh tomatoes. The bread meant you could just rip it apart and scoop everything up so the plate was well and truly spotless afterwards.
An honourable mention has to go to the beautifully-simple way we ended the meal too. Having been watching Wimbledon all week, I was craving some strawberries and cream. The strawberries were full of flavour, the elderflower gave a gentle lift, and the clotted cream made it feel indulgent.
‘Northcote is more than just a place to eat, it’s an experience’ / Credit: The Manc Group
I was driving, so wine was off the cards… or so I thought. The sommelier had a whole non-alcoholic wine pairing option. One non-alcoholic pairing really stood out. It was a tea served in a wine glass, not just for the look, but because it shared the same flavour-enhancing compound found in wine.
During our afternoon of indulgent food and drink, Managing Director Craig Bancroft offered us an exclusive look at some of the exciting developments on the horizon at Northcote. These include a full refurbishment of the hotel’s bedrooms, a refreshed restaurant design with an expanded private dining area, and the addition of a brand-new on-site spa.
Plans are also underway to relaunch Northcote’s outside catering arm, with a focus on high-end, small-scale events such as private dinner parties and boutique corporate gatherings – all delivered with the same signature quality the brand is known for.
Northcote is more than just a place to eat. It’s somewhere that brings together setting, service, and food in a way that feels personal and memorable. Whether you’re there for a special occasion or just looking to treat yourself, it offers an experience that’s hard to forget.
With Lisa Goodwin-Allen back at the helm of the ship, Northcote feels grounded, inspired, and full of promise.
Featured Image – Supplied
Eats
Industrial estate Italian restaurant named best in North West by Good Food Guide
Daisy Jackson
Lupo Caffe Italiano, a cosy Italian restaurant tucked on an industrial estate in Prestwich, has just been crowned the best in the North West by the Good Food Guide.
This authentic spot serves hearty, homemade Roman pizza and pasta, with the ever-charismatic Nico Pasquali at its helm.
The Good Food Guide has listed it as the overall winner in the North West in its prestigious 100 Best Local Restaurants list.
Lupo was joined by five other Greater Manchester restaurants in the top 100, ranging from a much-loved Chorlton tapas joint to a Michelin Bib Gormand modern European spot beneath a railway arch.
On the list were Cantaloupe in Stockport, Cibus in Levenshulme, The Sparrows in the Green Quarter, Stretford Canteen, and Chorlton’s Bar San Juan.
Of Lupo, the guide heaped praise on its ‘excellent Roman pizzas’ served from an ‘all-day trattoria in the incongruous setting of an industrial estate’.
Over the years, Nico has added a wooden terrace to double his restaurant’s capacity, with checkered tablecloths and cabinets displaying homemade desserts, like semifreddos and his legendary millefoglie.
The Good Food Guide judges wrote: “The vibe is friendly, unfussy and unpretentious, although Nico’s regulars also come for his precisely cooked traditional dishes made with prime ingredients flown in from Italy or fresh from his allotment.
Lupo Caffe Italiano in Prestwich has been named the best restaurant in the North West in the Good Food Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
“They are the perfect antidote to the standard Anglo-Italian repertoire, and the glitzy but vacuous styling of most high-street chains. Popular (and reasonably priced) dishes might range from rigatoni with guanciale, chilli and pecorino to arancini, suppli (deep-fried pizza balls) and Roman Jewish artichokes.
“There’s also a list of specials that may feature orecchiette with Italian fennel sausages and romanesco broccoli, as well as whole baked sea bass cooked with cherry tomatoes and olives.”
Nico said on winning the top spot: “Hard work and perseverance pays… and people value what we’ve been building for the last 10 years.”
Across town, The Sparrows received praise for its handmade dumplings (‘perfectly rendered little parcels of happiness’ and sharing boards, plus its hearty goulashes for winter.
In Stretford, local French bistro Streford Canteen made its way onto the list for the first time, thanks to being a ‘shining light in a small suburb that needs and deserves a reliable, high-quality restaurant.’
Stretford Canteen also made the Good Food Guide this year. Credit: The Manc Group
You’ll find familiar bistro classics like galettes, croques and French onion soup, as well as a seasonally sourced menu showcasing their brilliant cooking.
The Good Food Guide added: “And, finally, praise is due to the little publicised fact they have fed a local homeless man for years – happily now off the streets.”
The next entry on the list is firm favourite Bar San Juan, a cosy tapas spot in the heart of Chorlton with a bit of a cult following.
The Good Food Guide singled out its ‘papas bravas’ (crispy cubes of potato served with a Madrid-style brava sauce), cod’s cheeks, aubergine stew and croquetas.
Bar San Juan in Chorlton
A deserving entry into the Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants list.
Over in Stockport is a new-ish neighbourhood restaurant that’s already caught people’s eye – Cantaloupe is a ‘small, easy-going bistro’.
The guide says: “Cantaloupe prioritises its budget where it really counts – on the food, cooking and service, plus a focus on doing simple things well and not over-stretching the short, restrained and fairly priced daily menu. And it’s paid off: the place now has a clutch of loyal fans who appreciate the unpretentious atmosphere.”
Completing the list for Greater Manchester is Cibus in Levenshulme, which started life as a market stall but grew to a proper Italian restaurant space.
Here it’s all about sourdough pizzas, pasta dishes, meat dishes, seafood, and cicchetti.
Sam Ridgway -
11th February 2020 
