Salvi’s has unveiled its brand new site in Manchester as the family-run brand marks its 10th anniversary in the city.
The beloved Italian restaurant has now taken over a modern unit in the Deansgate Square development, which they’ve turned into an Italian food hub.
The new Salvi’s site features a weather-proof terrace, a private dining room, a deli, a bar, a restaurant, and an exhibition space.
This smart new location is a bit of a departure – though a beautiful one – from Salvi’s original home, a cosy space beneath the Corn Exchange.
The new Salvi’s site at Deansgate Square is home to a deli stocked with Italian produce. Credit: Supplied
Here you’ll find glossy tiles, natural wood, and brushed concrete instead of mismatched chairs, rustic tiles and olive trees.
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Their Deansgate Square food hub spans 3,000 sq ft at the foot of one of the city’s new skyscrapers.
The family-run business wants to bring a taste of southern Italy to the southern end of Deansgate, through its sun-soaked terrace and Sorrento-style bar, and its menu of authentic Neapolitan food.
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Inside Salvi’s at Deansgate Square. Credit: Supplied
Recipes that have been passed down through generations include Pasta Nonna Teresa (with pistachio pesto and pancetta) and octopus and spicy sausage Pasta Polipo ‘Nduja, along with brand new Pasta Pesto Melanzane, combining sizzling aubergine and aromatic pesto.
Diners will also find dishes like lobster linguine, pasta al piennolo, ribeye steak, grilled tuna steak, and sea bass with cherry tomatoes.
There are handmade Neapolitan-style pizzas, too, such as classic margheritas and Naples-specialty calzone fritto.
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Salvi’s at Deansgate Square will serve Limoncello Spritz alongside the crowd-favourite Aperol Spritz, alongside Italian beers and wines.
Salvi’s has a weather-proof terrace at its new Deansgate Square home. Credit: Supplied
Private dining space The Amalfi Room will host VIP experiences, including owner Maurizio Cecco’s famous pasta classes.
Salvi’s was first launched by Maurizio and his wife Claire, who spotted a gap in the English market for authentic, high quality, Italian produce and opened their deli in the Corn Exchange and a restaurant in the Northern Quarter.
Managing director Maurizio said: “We worked so hard to bring Salvi’s Deansgate to life and we’re absolutely ecstatic to finally be able to share the simply stunning venue that we have created!
“Like many other businesses, we faced a lot of challenges during the pandemic, but we are proud to say we are still standing strong and growing.
“We took the best features of each of our venues and crafted the new Salvi’s brand for everyone as passionate about real Italian food as us. Manchester has been our home for years, and we’re dedicated to ‘serve’ back the love we receive!”
The new brand has been designed by Manchester’s Instruct studio, drawing inspiration from Italian street signage and mid-century Italian food packaging.
Featured image: Supplied
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A sports bar dedicated to women’s sports is opening in Stockport
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new women’s-led sports bar is opening in Stockport, marking a first for the North.
Rita Ray’s will be joining the line-up at Weir Mill, the new neighbourhood from Capital & Centric on the banks of the River Mersey.
While women’s sport has grown in popularity in recent years, Rita Ray’s founder says that ‘the spaces to watch it haven’t caught up’.
And so, this new sports bar concept has been born, with all the buzz of a classic sports bar but with women’s sport on the big screens.
The venue will be family-friendly by day, before shifting into a lively social hangout with great drinks, music, and post-matchday energy by night.
It plans to become a community cornerstone too, hosting things like run clubs, classes, quiz nights, book clubs, pop-ups, and community meet-ups.
Founder of Rita Ray’s, Becky Brown, has named the bar after her grandparents Rita and Ray, who loved life, games, golf, and good company.
She says there’s ‘nothing like this in the North at the moment’.
Rita Ray’s sports bar is the second independent venture announced for Weir Mill this month alone – Italian restaurant The Social Trattoria is also heading to Stockport this year.
Becky said: “Women’s sport has grown massively, but the spaces to watch it haven’t caught up.
“There’s nothing like this in the North at the moment, and Stockport and the Weir Mill neighbourhood felt like the perfect spot – creative, independent, and full of character. Rita Ray’s is about sport, community, and inclusion.”
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “Rita Ray’s is exactly the kind of bold, indie concept we love bringing into our neighbourhoods. It’s a brilliant addition to Weir Mill and a great example of the independent operators helping shape this new part of Stockport.”
Cllr Micheala Meikle, Cabinet Member for regeneration, skills and economy, said: “Seeing the North’s first independent bar dedicated to women’s sport choose Weir Mill is a fantastic vote of confidence in Stockport.
“This kind of bold, community‑minded business will add to the growing sense of place we’re creating here – an inclusive space where everyone can come together to enjoy sport, meet friends, and feel part of something special.
“This is exactly what regeneration should deliver: new jobs, strong independents and more reasons for people to spend time in our town centre, while keeping the character that makes Stockport what it is.
“Investment of this quality shows the direction we’re heading and the momentum we’re building, ensuring Stockport remains a vibrant, welcoming and thriving place for residents, visitors and businesses alike.”
Rita Ray’s is all set to open this summer at Weir Mill in Stockport, just in time to roar on the Three Lions.
Mexican chain Wahaca might be returning to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Mexican chain might be returning to Manchester, six years after its closure.
The much-loved restaurant group is eyeing up new locations in our city, as well as sites in Cambridge, Glasgow, and Birmingham.
Retail and leisure agency P-Three has been tasked with sourcing new sites across the UK for Wahaca, which had to permanently close 10 locations in the midst of the pandemic.
Wahaca restaurants that closed included its popular location in the Corn Exchange in Manchester.
Wahaca was founded in London almost 20 years ago, by MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers and Mark Selby.
Its menu showcases food from across Mexico, with restaurants that are inspired by the modern bustling culture seen in contemporary Oaxaca.
It’s also the UK’s first carbon-neutral restaurant group and multiple-time winner of the UK’s most sustainable restaurant group.
P-Three is looking for large restaurant units (2,500-4,500 sq ft) which Wahaca can move back into as it brings its vibrant food back across the UK once again.
Wahaca might be returning to Manchester. Credit: Wahaca
Thomas Rose, co-founder at P-Three, commented: “Wahaca has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s most authentic and lively restaurant groups, offering diners a bold, fresh and modern take on Mexican street food.
“A longstanding client of P-Three, we are excited to be supporting Wahaca with this next phase of growth and look forward to helping them bring their concept to new cities and locations across the UK.”
Mark Selby, Co-founder & Chairman at Wahaca, added: “After the huge success of our Paddington opening in 2024 and the incredible feedback on Wahaca Reimagined across our 14 individually designed restaurants, we are excited to be once again looking to bring Wahaca’s unique restaurant experience to different areas of the UK.
“We want to find buildings that lend themselves to our distinctive look and feel and know that P-Three will do an excellent job bringing that vision to life.”
Daisy Jackson -
7th June 2022 
