Sticks’n’Sushi is set to open in the North West for the first time, announcing a brand-new restaurant in Manchester.
It’s a Danish brand but a Japanese restaurant, with 16 sites nationwide so far proving its popularity.
Sticks’n’Sushi serves (as if you hadn’t guessed) a menu of sushi dishes as well as grilled meats served on sticks.
They’re set to take over the long-empty Iberica site, right in the heart of Spinningfields, creating 75 new jobs for the city in the process.
The two-storey restaurant space will accommodate 246 guests across a ground floor restaurant and mezzanine level, with a huge L-shaped outdoor terrace.
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It’ll be designed by Berlin architects Diener & Diener, who will create a space that blends Japanese architectural influences with Scandinavian aesthetics.
Sticks’n’Sushi is founded by half-Japanese, half-Danish, brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek, and Thor Anderson in Copenhagen.
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They have 12 restaurants in and around the Danish capital, as well as three in Berlin, and now Manchester is set to be the 17th UK site for Sticks’n’Sushi.
The menu will feature the brand’s signature sharing dishes of sushi, sashimi, salads and grilled sticks, available à la carte or in generous set menus.
Expect favourites like Ebi Bites (tempura shrimp with miso aioli, lime and chilli) and the Maki Maki selection of four signature rolls.
The sharing side of things includes a premium selection of build-your-own handrolls, maki and sticks, and classic Japanese grills like Shōyu Tebasaki (chicken wings marinated in garlic, ginger, tamari and soy), Gindara No Miso (miso-glazed black cod), and Aka Ebi (shrimp in gochujang and garlic butter).
The drinks menu showcases sake, Japanese teas, cocktails, premium spirits, and beer – including the brand’s own-label yuzu pale ale – alongside a concise wine selection.
Andreas Karlsson, SticksʹnʹSushi Group CEO, said: “Manchester is an important milestone in our UK growth strategy – it’s been on our radar for many years, and we’re delighted to have found the perfect space for us.
“Manchester is a city that celebrates creativity, culture and great food – and that’s exactly the kind of place where SticksʹnʹSushi belongs.
“We’re excited to create new jobs, meet our new neighbours, and introduce our unique blend of Danish design and Japanese dining to the city.”
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Sticks’n’sushi is set to open in Spinningfields in Manchester next spring.
Drake-backed Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in the Trafford Centre
Daisy Jackson
The cult LA-born fried chicken brand backed by Drake is expanding in Manchester once again, this time with a brand-new site at the Trafford Centre.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to open its latest location inside the huge shopping centre, bringing its signature Nashville-style heat to The Orient food hall.
Already causing a stir with its first Manchester site at the Printworks, the fast-growing US chain has built a reputation for long queues and a chicken spice level so extreme you have to sign a waiver to eat it (The Reaper is not for the faint of heart).
And now hoardings have appeared at the bottom of The Orient at The Trafford Centre, joining Five Guys, Shake Shack, and Slim Chickens.
The new Trafford Centre restaurant is expected to follow the same winning formula, serving up its famous hot chicken tenders and sliders, available in seven spice levels and served on a slice of bread to soak up all the spice levels.
Fans can also expect a menu packed with loaded fries, creamy mac and cheese, kale slaw, and indulgent top-loaded shakes, alongside refreshing slushers to cool things down after the heat kicks in.
Born in a Los Angeles car park back in 2017, Dave’s Hot Chicken has exploded in popularity in recent years, with Drake becoming a high-profile investor as the brand rapidly expanded across the US and into the UK.
The Trafford Centre opening marks another major step in the brand’s UK growth, following successful launches in London, Birmingham, and Manchester city centre, and signals that the fried chicken heavyweight is only just getting started.
If the scenes at previous openings are anything to go by, Mancunians can expect queues, hype, and plenty of spice when the doors finally open.
Popular Manchester brunch spot Bruncho teases what’s to come with new Northern Quarter cafe
Daisy Jackson
Bruncho has shared a glimpse of what’s to come when it officially opens the doors to its new Northern Quarter cafe.
The brunch spot has had queues down the street since launching on Deansgate, with enough popularity to warrant it opening a second location.
Bruncho is moving into the old Feel Good Club, a huge unit in Hilton House that’s been left empty since the cafe’s shock closure.
And as the clock ticks down to Bruncho’s launch into the Northern Quarter, they’ve shared an exclusive look inside at their very big plans.
The team have now confirmed that the new venue will have a salad bar and vegetarian buffet, as well as coffee raves with DJs at select hours.
New CGIs of the space also show a drastic change from the site’s days as Feel Good Club, filling the giant cafe with wooden tables, hanging pendant lights, plants, and soft textures.
Bruncho is known for its brunch dishes that have a real knack for going viral on social media, including New York-style breakfast rolls in croissant bread; fresh coconut water and matcha served in the coconut; and its absolutely stacked French toasts.
A glimpse inside Bruncho Northern QuarterBruncho will have a vegetarian buffet when it opens in the Northern QuarterHow Bruncho Northern Quarter will look
It’s consistently packed out at its original location on Deansgate, and now it’s taking over a 4,378 sq ft unit in the Northern Quarter too, set to open this June.
Omer Umut Mutlu, owner of Bruncho, said: “Manchester has shown Bruncho so much love, and expanding into the Northern Quarter feels like the natural next step for us.
“Hilton House gives us the space to elevate what we do – more covers, more events, and a new home for the kind of food and atmosphere people will make the journey for.
“We’re excited to bring something fresh to the neighbourhood, with the opening scheduled for June 2026.”
Daisy Jackson -
23rd October 2025 
