Restaurant critic Jay Rayner has paid a visit to the Stockport Pyramid, now transformed into the Royal Nawaab Indian restaurant – and he LOVED it.
The acclaimed writer dined at the huge new opening for his weekly column in the Financial Times, deeming it ‘a little overwhelming’ but a ‘classy rebuttal’ of the much-maligned buffet.
The transformation of the landmark Stockport Pyramid into a multi-million-pound, multi-storey restaurant has been one of the most talked-about openings in Greater Manchester history.
Inside now, this bizarre spectacle is home to an all-you-can-eat, 400-capacity Indian buffet as well as several lavish banquet halls.
And despite being so vast, and having such a wide array of curries and grills to choose from, Royal Nawaab has been fully booked for weeks in advance.
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The city has, quite possibly, never seen anything like it.
So it was only a matter of time before it caught the attention of the national press, starting with Jay Rayner, who featured Royal Nawaab in his most recent restaurant review.
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Of the Stockport Pyramid itself, he said: “The Stockport Pyramid is another former temple to mammon, with its own restaurant-friendly grandeur.
The transformed interior of the Stockport PyramidRows of curries at Royal Nawaab’s all-you-can-eat buffet
“If you live in Greater Manchester or have ever joined the M60 at Junction 1, you will know it: a steel-blue glass cathedral, which squats in the light industrial landscape like some cartoon version of an alien spaceship.”
Rayner added that he was ‘fully clocked’ by the manager inside, so it wasn’t exactly a completely anonymous or authentic review experience – but even so, he was impressed by the £29.99 per person offering inside, which gets you access to more than 100 dishes and a ‘startling array’ of curries.
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Jay Rayner raved particularly about the panipuri (‘a perfect, bursting mouthful’), the deep-fried masala fish (‘especially good’) and the lamb and lentil haleem (‘extraordinary’).
Jay Rayner has published a rave review of Royal Nawaab at Stockport Pyramid
“It’s a little overwhelming,” he wrote of the experience at Royal Nawaab, adding: “One solution is to seek out dishes you know and like.”
He then said: “I’ve sneered at the idea of buffets in the past, called them the place where good taste goes to die, and many of them are. But the Royal Nawaab is a classy rebuttal….
“It really is a remarkable operation. The risk of waste is subtly managed by a gentle request not to take more than you can eat, and it’s nudged along by the use of small plates. Return as often as you like. Just have some self-respect.”
You can read Jay Rayner’s full review of Royal Nawaab HERE.
Glamorous new pan-Asian restaurant Zadie’s to open at Medlock Square
Daisy Jackson
The flagship restaurant for the new Medlock Square development on the Etihad Campus has been revealed.
Zadie’s will be an intimate and glamorous pan-Asian restaurant, offering high-end dining, cocktails which ‘border on the chaotic’, and late-night entertainment.
It will be opening above Medlock Square, a new entertainment destination that’s being constructed alongside the expansion of Manchester City’s homeground and the new The Medlock hotel.
Zadie’s comes from some renowned hospitality heads, including Laura Montana (who created Sexy Fish alongside Richard Caring and also launched Monkey Bar in Manhattan); head chef Paolo Bianchi (Lucky Cat, Alain Ducasse); and Cressida Lawlor, a well-known face on the local bar scene, who’ll step in as head of bars.
The stylish new launch will be designed in collaboration with international hospitality studio Gorgeous Group, which counts Dishoom and Six Senses among its previous collaborations.
Laura said of the project: “I’m delighted to be leading this incredible project – Zadie’s is the culmination of years of work, hundreds of ideas and tiny details I’ve spotted, collected and loved as I’ve travelled and opened operations around the world.
“I’ve moved to Manchester and it feels alive with the kind of energy I’ve not felt in a long time – this is going to be a huge year for us!”
Founder of Gorgeous Group Robbie Bargh said: “What a project for the team and I to be involved in! And to be working in my home town of Manchester too, it’s so exciting.
“We love to bring desire and emotion to restaurants and bars we work on, and this one has mountains of it – Zadie is cool and she’s fun – she’s the girl you want to follow and the girl you want to hang out with – we can’t wait for you to meet her.”
You can now have dinner in the actual dressing rooms at Co-op Live
Daisy Jackson
Co-op Live has now launched exclusive backstage dining experiences – which means you could be having dinner inside the very dressing rooms that have hosted music megastars.
These new groundbreaking new Backstage Private Dining experiences feature menus curated by Simon Rimmer.
This will be the first time that the arena’s most exclusive artist areas have been open to guests.
There’ll be 10 selected dates from May 2026, where ticket-holders can eat dinner in dressing rooms that were previously occupied by the likes of Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen.
Guests will be able to choose from several packages, from intimate receptions and private three-course dinners inside the dressing rooms, to lavish extras like a Bentley chauffeur-driven arrival, live entertainment, and extended backstage access.
The most premium package will also offer access to Co-op Live’s adidas Originals recording studio.
Proceeds from the Backstage Private Dining will go towards supporting Co-op Live’s official charity partner, the Co-op Foundation, which tackles inequality and supports communities across the UK.
Chef Simon Rimmer commented: “Having worked with Co-op Live for some time, it’s incredibly exciting to now be involved with this unique series of Backstage Private Dining.
“It’s a rare opportunity to further combine the world-class music venue with exceptional food, and I can’t wait to showcase how these experiences can come to life together, creating truly unforgettable evenings for our guests.”
Becci Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer at Co-op Live, said: “From day one, our ambition has been to challenge expectations of what an arena can deliver, and we’re now delighted to introduce a new dimension of premium hospitality at Co-op Live.
“This collaboration unlocks new creative potential within the venue, offering experiences that have not previously been possible. It reflects our commitment to innovation and meaningful impact within the communities we support.”
Designed and delivered in partnership with Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC), Founder and CEO Liz Taylor said: “Opportunities like this are rare. Co-op Live is a venue built for scale, spectacle and ambition — and that’s exactly how we are approaching these events.
“Whether it’s an intimate milestone celebration or a brand hosting at the highest level, these will be immersive, one-night-only experiences designed to deliver real impact. We are proud to have been chosen to help shape this next chapter, bringing creativity, precision and bold thinking to a space that demands nothing less.”
Daisy Jackson -
11th June 2025 
