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.
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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’.
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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.
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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.”
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Insomnia Cookies is giving away FREE cookies to anyone with these two names
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s late-night sweet treat spot Insomnia Cookies is dishing out freebies this week… but there’s a catch.
You have to be called one of two specific names to get one.
With the long bank holiday weekend upon us, those in-the-know will also have noticed that this Sunday isn’t just Easter Sunday, it also happens to be 4/20… and that means Insomnia Cookies is back with its ‘blazing’ £4.20 deal, giving you the chance to bag a box of four warm cookies while saving nearly £7 at the same time.
But even better still, if you happen to have either the first or middle name ‘Mary’ or ‘Jane’, then you can also get yourself a warm tasty cookie for free.
To mark both 4/20, and celebrate the launch of its newest strain of mouthwatering cookie, the Mary Jane, anyone called Mary or Jane can pop into either of Insomnia Cookies’ two Manchester city centre sites – Cross Street and University Green – show their valid ID with their name on, and walk alway with a cookie free of charge.
If you want to try the new Mary Jane cookie, then this limited-edition special is made up of a cookies n cream dough base, packed with rainbow sprinkles.
The freebie deal has been running all week, and you have up until 3am on Monday 21 April to take advantage of it.
Customers will be limited to one free cookie per day.
Insomnia Cookies is giving away free cookies to anyone with these two names / Credit: Insomnia Cookies UK
If you aren’t lucky enough to be called one of those two names though, then thankfully you can still make some great savings on a classic four-pack of cookies over the spring bank holiday weekend, and for every four-pack sold, £1 will be donated to Groundwork – a charity helping make Manchester greener for nature and for local people.
“We’re calling for Marys and Janes to join us to live the high life with free cookies all week,” commented Millie Ralston, Head of Marketing at Insomnia Cookies.
Daisy Jackson -
21st March 2024 
