Eats

The new bars and restaurants opening in Manchester this month | February 2023

A new pie and mash cafe, saucy sandwiches, Japanese izakaya-inspired bar and loads more.

Georgina Pellant - 31st January 2023

We’ve said goodbye to so many brilliant Manchester bars and restaurants already this year – so it’s nice to have some new openings to get excited about.

As the saying goes: when God closes a door he opens a window, and whilst we’ve found it really sad to say goodbye these past few months, there’s hope in seeing new businesses open their doors across the city centre (and beyond).

From the opening of the first Gail’s Bakery site to grace the north west, to the return of the Flawd team’s critically-acclaimed pre-Covid restaurant venture Higher Ground, there is a lot to look forward to this month.

Add in an exciting new kitchen pop-up at Cloudwater pub The Sadler’s Cat, a new Japanese izakaya-inspired bar in the Northern Quarter and a brand new pie and mash cafe, and we think you’ll agree there’s plenty to start feeling chipper about again this month.

Keep reading to discover the new Manchester bars and restaurants to put on your list this February.

Mira

Mira, aka as the original home of Manchester’s saucy sandwich, relocates to Cloudwater-owned pub Sadler’s Cat this month with its mouthwatering Neapolitan butties.

Owners Mike and Rhea first fell in love with the rich flavours, culture and history behind the sandwich whilst travelling and felt compelled to bring it home to Manchester, quickly building up loyal fanbase during the pandemic for their saucy ‘Cuzzetiello’ sandwiches.

Popular fillings at Mira include slow-cooked Genovese beef brisket with onions, parmesan and salami; Italian meatballs in a slow-cooked ragu with fresh basil and mozzarella and a vegan-friendly juicy aubergine parmigiana sandwich with rich tomato sauce, cashew cheese and basil.

They’ve also branched out into breakfast sandwiches, focaccia slabs and sides, and serve a regularly-changing Cuzzetiello ‘Wild card’ special.

1 February

Gail’s Bakery

Cinnamon rolls at Gail’s made with croissant dought. / Image: The Manc Eats

Sandwiches, bagels and focaccia loves are all baked and prepared freshly at Gail’s each day. / Image: The Manc Eats

Gail’s Bakery will open three cafes in the north this year, kicking things off with a new site in Wilmslow, Cheshire this February. Here, Mancs will be able to get their hands on all manner of treats: from its range of sourdough breads (including a ‘wasteless’ loaf made with breadcrumb leftovers), to cakes, pastries, sandwiches and more.

The bakery group already has strong ties with Manchester, having run its sister wholesale bakery The Bread Factory – which supplies bread to some of Manchester’s premium restaurants, cafes and bars – in Openshaw since 2017.

Already well known and loved by its customers in the south of England, Gail’s recently confirmed it would be opening more neighbourhood craft bakeries in Manchester city centre and Altrincham later this year.

16 February

Higher Ground

The team behind gorgeous Ancoats wine and small plates bar Flawd will relaunch their Higher Ground concept as a permanent restaurant in Manchester’s Chinatown this February.

First launched as a four-week pop-up back in February 2020, it was closed when Covid struck but now the bistro is making a permanent return.

The brainchild of Joseph Otway, Richard Cossins and Daniel Craig Martin, dishes will change on a daily basis depending on the season and showcase organic produce from their very own market garden, Cinderwood, as well as other local producers.

Promising a focus on North West ingredients, dishes will put a focus on small-scale agriculture and small herd, whole carcass cookery, whilst its wine list will center around small-scale, low intervention winemakers from around the European continent.

17 February

Disorder

Set to open in the Northern Quarter this month, Disorder is a new restaurant and bar that takes its inspiration from izakaya bars in Japan.

With a laid-back Asian-inspired menu featuring Japanese sandos with a Mancunian twist and a selection of small plates on offer, Executive Chef Bryan Barber will be cooking a number of dishes on a traditional Japanese konro grill (using a ceramic pot over charcoal) and making all gyoza on the menu by hand.

Watch out for The KFPB sando (made with fried chicken, lemongrass peanut satay sauce, and spiced berry jam) and Buldak fries (loaded fries topped with home made fire sauce, oyster mushrooms, crispy noodles and nori seaweed).

Two thirds of the dishes on the menu will be vegetarian and vegan friendly, with plenty of craft beers on offer and a dive bar-style music venue underground.

17 February

Waffle Kart

The latest arrival to take over the kitchen at Ancoats General Store, as the name suggests Waffle Kart specialise in all things waffles.

From signature waffle sandwiches stuffed with crispy fried chicken to waffle prawn toast and even spam-loaded waffles, plus crinkle cut fries, waffle fries, loaded fries and a host of homemade dips, this is definitely worth a look in this month.

Be fast though, food traders are in and out of here before you can say sesame slaw.

Open now

Great North Pie Co

After a lot of anticipation, Great North Pie Co will finally open its pie and mash cafe in Manchester city centre cafe this month.

Moving into garden neighbourhood Kampus just across the water from Manchester’s famous Gay Village, Great North Pie will serve up all the traditional favourites like classic Lancashire cheese and onion, roast chicken and mushroom, and 14 hour braised beef and ale alongside a regularly-changing selection of seasonal specials.

Set to arrive on the cobbles of Little David Street later this month, the cafe will be the first to move into the long-forgotten avenue as it is brought back to life by Kampus developers this year.

End of February, TBC

Crumbled

Founded by former Britain’s Next Top Model contestant Chloe Peers, Crumbled reopens at Hatch on Oxford Road this month – leaving behind its previous home at secret Northern Quarter garden Mala.

A haven for sweet tooths, as the name suggests its menu is almost entirely dedicated to crumble and custard puddings – with a few tasty hot drinks thrown in for good measue.

Making us nostalgic for school lunchtime puddings, find classics like apple and rhubarb crumbled served with a Insta-friendly additions like toasted pink marshmallow toppings, Lotus Biscoff and Rolo chocolates.

Date TBC

Stock Market Grill

This month sees the Schofield brothers, who run the award-winning Schofield’s Bar (among others), take over the former Bull & Bear restaurant space inside Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel.

Operated by Joe and Daniel Schofield and wine expert James Brandwood, the kitchen will be led by head chef Joshua Reed Cooper, whose CV includes stints at The French, Where The Light Gets In, and Mana.

The Stock Market Grill promises ‘traditional British dishes executed with technique’, with a bespoke menu that will include dishes like whipped black pudding on toast, tartare of rib-eye with caper jam and smoked dripping, steamed cod with caramelised mash, and a sticky toffee tart with honey custard.

End of February

Feature image – Great North Pie Co.