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Bangkok Diners Club moves out of Ancoats just months after Michelin Guide win

Daisy Jackson - 8th January 2026

Bangkok Diners Club, the critically-acclaimed restaurant above the Edinburgh Castle pub, has closed its restaurant space.

The Thai restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide last October, not long after taking over the upstairs of the popular pub.

It also received a rave review in The Guardian from restaurant critic Grace Dent, who said it would be ‘one of Manchester’s hottest dining tickets’.

But now Bangkok Diners Club has decided its time in Ancoats is up, and has closed its beautiful restaurant space with immediate effect.

In an email sent to customers with reservations, they wrote that Bangkok Diners Club ‘sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle’.

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Owners and husband-and-wife team Ben and Bo Humpheys aren’t leaving things there though, announcing plans to move into the Exhibition food hall on Peter Street.

Three more restaurants have been added to the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group — Co-owner Ben Humphreys outside Bangkok Diners Club. Credit: The Manc Group

The food earned them a place in the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group — Co-owner Ben Humphreys outside Bangkok Diners Club. Credit: The Manc Group

They’ll be joining MoreJoy and pasta concept Anatra in the space, but bidding farewell to their own dedicated restaurant for now.

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The email sent to customers reads: “We have just noticed that the system has allowed you to make a reservation during a time that we are closed. We apologise that this has happened.

“Ben and Bo are cooking at Exhibition during 2026 and Bangkok Diners Club sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle.

“Sincerest apologies for all the inconvenience caused.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Glitzy Spinningfields bar famed for its bottomless deals shuts down

Daisy Jackson Banyan in Spinningfields has shut down

Banyan in Spinningfields has shut down

Popular cocktail bar group Banyan has suddenly closed its glitzy bar in the heart of Spinningfields.

The restaurant and bar, which is part of the Arc Inspirations group that also operates Manahatta and Box, has shut down with immediate effect.

A sign has been posted in the window of the Spinningfields site of Banyan confirming its closure.

Banyan opened in 2018 and was the second site for the brand, which has been operating out of the Corn Exchange since 2015.

Inside, the huge 7,000sq ft space was split into spaces for drinking, dining and dancing, including a large mezzanine and a huge white marble bar.

Banyan is famed for its bottomless deals, whether that’s a classic bottomless brunch or their bottomless Sunday roast (endless Yorkshire puddings, gravy, wine, and roast potatoes).

It also offered two-for-one cocktails, all day every day.

The bar stands on the side of Spinningfields, directly opposite The Ivy and alongside The Alchemist.

Banyan in Spinningfields has shut down

The note in the window of Banyan — Banyan in Spinningfields has shut down

But now it has permanently closed its doors, thanking people for their custom over its almost-decade in Manchester.

The sign on the door says: “Banyan Spinningfields is now permanently closed.

“Thank you so much for your custom over the years, we’ve loved being part of this wonderful city and have made so many friends.

“Don’t be a stranger, we’d love to continue to welcome you to our Banyan bar in the Corn Exchange. Team Banyan.”

Banyan continues to operate at the Corn Exchange.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Doux Chaton debuts in Manchester: Vietnamese and French cuisine meets the North West

Danny Jones Doux Chaton Vietnamese from Liverpool opens second location in manchester

Doux Chaton Vietnamese from Liverpool opens second location in manchester

Regardless of our rivalry, the Scousers have given us a lot: The Beatles, two Premier League football clubs for us to get regularly riled up against, even the Bold Street brand – and now it’s the turn of Doux Chaton, who just landed in Manchester.

Vietnamese food right in the heart of town, but like you’ve never had it before, Doux Chaton is the Southeast Asian spot with a European twist that’s already turning heads.

In fact, despite quietly opening on the main Deansgate strip over the festive period, there was already plenty of passion for this place down the Mersey, as this Liverpool-founded business has developed a foodie favourite following here in the North West.

Run by owners Jimmy and Jennifer Ly, whose parents Ko and Linda moved to the UK back in the 70s, this place might be regionally born and bred, but it’s still deeply rooted in the rich heritage of two ex-pats helping bring some seriously incredible flavours to our shores.

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Walking past the old unit on the ground floor of Great Northern Warehouse – during a real ghost town period for the city centre this past Christmas – we saw a team hard at work putting together their first Manc venue.

This was at around 10/11pm from memory, as we saw a man on ladders finishing the hand-lettered sign by lamplight; this is all relevant because, before anything, it’s worth noting that this place from 9am until 9pm all week round.

Yes, as in every single day.

Since they’re still relative newcomers, we’re not entirely sure when they take any time (if, indeed, they do at all), but one thing we can already vouch for is that hard work can well and truly be tasted in the food and drink they put out.

Expanding their traditional Vietnamese menu in Merseyside, Doux Chaton Deansgate has seen them create a whole new selection of sweet treats, doubling not only as a neo-French patisserie but as a platform to showcase both traditional and modern bakes from their home country.

There is a long history of their national cuisine being deeply influenced by the classical culinary culture in France, but when we tell you their bahn mi sandwiches and clever take on a sausage ‘pho’roll were even tastier than their decadent croque monsieur croissant, you know you’re on to something special.

And then there are the bowls of broth and noodles themselves; we tried plenty of pho in and around Greater Manchester, with plenty purporting to be ‘authentic’ – and many of them are – but there can be a question about this first and second generation team.

Taking ‘Mama Hong’s treasured recipes from the streets of Hanoi and elevating them ever so slightly in certain spots, whilst still letting the flavours, textures and smells speak for themselves, it’s comfortably some of the best Viet scran we’ve had in these parts.

The cute little cat in a bowl logo almost feels like the most warm and fitting welcome you could hope for.

Service with a smile, simply fantastic food, a bloody GREAT cup of stylish drip coffee and a big chalkboard where you can even leave your own message, not to mention unrelenting opening hours – this could be our new go-to at any given time of day.

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Featured Images — The Manc Group