Manchester’s Northern Thai BBQ-inspired restaurant Neon Tiger is closing its doors after less than a year in the city, owners revealed last night.
Sharing the news in a heartfelt statement on social media, the team wrote: “We’re sad to announce that Neon Tiger will be closing our doors for the final time on Sunday April 30th.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has come to see us, raised a glass with us and made this place so special to us.
“We’d like to thank all of the staff for being so wonderful and for all their hard work. We’ll see you for a send-off drink or two this week…. remember when it’s gone, it’s GONE!
“Then, we might just see you again, only in a different form. Keep your eyes peeled, but for now, thank you again. x”
ADVERTISEMENT
First opened by brothers Ben and Dan Morris on Bridge Street last summer, the short-lived venture briefly wowed diners with an adventurous New York-meets-Northern Thai menu focused on strong cocktails and chargrilled ‘baan yang’ sharing dishes.
Roughly translated to ‘grill house’ in Thai, these rural-style grill dishes saw Neon Tiger pay homage to traditional charcoal cooking methods with a host of grilled skewer dishes and a hero dish of coconut chicken curry noodle bowl – made using hand-pulled noodles created by the Manchester-based Komuji team.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Drinks, meanwhile, reflected the brother’s desire to bring a Dead Rabbit-style neighbourhood bar to the city centre and included a cracking negroni, alongside other strong cocktails, mocktails and a seasonally-changing wine list.
Inspired by the sort of cool New York neighbourhood joints where you can just pop in and enjoy quality plates with good wine and cocktails, Neon Tiger got off to a slow start when it opened on Bridge Street at the start of the summer – then wowed with the introduction of a new Northern Thai-inspired breakfast and brunch menu later in the year.
Now, it seems it has reached the end of the road less than a year after opening its doors in Manchester – and by the comments flooding in on the announcement, it will be very missed.
Featured image – The Manc Eats
Eats
Glitzy Spinningfields bar famed for its bottomless deals shuts down
Daisy Jackson
Popular cocktail bar group Banyan has suddenly closed its glitzy bar in the heart of Spinningfields.
The restaurant and bar, which is part of the Arc Inspirations group that also operates Manahatta and Box, has shut down with immediate effect.
A sign has been posted in the window of the Spinningfields site of Banyan confirming its closure.
Banyan opened in 2018 and was the second site for the brand, which has been operating out of the Corn Exchange since 2015.
Inside, the huge 7,000sq ft space was split into spaces for drinking, dining and dancing, including a large mezzanine and a huge white marble bar.
Banyan is famed for its bottomless deals, whether that’s a classic bottomless brunch or their bottomless Sunday roast (endless Yorkshire puddings, gravy, wine, and roast potatoes).
It also offered two-for-one cocktails, all day every day.
The bar stands on the side of Spinningfields, directly opposite The Ivy and alongside The Alchemist.
Banyan in Spinningfields has shut downThe note in the window of Banyan
But now it has permanently closed its doors, thanking people for their custom over its almost-decade in Manchester.
The sign on the door says: “Banyan Spinningfields is now permanently closed.
“Thank you so much for your custom over the years, we’ve loved being part of this wonderful city and have made so many friends.
“Don’t be a stranger, we’d love to continue to welcome you to our Banyan bar in the Corn Exchange. Team Banyan.”
Bangkok Diners Club moves out of Ancoats just months after Michelin Guide win
Daisy Jackson
Bangkok Diners Club, the critically-acclaimed restaurant above the Edinburgh Castle pub, has closed its restaurant space.
The Thai restaurant was added to the Michelin Guide last October, not long after taking over the upstairs of the popular pub.
It also received a rave review in The Guardian from restaurant critic Grace Dent, who said it would be ‘one of Manchester’s hottest dining tickets’.
But now Bangkok Diners Club has decided its time in Ancoats is up, and has closed its beautiful restaurant space with immediate effect.
In an email sent to customers with reservations, they wrote that Bangkok Diners Club ‘sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle’.
Owners and husband-and-wife team Ben and Bo Humpheys aren’t leaving things there though, announcing plans to move into the Exhibition food hall on Peter Street.
Co-owner Ben Humphreys outside Bangkok Diners Club. Credit: The Manc GroupThe food earned them a place in the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
They’ll be joining MoreJoy and pasta concept Anatra in the space, but bidding farewell to their own dedicated restaurant for now.
The email sent to customers reads: “We have just noticed that the system has allowed you to make a reservation during a time that we are closed. We apologise that this has happened.
“Ben and Bo are cooking at Exhibition during 2026 and Bangkok Diners Club sadly won’t be returning to Edinburgh Castle.
“Sincerest apologies for all the inconvenience caused.”
Georgina Pellant -
27th April 2023 
