A former Grade II-listed banking hall in the heart of Manchester is to be transformed into a steak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft.
Already an established name in York and Leeds, the all-day dining spot will open this year on the corner of Mosley Street and York Street.
The huge venue will be serving premium locally-reared steaks, as well as a menu of expertly delivered seafood specials and meat butchered in-house.
The Cut & Craft is currently taking shape inside the former Manchester and Salford bank, one of the city’s finest examples of Victorian architecture, which dates back to 1862 and is now known as Bond by Bruntwood SciTech.
The restoration of the former banking hall includes transforming the former subterranean vaults into private dining and entertainment spaces, including a state of the art ladies room, ‘gossip room’ and sommelier lounge.
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The building itself is a stunning example of a palazzo-style building, having been originally designed by famed Mancunian architect Edward Walters, who was famed for his adopted Italian style.
The Cut & Craft will proudly show off some of the space’s original features, from the cornicing on its double height ceiling to its floor-to-ceiling windows.
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As for the food, the restaurant will focus on quality steak and affordable seafood, served from lunch through to the evening.
The grand former banking hall that will soon be home to The Cut & Craft. Credit: SuppliedThe grand former banking hall that will soon be home to The Cut & Craft. Credit: Supplied
Dishes will include freshly-shucked oysters, Exmoor caviar and hand-cut beef tartare with breaded yolk and sesame croutons, plus grilled monkfish, king scallops, fish and chips, grilled lamb cutlets and a signature 10 oz flat iron steak, which is butchered by an expert team in house.
In a LinkedIn statement, Oscar Akgul, co-founder at Lucia and The Cut & Craft said: “Manchester is soon to have The Cut & Craft and in all honesty we simply cannot wait.
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“Our new venue is located on Mosley Street inside the iconic Grade II * building. Filled with history and its original features including vaults, soon to host private dining, combined with state of the art ladies room, ‘gossip room’ and sommelier lounge.
“Our new restaurant will be filled with elegant yet timeless style settings giving you the ultimate luxury at accessible prices.
“Working closely with the local authorities to bring back this rare building to its glorious days. Once this is completed, I believe we’ll make Manchester proud, as well as all the people who’ve worked on this amazing restoration project.
Steak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft is already well-established in Yorkshire. Credit: The Hoot LeedsSteak and seafood restaurant The Cut & Craft is already well-established in Yorkshire. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
“We’re months away from opening and we cannot wait to welcome you all.”
The stunning restoration project for The Cut & Craft is in collaboration with Bruntwood SciTech who have carried out a complete reimagining of the building. With the arrival of Cut and Craft the Bond building is now complete, creating a new destination for the city as well as an exceptional offering for those working in the building.
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Ciara Keeling, Chief Operating Officer at Bruntwood SciTech commented: “We are thrilled to be welcoming The Cut & Craft to Bond.
“In breathing new life into this iconic building, Bruntwood SciTech have created an inspiring new workspace and leisure destination, one which deserves an exceptional hospitality operator at its heart.
“Preservation of this building’s extraordinary heritage and architecture has been front of mind throughout the whole restoration project, and the ground floor banking hall space is no exception.
“In The Cut & Craft we have found a partner that will bring quality, elegance and laid back glamour to this magnificent space, completing Bond’s status as an exciting new destination for the city centre.”
The Greater Manchester book café serving literary afternoon teas and build-your-own bouquets
Daisy Jackson
If you like your afternoon tea with a side of good books, there’s a Greater Manchester café where you can quite literally have your cake and read it too.
Tucked inside this charming bookish spot, afternoon tea arrives with an unexpected twist. Rather than being presented with the usual three-tiered stand, you’re handed a stack of heavy hardback books.
But don’t start worrying that you’ve accidentally wandered into a very niche library club. The books are hiding something.
Lift the covers in Peony & Parchment – or, more accurately, open the book-shaped boxes – and you’ll discover a full afternoon tea concealed inside.
There are dainty sandwiches to get stuck into, including tiny egg mayo, herby chicken salad, ham and mustard, and cheese and tomato focaccia, alongside a little quiche.
Then comes the scone – classic, fluffy and ready for the obligatory dollop of clotted cream and jam. And, because no afternoon tea should leave you feeling like you’ve been short-changed in the cake department, there are five miniature slices to work through.
Afternoon tea concealed in a stack of booksSome of the other bakes on display
There’s a Victoria sponge with a dreamy vanilla cream, lemon drizzle, rich chocolate cake, a Bakewell slice and a pecan pie, all sourced from a local bakery just across the alleyway.
It’s all served with a pot of tea or coffee, with the option to add a glass of prosecco.
And the bookish theme doesn’t stop at the afternoon tea.
Downstairs you’ll find shelves packed with books, including the intriguing ‘blind books’. Instead of judging a book by its cover, you’ll be given clues and a short summary of what lies inside before taking a gamble on your mystery read.
Downstairs in Peony & Parchment‘Blind books’A role playing village for kids
There’s also plenty here to keep younger visitors entertained, thanks to a children’s area complete with a mini role-playing village.
And if books and cake weren’t enough, there’s another string to this café’s bow.
The Bloom Bar lets you build your own bouquet. Choose the size you want, then wander around selecting your own stems and foliage to create something that’s uniquely yours.
You can build your own bouquetThe Bloom Bar at Peony & Parchment
Of course, you don’t have to be visiting specifically for the afternoon tea. The wider menu includes tapas, full breakfasts and sandwiches, making it just as suitable for a leisurely brunch, lunch or coffee-and-cake stop.
So whether you’re there to discover your next favourite novel, assemble a bouquet, entertain the kids or simply eat your way through five different miniature cakes, this is one café where there are plenty of chapters to explore.
Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
Daisy Jackson -
10th July 2024 
