Another raft of local restaurant operators are moving into the new Stanley Square development in Sale.
The Trafford town is being reborn as a foodie hotspot, attracting some of the biggest independent names from across Greater Manchester.
Already in situ at Stanley Square and the surrounding area is another site for Rudy’s with their Neapolitan pizzas, Sale Foodhall (from the minds behind Ancoats General Store and Stretford Foodhall), and Sugo Pasta Kitchen.
It’s not just pre-established names moving in either, with one of the region’s most exciting new restaurants, Petisco, choosing the area for its first site.
Petisco restaurant in Sale. Credit: The Manc Group
The Portuguese-inspired restaurant has been launched by four childhood friends and serves an exciting menu of small plates, like shell-on green peri-peri prawns and saffron-poached octopus salad.
And the explosion of new restaurants is only just getting started.
Chorlton’s renowned seafood restaurant The Oystercatcher has announced that it will open its second restaurant in Sale.
The neighbourhood hotspot has a big focus on oysters (as the name suggests) but generally, if it’s in the sea, it’s on the menu.
The new-look Stanley Square in Sale is attracting plenty of new restaurants.
They champion fresh, seasonal seafood, with an every-changing menu that’s earned it a solid reputation as one of Greater Manchester’s best restaurants.
It’s been a long time coming for Rimmer and co-owner Simon Connolly, who said on announcing the news: “31 years since we opened site 1….site 3 coming 2053!”
The new Green’s is taking shape at Stanley Square and is already taking bookings, with its opening pencilled in for early July.
Zumuku Sushi, which already has sites in Manchester, Bolton, Ramsbottom, Cheadle and Worsley (to name a few) has snapped up one of the remaining empty units in the redeveloped square.
It will soon be bringing its authentic Japanese cooking to the area and rubbing shoulders with its next door neighbours at Sugo.
It shouldn’t be long before Blanchflower – a popular neighbourhood restaurant and cafe with its own bakery on site – branches over with a second site from its home in Altrincham too.
All eyes are firmly on Sale to see who else decides to move in.
Hotel Chocolat to open viral chocolate Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Hotel Chocolat is set to open a Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester city centre, and it’ll be absolute paradise for chocolate lovers.
The popular chocolate shop, which has stores across the UK selling delicious chocolate bars, boxes and more, is now preparing to branch out in town.
Hotel Chocolat then hit a new level of fame with its Velvetiser, an invention that creates velvety smooth hot drinks at the touch of a button.
They’ve been so popular, Hotel Chocolat is now opening Velvetiser Cafes across the UK – and Manchester is up next.
If it follows in the footsteps of the Meadowhall cafe in Sheffield, visitors will be able to customise their perfect hot chocolate from thousands of combinations.
There are 18 flavours, different milks, and a whole variety of toppings available.
Then you drink can be served hot, over ice, or as a choc shake.
Colourful hoardings for the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe have now appeared on Cross Street, just next door to the new Joe & The Juice.
A planning application has also been lodged with Manchester City Council.
Drake-backed fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
The huge LA-based fried chicken brand backed by Drake is heading to Manchester for the very first time this summer.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to open in the Printworks this August – the first UK branch outside of London and Birmingham.
The cult chicken brand has said that its new venue will feature an ‘industrial design inspired by Manchester’s rave scene’ (if we had a pound every time a new venue used that design style, we’d be as rich as Drake…).
Dave’s Hot Chicken is famed for its signature Nashville-style hot chicken, which is served in seven different spice levels from No Spice to Reaper.
Expect sliders, tenders, ‘next-level’ top-loaded shakes and slushes.
It’s grown so quickly that in 2021, it caught the eye of none other than rapper Drake, who is a ‘significant investor’ in the brand.
The fried chicken spot will be moving into the large corner unit at Printworks, which has previously been Busaba Thai, and Floripa, with 139 covers.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming to Manchester
Inside, it will feature towering ceilings, exposed steelwork, and laser lights, claiming to be a ‘full-on sensory trip, where music, light and fried chicken will come together to create a high-voltage experience’.
There will also be custom graffiti inspired by L.A.-based street artists Splatterhaus and Dehm.
Dave’s Hot Chicken still has hour-long queues down in London, several months after opening on Shaftesbury Avenue – next up will be a Birmingham branch in July before Manchester opens later this summer.
And this is just the start of a nationwide expansion.
Jim Attwood, Managing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK, said: “Printworks Manchester is the ideal setting for our next UK site – right at the heart of one of the country’s most exciting cities.
“The new restaurant pays homage to Manchester’s legendary warehouse rave scene, with an industrial-inspired design and bold, high-energy atmosphere to match our signature flavours.
“We can’t wait to bring something fresh to this iconic venue and its vibrant mix of entertainment, food and culture.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken will open at Printworks Manchester on 8 August.
Daisy Jackson -
8th June 2022 
