Eats

Inside MAYA, Manchester’s stunning new three-storey canalside restaurant

Stunning.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 7th March 2024

A luxury three-storey restaurant is set to open in a former warehouse building, right in the heart of Manchester.

MAYA has confirmed it will open this month in the beautiful building that’s also home to the LEVEN lifestyle hotel, on the corner of Canal Street and Chorlton Street.

Diners inside the 20th-century warehouse building will have views down the iconic cobbled street from the ground-floor brasserie, while the main dining room is tucked away below ground level.

The new opening, which was first announced back in 2022, comes from the same team behind Isabel Mayfair.

They want MAYA to provide a new all-day dining experience in Manchester, all the way through to the early hours.

The brasserie will be serving a modern-European menu of classics, in a bright and open space.

Maya is a new restaurant and bar on Canal Street in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Maya is a new restaurant and bar on Canal Street in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Stunning.
Maya is a new restaurant and bar on Canal Street in Manchester. (Credit: The Manc Group)

But downstairs it’s much more moody, with a menu that changes regularly to show off the best of each season.

There’ll be a secluded and hidden lounge bar below the main dining room too.

The final touches to the site are now taking place ready for its long-awaited opening later this month.

Guests can expect a contract of styles, from bespoke handcrafted furniture from Portugal to disco-inspired neon installations.

Even more stunning food.

MAYA wants to approach its opening with a ‘dinner plus’ concept, where your dining experience evolves into last-night entertainment, with a roster of DJs all week.

The food side of things is all headed up by Mancunian chef Gabe Lea, whose CV includes Michelin-starred Le Manoir and The French at the Midland Hotel.

The brand itself is the creation of Scottie Bhattarai who, alongside MAYA, is the CEO of Isabel Mayfair and its sister brands. Bhattarai has previously led restaurant brands in the Soho House stable, as well as taking Petersham Nurseries to Michelin-starred recognition.

Scottie said: “The term ‘iconic’ is often overused, but the location of Maya can truly claim the label. As we eagerly anticipate its spring opening, we aim to write a fresh new chapter for the city’s vibrant and wonderful hospitality scene.

“The team’s ongoing work over the past 18 months is to be applauded; the care and craft that has gone into ensuring every part of what will make MAYA unique is something that I am incredibly proud of.”

Joshua Senior, CEO & Co-Founder, LEVEN added: ”Myself and the LEVEN team are delighted to be joined by Maya in our iconic, heritage building here in Manchester’s Village neighbourhood.

“The opening will offer our guests and locals alike a brand new dining experience – whether that be a canal-side lunch for two, or an all-night-long celebration with friends – Maya’s unique spaces will mean guests can enjoy things on their terms, a perfect fit with our ethos here at LEVEN.”

Bookings for MAYA in Manchester are now open ahead of its official launch on 30 March.

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Featured Images – Supplied/The Manc Group

Eats

Hotel Chocolat to open viral chocolate Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Hotel Chocolat to open viral chocolate Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester

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.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

Drake-backed fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Dave's Hot Chicken is coming to Manchester

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
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.

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Featured image: Supplied

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