Brand new CGIs have been released that give us a glimpse into Chotto Matte, the rooftop restaurant that will make up part of Gary Neville’s new £400m St Michael’s development.
The luxury new Japanese-Peruvian restaurant is set to open early next year on the 20,000 sq ft rooftop at St Michael’s, a huge new development taking shape behind the historic frontage of the old Bootle Street police station.
St Michael’s has today given a first look at what the restaurant rooftop terrace will look like when it opens its doors in 2025.
There’ll be terrace seating surrounding an atmospheric fire pit with views right across the city centre.
The CGIs also show off an indoor sushi area with intimate table seating.
There’ll be design elements like an open sushi counter, a robata grill, sushi torched at your table, lava stone, and graffiti-inspired artwork.
The interiors have been inspired by Manchester music and dance history, as well as the ‘vibrant urban landscape’.
Its design scheme comes from international architect, designer and company director of Superfutures, Andy Martin, who’s worked with Chotto Matte since its inception a decade ago.
The brand already has six restaurants globally, but this will be its first in the north of England.
When it opens, Chotto Matte will specialise in Nikkei cuisine, with fusion cooking that combines Japanese and Peruvian influences, ingredients and styles.
Inside Chotto Matte, the new rooftop restaurant at Gary Neville’s St Michael’s development in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
The landmark development launched last July with a vision to transform an underused area of the city between Jackson’s Row and Bootle Street.
Kurt Zdesar, co-founder and owner of the restaurant brand, says: “We are delighted to be working with Gary Neville and his incredible team to launch Chotto Matte in the much anticipated St Michael’s development, immersing the brand in the dynamic and burgeoning food scene of Manchester.
“The CGIs provide a real insight into the unique rooftop location of the restaurant.
“It’s fantastic to mark the first UK launch of Chotto Matte outside of London with this site and gives us a new opportunity to showcase our concept to a wider audience.”
Manchester favourite Nell’s to open new site for New York-style pizza, karaoke and shuffleboard
Daisy Jackson
Much-loved New York-style pizza joint Nell’s has announced big plans for a brand new location – they’re heading to MediaCity.
Nell’s are stepping things up a notch with the move, adding in private karaoke booths, shuffleboard tables, and a huge outdoor terrace in their new site.
Nell’s MediaCity is set to open this autumn, promising 22-inch New York-style pizza (also served in gigantic slices), frozen margs, and ice cream sandwiches.
There are already several spots around Manchester where you can get a slice of Nell’s, including their restaurants at Kampus and in Altrincham, the OG Northern Quarter site in Common, and at The Beagle in Chorlton.
And now it’s Salford’s turn, with plans unveiled for the team to expand over to MediaCity’s quayside Orange Building.
Nell’s co-founder Jonny Heyes said: “We’ve been thinking about MediaCity for a long time, it’s such a great area and we’ve seen what brilliant operators like Kargo have achieved so when this space came up, we jumped on it!
“The venue is huge which has given us the chance to really play with the experience.
“This idea of karaoke and shuffleboard accompanying our made-for-sharing pizzas and great cocktails feels like a natural next step for us as a brand.”
Nell’s have also partnered with Deliveroo and Slerp to send 14-inch and 22-inch pizzas far and wide.
The new opening is expected to create more than 35 new jobs, and as Common & Co has twice been named in the Times 100 Best Places To Work list, you might want to check those out HERE.
These viral sensations are a plush toy created by Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised designer Kasing Lung, who drew inspiration from his love of fairytales to create a character with bunny-like ears, large eyes and big smiles.
They’re swinging off handbags all over the UK at the minute and people are queueing for hours for the latest Labubu drops.
At Sweet Dreams, they’re making edible chocolate Labubus using a special mould flown in from Japan.
Each one has a pistachio kunafa filling and is painstakingly painted by hand.
And that brings us neatly to the next viral craze at play here – Dubai pistachio chocolate.
An army of pistachio chocolate LabubuInside a chocolate pistachio Labubu
Kunafa is a staple in Middle Eastern bakes and pastries but hit the global mainstream last year when thick chocolate pistachio bars stuffed with it went viral online, spawning countless dupes and inspired specials.
And finally, chocolate covered strawberries – hardly a new invention, but this simple dessert has rocketed in popularity especially in food hotspots like Borough Market in London.
Head into Sweet Dreams and you can build your treat from the base up – choose white or milk melted chocolate for your strawberries, layer on pistachio kunafa, then top with either a milk or white chocolate Labubu.
A slightly daft novelty? Yes. But that doesn’t stop them being delicious.
This is the only place in the UK currently selling Dubai pistachio chocolate Labubus.
Daisy Jackson -
21st March 2024 
