Another month, another list of new Manchester restaurant and bar openings – and what a list it is.
Not only do we have the return this month of Manchester’s Christmas markets, which bring with it a host of exciting and varied food and drink stalls, we also have a host of new wine bars, bakeries, pasta restaurants and food halls to shout about.
Keep reading to discover where to put on your list this month.
The Manchester Christmas Markets, City Centre
Image: Panc Foods
Image: The Manc Eats
This month sees the return of the Manchester Christmas Markets and with it an array of food and drink stalls. Expect all the classics from the Bavarian Bratwurst, beer and Glühwein stalls, to the crepes and mini-pancake stalls to be there as usual.
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Old favourites the Pig and Barrel will be making a welcome return to the Winter Gardens offering up their delicious pork barms and cosy seating area with entertainment on most nights, whilst on King Street Habas, part of the El Gato Negro group, will bring its Middle eastern-inspired menu out into the streets.
Market newcomers Parmageddon will join a mouth-watering line-up of food and drink that also includes vegan bratwursts from Panc, plus cookie dough, Amsterdam Frites, and two bars serving a selection of international ales.
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There’ll also be appearances from the likes of Northern Soul Grilled Cheese, Great North Pie Co., and Porky Pig — a.k.a. the home of the famous Yorkshire pudding wrap.
10 November
Little Blonde Bakes, Ancoats
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Image: Little Blond Bakes
Image: Little Blond Bakes
Cupcake and bespoke cake bakery Little Blonde Bakes is opening its doors in Ancoats this month, taking over the former Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria kitchen with sweet treats like sticky toffee blondies with hot custard, school cake and Cadbury caramel cookie cubes.
November, TBC
Exhibition, Peter Street
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
New food hall Exhibition is set to open on Manchester’s Peter Street this month, adding three new kitchens and two new bars to the area’s already thriving food and drink scene.
Put together by the team behind the aperitivo and coffee bar Haunt, which opened in the same building last summer, the new opening Exhibition will bring together three of Manchester’s best chef operators inside the iconic St George’s House.
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11 November
Pastan, Cross Street
Image: Pastan
Image: Pastan
Pastan, a plant-based pasta kitchen that first began life in London’s Covent Garden in April 2021, is taking over the former Vertigo site on Cross Street this month.
The new restaurant will focus on simple, fresh pasta dishes, serving up the likes of fried gnocchi loaded with a choice of sauces including BBQ jackfruit, cheese, pepper or pomodoro, alongside time-tested Italian classics like cacio e pepe and carbonara at lunch.
Elsewhere, you’ll find cavatelli mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs and crispy onions, plantshakes loaded with donut skewers, Lotus Biscoff mini doughnuts and scoops of ice cream.
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4 November
Loaf, Oxford Road
Image: Loaf
Image: Loaf
Whilst furloughed from his fashion retail job, Loaf founder Aiden Ryan started baking from home to raise money for the NHS to tackle PPE shortages and a lack of staff food on site. Now, he’s opened his own cafe on Oxford Road.
Here you’ll find a range of classic loaf cakes alongside loafnuts, Loaf Au Choc and Brioche Loaf served by the slice with your choice of toppings.
Open now
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Nonna’s, Deansgate Square
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Taking over the kitchen at The Green Lab from now until Christmas, at Nonna’s you’ll find mouthwatering pasta dishes infused with red wine, white wine and vodka.
Think: taleggio and pesto arancini, white wine gamberoni, red and white seafood linguine, truffle malfadine with wild mushrooms and parmesan, and rigatoni alla vodka, plus classic cocktails like espresso martinis and negronis.
Open now
Indian Affair, Chorlton
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A newcomer to the South Manchester neighbourhood of Chorlton, at Indian Affair you’ll find a selection of sumptuous small plates alongside dishes from the tandoor, biryanis and classic mains like butter chicken, lamb nihari and prawn masala.
Open now
Juicebox, Didsbury Village
Situated between Saints & Scholars and the former CAU restaurant, this new natural wine and craft beer shop and bar offers bottles and cans to drink in alongside a short list of snacks featuring tasty local produce.
Open now
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Gooey Cafe, Selfridges, Trafford Centre
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Manchester’s instagram famous, queue-round-the-block, bakery and café is heading to Trafford this Christmas opening a 30 seat Gooey Café within Selfridges.
The pop up will be home to the brand’s insta-famous warm, gooey cookies and sugar coated stuffed brioche donuts plus a selection of barista served coffees, soft drinks and boozy hot chocolates.
Open now
Project Halcyon, City Centre
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Image: Project Halcyon
Image: Project Halcyon
This speakeasy-style cocktail bar and arts venue was first opened before the pandemic by local craft gin distillers Zymogorium.
Following a lengthy closure, it has reopened in the refurbished 1800s red brick warehouse on the Old Granada Studios site, beneath the original Coronation Street cobbles.
Open now
Ewe Restaurant & Bar, Bolton
From the team behind Deansgate restaurant ‘Yours’, Ewe Restaurant & Bar is set to replace India Gate in Westhoughton.
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Opening later this month, the million-pound project has a capacity of 150 and will serve a modern, British and globally inspired menu using quality, local suppliers. It will feature a private dining room, garden room, open plan bar area, and baby grand piano.
18 November
Provence, Spinningfields
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Provence is a new independent wine bar that has opened in Spinningfields selling Manchester-made charcuterie and cheese boards, alongside a selection of carefully-chosen wines.
With a menu of nibbles like olive tapenade, bread and oil, olives, hummus and a handful of veggie small plates, alongside craft beers, soft drinks and a small cocktail list,, it’s well worth a visit.
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Open now
Rudy’s, Didsbury Village
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Rudy’s has opened a new site in Didsbury, taking over the old Mad Giant food hall which has lain empty since 2020.
Fulfilling its promise to lockdown launch more satellite restaurants in the suburbs, the smash hit pizza house is now serving its award-winning Neapolitan pies on Wilmslow Road.
Open now
Feature image – The Manc Eats / The Manc Eats / Supplied
Eats
The best BYOB restaurants in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
Besides the flood of January deals happening in Greater Manchester right now, another way of saving money this month whilst still treating yourself to a nice meal or two is BYOB restaurants.
Look, January can be tough, we all know that – you’re not quite over the festive lay-off, it’s cold, you’re often wet and you still skint from Christmas – so if you can find a way to eat out without spending a bomb then it can certainly help give you a little boost and something to look forward to during these dark days.
‘Bring your own booze’ gaffs feel a little bit like a thing of the past these days but some of our fondest foodie memories are going to a local curry house with a plastic bag of our favourite beers and not seeing our parents pull the usual face of fear when looking down at the bill.
That being said, you can still find a few here and there, so we’ve rounded up some BYOB restaurants in and around Manchester that we’ve tried first-hand or had vouched for by our fellow foodie friends.
First up on the list of the lovely Yara, a family-run Lebanese and Syrian restaurant with sites in Chorlton, Cheadle and over in Altrincham, where their original venue first opened back in 2008.
Fast forward to now and they’ve built somewhat of an empire not only here in Greater Manchester but with two more locations nearby in Cheshire (Alderley Edge and Stockton Heath) but they all have two things in common: fantastic food and a BYOB policy.
Best-known for dishes like their baba ganoush, stuffed vine leaves, mixed kebabs, tabbouleh, lahembajeen and more, we’re rather big fans of this stunning 15-year stalwart.
From one champion of Levantine cuisine to another, Zena Restaurant down the road in Didsbury has stood as a much-loved Middle Eastern for a few years now and it’s also another one of the last BYOB hold-outs.
Priding itself on keeping alive not only one of the tastiest but oldest and healthiest food cultures in the world, Zena brings together a menu pulling influences from Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Jordan and more without yanking too hard on the purse strings – especially when you can bring your booze.
You’ll find many of the same staples as Yara serves up along with other popular items such as bouraks, maklubieh, fattoush, as well as stunning regional desserts like zena halwa, muhalabieh and baklava.
3. Double Zero – Chorlton
Is it the best pizza in Manchester? The debate it still raging among the slice experts but it’s certainly in the conversation and the name has never been bigger now since they opened up a second site.
Launching at Spring Gardens back in March 2024, Double Zero is delighting foodies all the same just as we knew it would with their traditional and truly fantastic wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas.
This one does come with a caveat as we’re afraid it’s still only their OG site in Chorlton that does BYOB, but hey, it’s a lovely suburb well worth spending you’re free time in and just a short tram ride from the city centre.
4. Mughli Charcoal Pit – Curry Mile
Credit: The Manc Group
We’ll confess that our penultimate pick is a bit of an exclusive one as this technically only applies to students but we couldn’t do a BYOB restaurants round up for Manchester without mentioning the mighty Mughli Charcoal Pit.
Similar to Double Zero, this one is up there in the conversation when it comes to the best places on Wilmslow Road over in Rusholme, a.k.a ‘The Curry Mile’. We don’t even have a standout when it comes their food, just order whatever and you’ll be blown away no matter what you get.
Better yet, for those of you who are fortunate enough to still be at uni and making the most of them savings, you can get added discount as well as BYOB so long as you show a valid student ID. Lucky sods.
Last but not least is Cafe East, which only recently came on to our radar thanks to word of mouth but one that has seemingly been a go-to in OL1 for a hot minute, regardless of the BYOB bonus.
Opened back in 2021 by Oldham native Kamran Ghafoor, the Indian restaurant, breakfast and brunch spot sits proudly at the top of Yorkshire Street in the shadow of the Parish Church. Even the grand front door gives you a hint that this is much more than a local curry house.
Famed for its Ramadan buffets, authentic Punjabi food and even their breakfast and lunch offerings which cater to an even wider customer base throughout the week, it’s one of Oldham‘s culinary gems by all accounts and we intend to do some extensive research for ourselves very soon.
Honourable mention
One last nod…
Hawksmoor – Deansgate
We couldn’t look past Hawksmoor’s own BYOB offer that although limited is still worth shouting about.
Mondays at the stunning steak restaurant sat on the corner of Spinningfields and the main Deansgate strip are your opportunity to save on what would typically be a fairly substantial bill by bringing your own bottle of wine.
The ‘corkage’ is just a fiver and it’s a great way of being able to experience their incredible food without having worry too much about how much you’re spending one booze.
Award-winning pub from the team behind Mackie Mayor and Alty Market announces gutting closure
Danny Jones
Sad news from down the road in Cheshire as The Nag’s Head over in Haughton has sadly announced it has closed this week.
The much-loved pub and bistro, adored by its Tarporley regulars and visiting Greater Manchester locals alike, not to mention acclaimed by reviewers who helped it garner multiple awards, confirmed the unfortunate news on Wednesday, 15 January.
Reopened back in 2022 following a slate of renovations, the impressive country-style pub is operated by the same creative culinary team, Tender Cow, who famously run Mackie Mayor, Altrincham Market and nearby Macclesfield Picturedrome.
However, despite each of their fantastic food halls flying high, The Nag’s Head has simply run out of road amidst the ongoing economic struggles facing so many businesses and, much to the “heartbreak” of its loyal customer base, they have now closed their doors for the final time.
Sharing a lengthy and emotional post explaining their reasons, the Nag wrote: “We’re sorry. We gave it our best shot but, sadly, we have to announce the closure of The Nag’s Head.
“We’ve spent the last 3 years since we bought the pub trying to craft it into a thriving, beautiful place with a proud national reputation at the heart of a local community.”
In addition to being selected for OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice and the Travellers’ Choice award by Tripadvisor; a nod from The Good Food Guide, as well as being named the ‘Food Hero of the Year’ for 2024 by Cheshire Life, they’ve earned accolades for everything from beer to their in-house bakery.
“Truth is the current economic woes fuelled by government policy are against us”, they continued.
Citing the previous Tory leadership as having dealt “cruel blows” on the entire hospitality sector and the new Labour administration for having then “unrepentantly beaten the nails into our coffin when we can least afford it”, there is a palpable sense of disappointment and frustration in the statement.
The same goes for those comments too, with many describing the closure as “gutting” and expressing their sorrow for the dedicated team, as well as their gratitude “for what you [they] done and tried”.
One person dubbed it “one of the best pubs going”; another added: “This is so so so sad! You’ve created such a brilliant business and the kids loved it too! Like all business owners, we are all crippled and sadly it no longer makes business sense to continue to struggle in this society.”
Addressing co-owner Jenny Thompson directly, a third said: Jen, I am so, so sorry. I know how hard it is. It’s terrible that creative people like you are forced into this by a government that just doesn’t care.
“I know what you are going through and it must be so difficult having your dreams crushed. At least you’ve tried with all your heart and it’s a brave decision, but you can’t work as hard as you do for little or no reward. People just don’t realise.”
Boasting a large produce-driven garden, it really was as idyllic as it gets.
Although many North West pubs, bars and restaurants have closed due to the strain being put on the industry as a whole, not everyone goes into as much detail as MBEs Jenny and her partner, Nick Johnson, who laid bare the stark reality of what is seeing many contemporaries shut up shop.
“National insurance hikes for employers, further increases in the minimum wage – totalling 37% over the last 3 years, the reduction of business rates relief – up by 35%.
“Add to that inherited interest rates – 300% up, utility costs – 300% up, cost of ingredients 200% up – you don’t have to be a maths genius to work it out”, they explained.
They also recognised that people are understandably prioritising the essentials over luxuries like eating out given the ongoing cost of living crisis, reiterating, “How can anyone possibly grow and invest as the government expects (as we have done continually for the last decade) in this climate?”
The duo signed off by thanking their loyal customer base for the years of patronage and all of The Nag’s Head staff have they have been “forced to let go” now they have officially closed for all their support on “this journey cut short.”
“Alty Market, Mackie Mayor and Picturedome live on and if you miss us, you can find our soul and our spirit there. For now, it’s goodbye from the Nag’s Head.” We sincerely hope this isn’t forever and wish everyone who helped make this beloved boozer and bistro as brilliant as it was all the best.
Georgina Pellant -
1st November 2022 
