One of London’s most popular restaurant names has chosen Manchester as the location for its first site outside the capital.
Caravan, famed for bringing New Zealand cafe culture to the UK way back in 2009 (including 10/10 coffee and brunches), will be opening in Manchester’s St John’s district.
These award-winning restaurants offer an all-day, breakfast-to-cocktails offering that includes coffees roasted in house.
Co-founded by native New Zealanders Chris Ammermann, Laura Harper Hinton and Miles Kirby, they’ve enjoyed huge success in London with eight restaurants across the city.
But Caravan has never expanded beyond the M25 until now, announcing a huge new Manchester location is set to open this summer.
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The 200 cover space will be close to Aviva Studios and the beautiful restaurant Fenix, and will house two all day dining rooms, a bar, a private dining room featuring a turntable and private sound system, two outside terraces, a takeout coffee brew bar and a dedicated coffee roastery.
Its decor will be inspired by trail hiking huts and wool sheds in New Zealand, which means natural light, recycled materials and organic finishes.
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Typical dishes at Caravan in London ahead of its Manchester opening
As part of their move up north, Caravan will open a second coffee roastery in Manchester, aiming to provide beans and training to coffee shops across the region.
The ‘well-travelled’ breakfast and brunch menu goes from fresh fruit and grain bowls to fry-ups, with favourites including the Korean-style buttermilk fried chicken with kimchi pancakes, and fried jalapeno cornbread with fried egg, spinach, curd cheese, mojo verde and chilli butter.
At its existing restaurants, Caravan’s customers range from early morning gym-goers to on-the-go coffee runs to after-work socials and weekend brunch get-togethers.
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In the evenings, there are cocktails, an international wine list, and hand-picked local beers, served alongside rice bowls, sourdough pizzas, and small plates.
Laura Harper-Hinton, co-founder and CEO of Caravan said of the opening: “We are so excited to be taking Caravan on the road to Manchester, but more importantly, we are really looking forward to spending more time in this incredible city.
“We’ve had nothing but great vibes and support from everyone we’ve come across so far. We’ve chosen a unique location which sits right next to the new Aviva Studios, behind the historic Granada Studios and right in the heart of a growing new district at St John’s.
“We hope to attract a real cross section of the city to our beautiful new restaurant and roastery. In our London spaces we see everyone from early morning gym goers and commuters grabbing coffee, business lunches, baby dates and cocktail heavy birthday parties in the evening!
“We’ll be open morning, noon and night and you’re all welcome anytime that suits you!”
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Mike Ingall of Allied London, the team behind the St John’s development said of the opening: “Caravan are one of very few successful businesses that have managed to take a relaxed coffee house culture and develop a combined wholesome food, drink and restaurant offering whilst keeping that distinctive coffee culture.
“Bringing Caravan to our unique mix at St John’s was an obvious move for us bearing in mind what we are creating, and Caravan will be an operation I am sure Manchester will love…a place where people can come in the morning and stay all day and night…”
The new Caravan site in Manchester will be open seven days a week from 8am on weekdays and 9am at weekends.
Sign up to be the first to hear more about the opening here.
An app that can get you 50% off at top local restaurants has arrived in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
An app that unlocks exclusive restaurant deals in top local spots has officially arrived in Manchester.
EatClub has launched into our city with some big local restaurant names included, like Maki & Ramen, Noi Quattro, and Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar.
The rapidly-growing dining app is backed by Marco Pierre White and has been picking up pace across the UK since launching in London last year.
EatClub is bringing next-level, exclusive dining deals to Mancs, while helping our local restaurants make the most of quieter times.
Participating restaurants and bars can offer smart, real-time pricing during off-peak hours, which can mean up to 50% off deals appear for diners.
As a customer, that means you can save big by dining when it’s quieter, knowing you’re filling vital tables for your favourite businesses.
EatClub has been designed by restaurateurs who understand the realities of running busy venues.
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You’ll find local favourites, hidden gems, and much-loved brands on the app, which handles the entire discount process discreetly in-app.
Once you’ve downloaded EatClub, you unlock an EatClub Pay digital card to add to your phone wallet – then select your chosen offer before you arrive, dine, and pay your bill with the EatClub Pay card to apply your discount.
Wondering where you might get to eat for less in Manchester? Restaurants already signed up to EatClub include Italian favourites like Ciaooo, The Pasta Factory, Noi Quattro; South Asian restaurants like Maki & Raman and Soul & Surf; and stylish spots like TYGA Restaurant & Bar, On The Hush, and Avan Lounge Restaurant & Shisha Bar.
You’ll also find refined restaurants like KAJI, plus Doux Chaton, Fress, Chai Latte, Stan-M1, Arnero, and Napoleons Restaurant on EatClub in Manchester.
The Pasta FactoryMaki & RamenDoux Chaton
Based on data from London, EatClub users increase their dining frequency by 70%, while restaurants see up to a 10x uplift in targeted off-peak windows, equating to roughly a 12% annual revenue lift.
Originally founded in Australia by hospitality insiders including CEO Pan Koutlakis and legendary chef Marco Pierre White, EatClub is now expanding across the UK, following a $27 million AUD (£14m+) oversubscribed Pre-Series B funding round led by Marbruck, with continued support from EVP and CoAct.
Pan Koutlakis, CEO and co-founder of EatClub, said: “Manchester has such incredible energy when it comes to hospitality and we’re so excited to be working with a fantastic range of venues from day one.
“EatClub is all about making it easier for people to dine out more often, discover new favourites and enjoy great value, all in a way that feels effortless.”
EatClub is available to download now, with loads of Manchester restaurnats already signed up – download and find out more HERE.
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.”
Daisy Jackson -
8th March 2024 
