Ducie Street Warehouse could be transformed into a massive food hall, with new plans lodged.
The historic warehouse building near Manchester Piccadilly has worn a few hats over the years.
When it first opened, it was a home to Bistrotheque, a London export that bowed out from the beautiful Grade II-listed building after just six months.
Since then, it’s become a bustling all-day space where you can sit with a laptop for hours (and many do), snacking on a simple menu of flatbreads and salads as well as great cocktails.
But now it looks like Ducie Street Warehouse is in store for a major shake-up again, with plans now lodged to transform the space into huge food hall with more than 500 covers.
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The planning application comes from the same team behind Edinburgh Street Food up in Scotland, which is packed with street food traders serving a range of cuisines.
If the plans for Manchester Street Food go ahead, the warehouse on Ducie Street will become the home of a 10-kitchen food hall.
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It would flip most of the ground floor, including the terrace, while the upstairs continues operating as a hotel.
The plans also show that the existing private dining area will be turned into a casual games room, with the addition of pool tables, arcade machines and foosball tables.
Ducie Street Warehouse could be turned into a food hall. Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester Street Food will join a flurry of food halls across the city, with Mackie Mayor just a short walk away, along with the waterside venue Society, and the newly-opened House of Social.
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The plans also mention minor changes to the exterior of the building, illuminating an external lift shaft in a rainbow hue.
Their application states: “The ‘Street Food’ brand works with a range of vibrant and independent street food vendors to provide varied yet complementary choices, whilst showcasing local breweries and distilleries.
“Their operations focus on supporting local businesses and to diverse the food and beverage offer to create a welcoming and accessible food experiences.
“The ’Street Food’ brand was first established in the form of Edinburgh Street Food which opened in 2023, and which welcomes a broad demographic. It is recognised as a cultural and culinary hub whilst contributing positively to the local economy.
“Building on the success of Edinburgh Street Food, the Applicant is keen to expand further and enhance Manchester’s hospitality, gastronomy and evening economy.
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“As such, this full planning application has been prepared to enable the operation of Manchester Street Food from a prime city centre location at Ducie Street Warehouse.”
Do you think Manchester has the appetite for yet another street food hall?
If there is one thing us Brits have got down to a tee, it is how to spend a Sunday properly.
Go on, try and name a better way to spend the end of your weekend than heading out for some seriously hearty food and a pint with loved ones – I’ll wait.
There truly is nothing more comforting than a proper roast, especially as we head into the depths of winter and one thing is for certain – the UK is absolutely spoilt for choice on where to get a fix of this absolutely timeless meal. The question is where is serving the best?
While everyone argues over whose local is better, global travel site Big 7 Travel, decided to put it to the test.
Every year, they thoroughly investigate this pressing issue for us and release their list of The 25 Best Sunday Roasts in the UK, judging everything from quaint countryside pubs to inventive city-centre restaurants.
Their strict marking criteria covers everything from how the meat and trimmings are cooked, to how much care goes into sourcing ingredients.
They’ll also take into account what other diners say about the Sunday lunch, the atmosphere, and value for money.
This year our beloved Elnecot, nestled in the heart of Ancoats, did us proud being named the sixth best Sunday roast in the UK.
Elnecot in Ancoats is a neighbourhood favouriteThe Sunday roast at Elnecot has been named one of the best in the UK
It is clear to see why – with their killer Sunday roast serving a delicious selection of starters, followed by a choice of dry aged native topside; slow-roasted shoulder of Yorkshire lamb; lemon, thyme and butter roasted confit chicken leg; crispy, slow-roasted Yorkshire pork belly; or a nut and squash roast.
All accompanied by the crispiest roast potatoes, giant Yorkshire puddings, pork/vegan stuffing, roasted carrots, parsnips, sautéed greens, broccoli cheese and gravy.
Not to mention their mouth-watering extras such as truffle broccoli cheese, buttered greens in confit garlic or a beef shin stuffed Yorkshire pudding.
Oh – and only the best desserts selection you can imagine to follow, consisting of a burnt Basque cheesecake with mixed berries, sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, butterscotch tiramisu, an affogato or even an ice cream sundae – by this point we we’re drooling too don’t worry.
This year, the top 10 included some pretty big names making this even more of an achievement for Elnecot:
The Hawthorn – Haworth
Kyloe – Edinburgh
The Camberwell Arms – Southwark, London
Coorie Inn – Crieff
Impossible Restaurant & Wonderbar – York
Elnecot – Manchester
The Horse & Groom – Bourton-on-the-Hill
Blacklock – Soho, London
The Abbey Inn – Byland
Skein – Nottingham
Now all that’s left to do is go and try them all out for ourselves – what a shame.
The best food and drink to enjoy at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2026
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Christmas Markets has developed a more diverse food and drink offering every single year since its inception.
Long gone are the days where all there was to eat was a bratwurst served off a swing grill, or a mound of garlic potatoes (though those do still exist, and still serve their purpose).
Now, the Manchester Christmas Markets are packed to the rafters with local traders and brilliant independent businesses serving food from all the way across the globe.
This year, there are more than 200 stalls spread across 10 locations, so we’ve whizzed round them all to find where the very best food and drink traders are lurking.
From viral hits like fried chicken waffle sandwiches and croissant pots, to new taste sensations like a cheese fondue served in an edible bowl, there’s plenty to fill you up.
Pie and mash from Great North Pie Co – King Street
The 14 hour braised beef and ale pieA Lancashire cheese and onion pie, with extra gravy
Back for a second go at the Manchester Christmas Markets is Great North Pie Co., serving the absolute perfect winter warmer food on King Street.
You’ve often be able to pick up their award-winning pies here, but usually to take home and heat up yourself.
Now, they’re available piping hot, on a bed of mash with lashings of gravy. The Lancashire cheese and onion is world-class, and if you ask nicely they might have a suet pudding for you too.
Prices – £9 for pie, £4 for mash, £2 for gravy
Fondue in a bread bowl – Cathedral Gardens
Fondue at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
What could be better than a bowl of melted cheese? A bowl of melted cheese where the bowl is made of sourdough bread, obviously…
Fondue is a newcomer to the Manchester Christmas Markets, serving up the Alpine food classic with a festive twist.
Your cheese fondue is served with dipping croutons and pickles, then topped with things like hot honey chicken, or pulled duck and cranberry sauce.
Prices – between £12.50 and £14.50 for a fondue bowl; £4.50 for a side of potatoes
Crème brûlée French toast from HK Toast – King Street
We love a Christmas Markets snack with a side of fire, and HK Toast is back doing exactly that.
They’re taking classic deep-fried Hong Kong-style French toast, then topping it with a load of different flavours like Cantonese egg tart, crunchy pistachio, and peaches and cream – plus their new theatrical torched crème brûlée offering.
These guys were one of our favourite traders from last year and things are only getting hotter.
Prices – £9.50
Yorkshire pudding wraps from Porky Pig – Exchange Square
Yorkshire pudding wrap and a loaded bowl from Porky PigDeep fried pigs in blankets with melted camembert
These guys have been part of the Manchester Christmas Markets for donkeys years now, and are still always going to pull in a queue.
Porky Pig serve up all your classic roast dinner bits – carvery meat, veggies, stuffing and gravy – inside a gigantic Yorkshire pudding wrap.
But they don’t stop there – you’ll also find carvery boxes, battered pigs in blankets, meat barms, and all sorts of other bits.
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Prices – from £10.50 for a Yorkshire pudding wrap
Cheese skirt dumplings from Hot Dumplings – St Ann’s Square
Hot Dumplings at the Manchester Christmas Markets
The latest concept from our favourites at Oi Dumplings is Hot Dumplings, where you can get piping hot trays of gyoza and dumplings to go.
A real highlight is the chilli cheese skirt chicken gyoza, which are all stuck together with a crispy, cheesy bottom, and the warming chicken soup dumplings.
Don’t forget to add lashings of crispy chilli oil and dumpling vinegar for one of the best bites of food at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Prices – £9, including three sauces and toppings
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Deep fried mince pies from Yard & Coop – St Ann’s Square
Deep-fried mince pies from Yard & Coop. Credit: The Manc Group
Yard & Coop just love a deep-fried bit of nonsense, and this year, that’s a deep-fried mince pie.
Alongside their usual chicken and fries trays, the Northern Quarter fried chicken icons are now serving up a battered festive dessert, too.
Warning – the inside will be hotter than the surface of the sun, which is actually just what you want after freezing your butt off at the Christmas Markets.
Prices – £4
Tiramisu from Misu – Market Street
Misu Tiramisu at the Manchester Christmas Markets
These were one of the really big food hitters from the Manchester Christmas Markets last year, so you’ll be pleased to see Misu have made a return.
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This time, they’ll be selling their tiny tiramisu drawers from Market Street, with loads of different flavours to choose from.
Whether you’re a classic coffee gal or are fancying a seasonal special like gingerbread, salted caramel pretzel, or orange chocolate, there’ll be something to tickle your fancy here.
Prices – between £8 and £9
Croissants from Flat Baker – Albert Square
Flat Baker’s new Albert Square bakery stall. Credit: The Manc Group
Flat Baker opens at the Manchester Christmas Markets and the people flock to it like a moth to a flame – and this year looks set to be no different.
Debs and the team have got a prime spot on Albert Square, and for the first time in history, they’ve built a mini bakery inside their market stall.
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That means you can watch them rolling and folding their phenomenal festive treats, from their viral croissant pots to bakes like a gingerbread cinnamon roll, pecan danish, a smores croissant pudding slice, a chocolate orange Danish, and loads more.
Prices – Between £3 and £6.95
Fried chicken waffles from Waffle Kart – King Street
Waffle Kart are back at the Manchester Christmas Markets 2026. Credit: The Manc Group
These guys surely need no introduction – Waffle Kart is one of those stalls that will send a queue halfway down King Street every single year.
Look out for the screaming rubber chicken stuck to the outside of their wooden shed, and you’ll find their incredible pickle-brined fried chicken dishes.
Expect chilli crisp sandwiches with waffles for bread, Szechaun chicken, and loaded waffles too.
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Prices – between £11.95 and £14.95 for mains
Birria tacos from Fuego – Lincoln Square and Exchange Square
Fuego at the Manchester Christmas Markets. Credit: The Manc Group
A favourite at the now-lost Piccadilly Street Food Market, Fuego are here for the coming weeks with two locations at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Expect phenomenal birria tacos stuffed with slow-cooked meat, as well as their ultimate winter warmer, a pot of birria ramen.
They’re part of the new food-focused area on Lincoln Square as well as sandwiched in right next to the ever-busy Porky Pig.
Daisy Jackson -
16th September 2025 
