10 amazing new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | November 2023
Greek street food, fancy new cocktail bars, and one of the city's most hotly-anticipated new restaurants are all coming in November. Oh, and the Christmas Markets...
It feels like we say this every month, but it genuinely feels like November might be our biggest month for new Manchester restaurants of the year so far.
There are some huge national names like Six By Nico and Gail’s Bakery opening brand new sites, some local favourites like Seven Brothers launching new ventures, and a couple of totally new brands joining the fray.
November will also see the launch of the beautiful Fenix restaurant and bar, one of the city’s most hotly-anticipated new openings.
There’ll be plenty of new bars opening alongside all those new restaurants in Manchester too, whether you’re into no-nonsense cocktail bars or proper beer taprooms.
Oh, did we mention that Christmas is officially back too?
From Salford to the city centre, we’ve picked out 10 of the best new openings to add to your list this month.
Six By Nico, John Dalton Street
Nico Simeone of Six By Nico, who will open a second Manchester restaurant in November.
Six By Nico, the restaurant that takes the usually eye-wateringly expensive tasting menu concept and slaps a low £39 price tag on it, is opening its second restaurant here in Manchester this month.
The tried-and-tested concept involved a six-course themed menu that changes every six weeks, with previous themes including chippy tea, childhood, and fairytales.
Speaking of the launch, Nico Simeone said: “Since launching in 2019, our Spring Gardens venue has gone from strength to strength, prompting demand for a second site in the heart of the city. The support we have had from the people of Manchester and further afield, as well as the team we have had there since day one, have all helped make a second-site possible.”
2 John Dalton Street, M3 2NW | Opens 30 November
Stray, Mackie Mayor
Stray, a new cocktail bar opening in Mackie Mayor this November. Credit: Supplied
Tucked on the corner of Eagle Street in the former Atkinsons Coffee site, in the sensational building that’s home to Mackie Mayor, is Stray, a brand new cocktail bar promising uncomplicated cocktails.
Their drinks menu’s signature section is titled ‘Led Astray’ and will combine seasonal flavours and some less commonly explored ingredients.
And they’re putting just as much effort into their low- and non-alcoholic cocktails too.
Eagle St, M4 5BU| Opening 3 November
Rola Wala, Deansgate
Rola Wala is opening on Deansgate in Manchester. Credit: SuppliedRola Wala is opening on Deansgate in Manchester. Credit: Supplied
Foot-long naan wraps, served until 3am. Shall I just leave it there?
Rola Wala is an Indian street food favourite that will soon be opening its first site here in Manchester.
On the menu you’ll see build-your-own naan rolls (Rola Wala literally translates to ‘man that rolls’ in Hindi), filled with authentically spiced Indian fillings, healthy and hearty lunches like naan tikka tacos and rice bowls, and curries.
The brand’s ‘buy-one-give-one’ incentive means that they donate one meal to a hungry child in the developing world for every naan roll sold – so far, that’s totally 850,000 meals delivered by Rola Wala.
To celebrate the opening, Rola Wala will be giving away more than 1,000 naan rolls on launch day – just head down from midday on 8 November to grab one.
75 Deansgate, M3 2BW | Opening 8 November
Gail’s, Knutsford
Gail’s in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupGail’s in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
The UK’s poshest bakery is continuing its formidable expansion across the north, opening a new site in Knutsford.
Famed for their homemade bread and sensational pastries (the crunch on their cinnamon bun is next-level), Gail’s is a London brand that’s taking the north west by storm.
They’re taking over the old HSBC bank in the centre of the market town.
19 Princess St, Knutsford WA16 6BZ| Opening 3 November
Bar Hutte, Kampus and Great Northern
Bar Hutte is returning to Manchester in November. Credit: Supplied
You know it’s Christmas when the little wooden huts start popping up around Manchester – and the ones at Bar Hutte are home to more festive spirit than anything you’ll find at the Manchester Christmas Markets.
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are coming back, bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks – with not one, but two locations in Manchester city centre.
While Bar Hütte at Great Northern Square is heading back to Deansgate, with 15 cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under a heated stretch tent and twinkling lights, Bar Hütte at Kampus will also see a new outdoor terrace, comprising of eight snug, wooden karaoke hüttes nestled beneath the trees, and an ‘Aprés Ski Bungalow’ serving as an indoor alpine bar.
Bar Hütte at Kampus also teamed up with its neighbours, Nell’s and Great North Pie Co, so that hungry foodies can order pizza and pies delivered straight to their hütte via a QR code system.
Kampus, Aytoun St, M1 3GL; and Great Northern, 235 Deansgate, M3 4EN| Opening 8 November
Fenix, Spinningfields
Fenix is one of the most exciting new restaurant and bar openings in Manchester this month
Bringing a taste of Mykonos to Manchester will be Fenix, a luxurious new Mediterranean restaurant from the team who founded Tattu.
Fenix will be serving high-end contemporary Greek-Mediterranean food in Spinningfields, in a truly beautiful restaurant space that includes carved stone walls, gold fauna hanging from the ceiling, and cutting-edge lighting design that will mimic the setting sun and moonlit nights in the Greek isles.
Expect everything from fresh pitta and hummus to spiced beef meatballs, grilled octopus with Aegean fava beans, shrimp ‘Saganaki’, and Wagyu beef dumplings.
And a spectacular charcoal-fired grill in the heart of the new restaurant will see fresh seafood and locally sourced meats flamed live in front of customers.
You can get 50% off its soft launch period and have exclusive access to bookings if you sign up to their newsletter.
The Goods Yard Building, M3 3BG | Opening late November
Prestwich’s food and drink scene just keeps thriving, with a brand new neighbourhood restaurant joining the high street this month.
After a wildly successful Crowdfunding campaign, which saw it selling rewards including food for life, The Pearl has pulled in acclaimed chef Iain Thomas to craft a menu of locally-sourced plates.
Prior to launching The Pearl, co-owner Sam launched the successful sandwich delivery service SanSan during the Covid lockdowns.
425 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, M25 1AF | Opening 4 November
11 Central, Salford
11 Central is set to open in Salford, from the teams behind Seven Brothers Brewery and the Sisters Distillery
The huge group of siblings behind two of Manchester’s best drinks brands are teaming up to open a new bar, with 11 Central set to launch in Salford very soon.
The bar will form part of the new Central Bay site at MediaCityUK and comes from the teams behind Seven Brothers Brewery and the Sisters Distillery.
11 Central will take its name from the fact that all 11 siblings are joining forces to create a new watering hole for Salford .
The bar will have a mix of food, drink, live music, bar games and waterside views across a 2000sq ft terrace.
Central Bay, Salford M50 3XW | Opening 17 November
Dear Sailor, Spinningfields
Tucked in just across the road from Sexy Fish is Dear Sailor, a new cocktail bar inspired by the underground jazz cafes that sprung up around Tokyo in the 1930s.
It’s taking over the old Wolf Italian site in the heart of Spinningfields and will promise plenty of cocktails, plenty of music, and plenty of classy vibes.
Details are pretty scarce at the minute but it’s pitching itself as ‘discreet fine partying and drinking’.
Spinningfields Square, M3 3AP | Opening late November
One of The Manc’s favourite lunches is, hands-down, a gyros – and now there’s a new kitchen dedicated to the Greek street food opening right around the corner from our office.
Soft, traditional flatbreads will be stuffed with spiced meats, pulled chicken, and fried halloumi, plus chips (because potatoes in bread is an elite food group).
It’s taking up the space left vacant by the old Venus flower shop on Oxford Road.
95 Oxford St, M1 6ET | Opening 13 November
Things to do and events in Manchester in November 2023
Duvel x Maray – Middle-Eastern favourite Maray is teaming up with Duvel for a one-off, five course menu, each dish paired with beer. Perfect. It’s happening on 15 and 16 November and costs £50 per person.
Wine to Water charity cocktails – One of Manchester’s most iconic speakeasies The Washhouse, along with new Kampus LGBTQ+ cocktail bar Red Light, will be offering a new range of charity cocktails this month in support of clean water charity Wine To Water. £1 from each purchase will be donated to the cause, with drinks available until mid-November.
Bundobust Pizza – Indian street food legends Bundobust are partnering with Slice Culture and Track Taproom for a one-night-only Indian-inspired pizza collab, with toppings including Biryani, korma, and saag paneer. It’s happening on Friday 3 November at Track’s taproom near Manchester Piccadilly.
Manchester Christmas Markets – Here they come again – the Manchester Christmas Markets will officially kick off on Friday 10 November, bringing festive cheer, loads of beer, and plenty of sausages to the city’s streets.
Bombay Curry Club – A new bottomless curry offering is heading to Freight Island, with Payal serving all-you-can-eat curries between 6pm and 9pm every Thursday, accompanied by live DJs. It all kicks off from 2 November.
Loaf’s birthday – Beloved Oxford Street cake shop Loaf is celebrating its birthday with 50% off from 12pm until 4pm on Saturday. Their full range will be half price for one day only.
Featured image: Fenix
Eats
Mélange by Red Hall is a jewel in the crown Bury’s burgeoning hospitality scene
Danny Jones
We recently had the pleasure of staying at the understated and most definitely underrated Red Hall Hotel over in Bury, and got to try their stunning new Mélange restaurant while we were at it.
Now, we say underrated not because it hasn’t received glowing reviews in the past; the AA-star hotel has enjoyed plenty of plaudits over the years and currently averages 4.5/5 from over 900 reviews.
However, what we will say is that the food now being served from this quaint little outpost located in the tiny hamlet of Walmersley, just on the border of Ramsbottom (regularly voted one of the best places to live in the UK), is well worth more than the hotel’s three-star rating on it’s own.
Not only did we have the pleasure of staying in this charming little village getaway, but we were treated to a whopping 11 courses, followed by a morning meal, for a truly wonderful bed and breakfast vibe with all the added luxury of a Kayak Awards and 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice-winning destination.
The Mélange restaurant at Red Hall HotelSuch a striking room when you first walk in.Credit: The Manc Group
The first thing that struck us about the local favourite venue is that, despite being located beside Manchester Road, once you’re inside, it’s a quiet, tranquil and calming little escape from what is already a nice out-of-the-way escape from the bustle of the city and even Bury town centre.
Even if not, how inviting the actual Mélange restaurant itself is definitely will; the golden sign glistening from the soft white dangling bulbs immediately catches your eye, and then you walk in to see the big conservatory and almost orangery-esque windows, with sloped ceilings and lots of light.
You get just as warm a welcome from the staff as well, which is a feeling maintained throughout your entire dining experience, as they really do communicate that sense of comfort whilst “drawing from mamma’s childhood memories and unforgettable holidays” through the food.
Speaking of which…
Mélange – which quite literally translates to ‘a mixture’, often even hinting at things that don’t usually fit together – promises a fusion of British and Mediterranean cuisine, and delivers both familiar flavours but with plenty of contemporary punch and visual appeal.
We may have begun our meal with something as simple but satisfying as a mini round loaf of bread freshly baked in a cast iron pot with some acidic, tapenade-esque chutney, along with a couple of very refreshing and lemon-forward spritzes, but it didn’t take long before we dove headlong into indulgence.
See, the trouble was the mezze: we wanted to try a little bit of something from each section of the menu, but we couldn’t help but be drawn in by starting with three selections from what was advertised as ‘small plates, big flavours’.
In actuality, what happened was a board featuring our trio of choice appeared, and the bowls that sat upon it were pretty filling on their own. It’s a good job we didn’t spring for the eye-catching charcuterie board as well, otherwise we really would have struggled to finish this feast.
We went for these naughty ‘nduja arancini, some ever-so-smoky chicken wings in a slightly spiced aioli, and quite literally the best halloumi fries you’ll ever try; we don’t know if it was the light fried batter, the perfectly tearable texture of the cheese, or the subtle hot honey dip, but they were incredible.
We also opted to try two more delicate, lighter bites to somewhat cleanse the palate – the corn and duck salad, both of which were fantastically balanced and still not skimpy on the portions either.
The point being is that, at this stage, we started to worry this, plus our main courses of maple-baked salmon (paired with the most impressively smooth and sweet potato purée imaginable), gambas al ajillo (giant black tiger prawns in garlic) and a stuffed, herbaceaous, rolled pork number might be overkill…
Perfectly soft, gooey arancini with a slight heat to them.You could see the quality of the prawns before tasting it.That tweal on top alone was packed with flavour.Light, seasonal and yet more than a few mouthfuls.
Having said that, we still found time/room for another round of cocktails – again, sticking with the spritz theme (’tis the season, after all) – and just about managed to squeeze in two desserts.
The lemon posset was just tangy enough without being too tart and was devoured within seconds, while the cheesecake with an extra dusting of pistachio on top was superb. Topping each with a thin, honeycomb-design biscuit felt like a nice little Manc finishing touch as well.
We’ll confess, a fair few belt notches were loosened throughout the duration of this meal, but we kept persevering for a number of reasons: we wanted to get a comprehensive sweep of what’s on offer, we didn’t want to waste a morsel of food if possible, and most importantly, it was stunning.
Honestly, there wasn’t so much as an average mouthful of food all night. We can’t believe it’s taken us this long to try what’s being served out of the Mélange kitchen; pair that with a brilliant breakfast and relaxing stay at Red Hall itself, and it’s up there with one of the best hotel packages in the area.
Plenty of food and drink spots help, but the great in Greater Manchester, and we can’t say where exactly we’d rank this amongst all 10 boroughs, but we firmly believe you won’t find many better all-round hospitality offerings in Bury – if, indeed, at all.
There are plenty of lovely day and evening walks nearby.Or you can just curl up content on the sun-soaked terrace.
A total of 20 Greater Manchester pubs have been named among the best in the UK
Danny Jones
A new round-up of the so-called ‘best pubs in the country’ has been published online, and you’ll be glad to hear that 20 different pubs from the Greater Manchester area have made it onto the list.
We’d argue a bunch more should have made it on there, personally, but we’ll take it.
Shared by The Telegraph this week, the list doesn’t include Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, but nevertheless, it does go on to name a whopping 500 UK pubs, of which 20 of those are here in our particular part of the world. Proud.
So, breaking the collection up into areas ordered alphabetically, here are what the outlet considers some of the best pubs in the nation.
The Great-er Manchester boozers that made it into ‘The 500 Best Pubs in England’
1. Fletcher Moss – Didsbury
Up first on our list is a south Manchester favourite: Fletcher Moss pub down in Didsbury Village, which may just have one of the best gardens in all the boroughs. Noting the refurb that’s taken it from another traditional pub to a local classic, they’re not wrong.
You have to head up to the reaches of Rochdale to find this testament to old Lancashire tucked away in the rolling hills – a proper old school, country-style pub.
“This brick-built former coaching inn has a predictably sublime view, and attracts diners by the dozen as a result, but the beer is pretty reliable too”, according to the outlet.
Once a forgotten pub on a quiet corner sat frustratingly close to an otherwise busy part of town, The Angel Pub reopened back in 2019 after nearly seven whole decades away from the Manc boozing scene.
As per the paper: “In a city that rarely forgets to tell you how it does things differently, The Angel charts its own course.”
4. The Britons Protection – Manchester city centre
Moving into the city centre now, and we have the legendary Britons Protection, which is also one of the oldest and most iconic pubs we have to our name.
The Telegraph said, simply: “Come for the tiled corridor, with its vivid images of the Peterloo Massacre, stay for the atmosphere.” We’d also wager it happens to be one of the best cosy pubs in all of Manchester city centre. We can’t afford to lose it.
People are rallying behind them, but they’re not out of the woods yet.
5. The Castle Hotel – Manchester
Now just down the road to NQ and to a place known for great Guinness, live music in an intimate setting, a joyous jukebox selection and a close-packed but pretty interior. They said that “Northern Quarter is not short of places for a drink, but few are as effortlessly comfortable as the Castle Hotel.”
We couldn’t agree more, and as a bonus, it’s also a place where things like this happen:
Famed as the smallest bar in Europe (by which we mean the actual bar, not the size of the pub itself, which is a common misconception), The Circus Tavern on Portland Street is a little gem in every sense.
You can find out more about the cool history behind it down below:
7. The City Arms – Manchester
Not too far away from there in the city centre, you’ll find the stunning City Arms, which – alongside its next-door neighbour, The Vine Inn – has one of the best ‘punters spilling out onto the street after work’ communities you’ll find in Manchester.
The Tele writes: “The City Arms sits in the middle of a Mancunian pub one-two-three on Kennedy Street, sandwiched between The Vine and The Waterhouse. It’s the best of the three, in my opinion, largely because the beer is so good.”
A great little lineup. (Credit: The Manc Group)
8. The Marble Arch – Manchester
Ok, up next is ‘r Daisy’s favourite pub in central Manchester and maybe of all time: the marvellous Marble Arch, which is a gorgeous Grade II-listed building over on Rochdale Road.
They described it as having played arguably “a bigger role in Manchester’s brewing renaissance over the past thirty years” than perhaps any other boozer.
Literally spitting distance from the aforementioned Circus Tavern, The Grey Horse Inn has a lot of similar charm, as well as plenty of Manc, and more specifically, Manchester United memorabilia plastered all over the gaff.
“The Grey Horse is run by Hyde’s, one of Manchester’s four traditional family breweries. It might be the best place in the city centre to try their beers; it’s certainly one of the cosiest, with a wood-panelled bar and plenty of comfortable seating.”
In at number nine is what they sell as a “city-centre classic that hums with Mancunian warmth”, and while it may be one of what feels like countless Hare and Hounds up and down the UK, this one can be over on Shudehill.
Situated right near The Lower Turks Head – another boozer we believe should have been on this list – it may not be the biggest, most different or most eye-catching from the outside, but inside is a proper pub.
“It fulfils all the pub cliches: warm welcome, good beer, cosy atmosphere. The tiled exterior is a delight, too.” To be honest, this doesn’t nearly do it justice. That glistening green institution not only boasts the longest-serving landlord in the city but also some of the best Guinness in Manchester.
There’s something special about joining the crowd leaning against its walls or sitting on the benches in the shade of its solitary tree. We can’t quite explain it, but it’s always been loved and always will be. It has a cool history behind it, too.
Now this one gets a hard agree from us. The Salisbury over on ‘Little Ireland’ is a truly brilliant boozer, and the steps leading down to it are possibly some of the most photographed in the entire city.
With a legendary albeit very loud playlist, it’s a regular haunt for both before and after gigs, even serving up pizza from their in-house brand ‘Dough161’ (very good), which is best enjoyed out back in their little back-alley beer garden.
Back to Northern Quarter now and just on the edge of Ancoats, where you’ll find Smithfield Market Tavern. We firmly believe the neighbouring Rose and Monkey rivals it too, but we can certainly see why it made it onto The Telegraph‘s list.
As they put it: “The pub itself is modern but not jarringly so, with sofas, low tables and pub games, plus plenty of excellent beer, much of it produced at Blackjack’s brewery less than half a mile away.”
Ok, that’s us done with the city centre; we’re heading out back Rochdale way now to what has been described as a ‘hidden gem’ here in Greater Manchester, even if that term is being thrown around at will these days. Here’s what The Telegraph had to say:
“This place is as pubby as it gets, all dark wood, hand pumps and Victorian beer vessels above the bar (although there is a brighter, conservatory area at the back). Food is a big part of the Baum’s business: when I visited recently, I had rag pudding, a tasty Lancashire dish not unlike steak pudding.”
Onto Salford now, and a cult favourite watering hole that also happens to serve as a rich hub for the independent music and arts scene. It may be surrounded by ever-more cranes and skyscrapers, but that pretty little piano and backroom are still perfect.
The Tele says, “It’s a little tucked away, certainly, but for good beer and interesting music, you’d have to go a long way to beat it.” Pretty much nail on the head, to be fair.
Quite possibly one of the prettiest refurbishments that’s taken place in Greater Manchester in recent times, and most certainly one of the best pubs in Salford full stop, backed by an Irishman who knows his stuff and has even had fixtures from the ‘Emerald Isle’ shipped over to make a statement.
The brilliant little boozer on Bexley Square has a fantastic range of beer, ales, whiskey and more from all over, and when the sun’s got his hat on, you won’t find many better places to sit and soak it up.
17. Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar – Stalybridge
It can seem odd sometimes to see odd to see broadsheet covering quiet corners like this one in Tameside, but anyone who really knows there’s stuff is confident that Stalybridge has an up-and-coming scene all of its own – which is why this is seen as one of the best pubs in Greater Manchester.
“High-class station pubs are relatively common across the North and Midlands now, most of them based in revitalised and repurposed station buildings. None of the others, though, is quite like the Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar, which is both authentically Victorian and has a genuine pub flavour.”
As we approach the end, we arrive in familiar territory, as it isn’t the first time we’ve written about the underrated and what was an unsung public house, but has steadily become a name that’s used to getting accolades from various directions.
Here’s what they say about it: “This sturdy whitewashed pub located by the clattering, humming Wellington Road is one of the best places to drink beer in England.”
Nearly done, just two more and the penultimate pick by the paper is the final one in SK: The Northumberland Arms up in Marple Bridge, a community-owned treehouse which is, indeed, nothing short of a belter.
The Telegraph said the following: “‘The Thumb’, as locals know it, is a freehouse with a traditional feel, offering pop-up food options, social clubs – from darts to running – and, of course, high-class beer.” The clue’s in what natives consider its full name: community pub.
20. The Swan & Railway Hotel – Wigan
Last but not least, we pop over to another old bastion where Lancashire meets Greater Manchester and what The Telegraph believes is one of the best in Wigan and in England altogether, adding: “There are so many marvellous details inside the Swan and Railway that it is hard to pick just a few.”
It’s fitting that we end on one that we haven’t yet had the pleasure of trying because we promise that, just like you should, we’re going to make it our mission to try it for ourselves.
Daisy Jackson -
1st November 2023 
