October will be a big month for new restaurant openings in Manchester, with some of the most high-anticipated launches of the year taking place.
There is, of course, Sexy Fish, that hugely glitzy London establishment that’s moving into Spinningfields at long last.
Also branching across into Manchester in October will be Louisiana fried chicken legends Popeyes, Leeds’ favourite ramen house House of Fu, and Broadway Diner, where wait staff sing musical numbers at you while you eat.
You’ll also find new restaurants to check out right across Greater Manchester, from an Italian restaurant in Stockport’s Underbanks to a couple of new spots at Kampus in the city centre.
Keep reading for all the new restaurant and bar openings in Manchester this October.
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Bondi Bowls, Kampus
Bondi Bowls will open its first permanent base at Kampus this September, offering healthy choices to residents and visitors alike.
Bondi Bowls first began life as a delivery-only service during the pandemic before taking on residencies at street food markets Hatch and Freight Island.
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Set up by founder Jamie Tones, a chef who has worked in kitchens around the world, the menu takes inspiration from his time in Sydney with a selection of different açaí and poké bowls.
Diners will find an all-day brunch offering from morning to night with global flavour inspirations from the likes of India, Mexico, and Australasia.
Finally, Manchester Victoria is going to have a decent beer bar – and we honestly cannot wait.
The team behind Piccadilly Tap and Euston Tap are at last gearing up to open their new taproom at the city’s original train station, and are promising commuters their arrival will mark a new chapter with ‘no more £7 pints’.
Progress on the site seems to be ticking along nicely with an opening date due in the coming week.
Opening date TBC
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Love From, Kampus
Karl Constadine at Love From, a new alcohol-free bar pop-up at Kampus. Credit: SuppliedKarl Constadine at Love From, a new alcohol-free bar pop-up at Kampus. Credit: Supplied
A new alcohol-free pop up bar experience is taking over the bungalow-on-stilts at Kampus next month, promising a series of events that don’t rely on booze.
The pop-up, open between 12 and 22 October, is founded by Karl Considine, who hosts the What Next podcast and shares stories of sobriety.
Love From will help to pave the way for the rapidly-growing alcohol-free market as more and more people turn their backs on booze.
New restaurant Ikaro has opened in the old Panacea site in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupNew restaurant Ikaro has opened in the old Panacea site in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester’s iconic nightclub Panacea – a celeb favourite – has reopened its doors as Ikaro, a new grill and champagne bar.
This lavish newcomer has announced its arrival with huge LED screens that light up John Dalton Street with stunning graphics.
At the restaurant, diners will find two menus focusing on two different elements, fire and ice. On the first, you’ll find Grilled Lobster Tails, Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye, and Australian Wagyu Tomahawk.
On the second an array of Sushi and Sashimi such as Torched Hand Dived Scallops and Bluefin Tuna Otoro.
Open now
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House of Fu, Portland Street
House of Fu is opening a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Hoot LeedsHouse of Fu is opening a new restaurant in Manchester. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
An all-time favourite of our pals across the Pennines in Leeds, House of Fu will be making its first foray into Manchester in October.
The ramen restaurant will bring their modern ramen, rice bowls and small plates to Manchester from 11:30am every day.
The venue also boasts a late-night party spot, state-of-the-art karaoke rooms, and a private dining room, offering a brand-new feasting menu for parties of up to 30, alongside their everyday menu.
Opening Friday 20 October
Birria Brothers Tacos, Northern Quarter
Birria Brothers Tacos has opened a new Manchester restaurant space beside Koffee Pot. Credit: The Manc GroupBirria Brothers Tacos has got a permanent restaurant space in Manchester. Credit: Instagram
You probably already know Birria Brothers Tacos – they had a queue going right down Oldham Street during one of the many lockdowns when they popped up at Koffee Pot.
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And now it’s official, with the team taking over a chunk of Koffee Pot’s cafe and tiling above the door shouting ‘TACOS’ to passers-by.
The order of the day here is almost always traditional birria tacos, a Mexican dish where slow-cooked beef is stuffed into corn tortillas, ready to be dipped in the rich cooking stock.
Open now
Sexy Fish, Spinningfields
Sexy Fish is coming to Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSexy Fish is coming to Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
One of the most luxurious and highly-anticipated openings of the year is due to open this month, with Sexy Fish taking shape in the former Armani site in Spinningfields.
The Manchester restaurant will be the third global outpost for the restaurant concept, which has already seen electrifying openings in London’s Mayfair in 2015 and Miami’s Brickell district in 2022.
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On the menu will be high-end sushi, a large Champagne collection with a selection of the world’s top vintages from leading estates, and an excellent sake wine selection.
OpeningThursday 12 October
New Wave Ramen, Tib Lane
New Wave Ramen has opened a new restaurant space in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupNew Wave Ramen has opened a new restaurant space in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
New Wave Ramen has built a reputation for having the best bowls in the city, despite not having a restaurant space of its own – until now.
The Mackie Mayor legends have taken up a two-storey space in a historic building on Tib Lane, serving signature ramen bowls and small plates from the binchotan-fired grill, alongside sustainable seafood.
These giant bowls of broth and noodle are so moreish you could drink gallons of the stuff.
All of us Mancs over a certain age will remember Cord, the legendary Northern Quarter boozer that opened at the turn of the millennium.
Now the founding team behind that institution are heading to Stockport to open Alfredo’s Social, an Italian social, in the Winter’s Building.
They’ll be serving authentic Neapolitan pizza, small plates, salads and charcuterie, with ingredients sourced locally or even grown in their own allotment.
Opens Saturday 14 October
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Popeyes, Piccadilly Gardens
FINALLY – Louisiana’s famous chicken chain Popeyes is opening its brand new Manchester restaurant this month.
Known for serving fried chicken dishes with sides like red beans and rice, Cajun fries, mashed potatoes with Cajun-style gravy, Cajun rice, macaroni & cheese, southern-style biscuits, and coleslaw, it’s opening a new location on Piccadilly Gardens.
And then there’s the breakfast menu, with dishes including the Big Breakfast Roll (a sausage patty, egg, streaky bacon, and American cheese in a soft bun), a variety of sausage, bacon, egg and cheese muffins, cajun hash browns, and its famous Louisiana buttermilk biscuits served with cinnamon sugar or Nutella.
Opening Thursday 26 October.
Broadway Diner
A Broadway-themed diner where the wait staff serenades you with hits from your favourite musicals is set to bring a little razzle-dazzle to Manchester.
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Staff at Broadway Diner, which comes from the team behind Karen’s Diner, will sing hits from iconic Broadway musicals, like Oliver!, Rent, Lion King, Hamilton, Cats, and more.
The new musical diner, which is set to open in the Trafford Centre later this year, will also host performances from local artists in a bid to give back to the local community and offer a platform for up-and-coming homegrown talent.
Opens Sunday 22 October
Things to do and events in Manchester in October 2023
Zouk in Manchester
Oast House Teepee – The Oast House has confirmed that its legendary Christmas tipi draped in twinkling lights is set to return for the festive season. The Teepee will be made up of three tents joined together with a huge open hub. It opens on Wednesday 11 October.
Madre Sunday roast – Kampus’s excellent Mexican restaurant Madre is launching a Sunday feast menu, where you can order a choice of meat cooked Mexican-style, accompanied by traditional sides including salsa, papas con crema (roast potatoes but better), Refried beans, Elote and grilled cabbage.
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Evelyn’s new menu – This Northern Quarter institution has a shiny new menu from October, with seasonal dishes focusing on Levantine and Pan-Asian flavours. New additions include whol Cornish sole, Za’atar lamb chops, picanha steak, and chocolate soufra.
Indy Man Beer Con (IMBC) – Manchester’s enormous celebration of independent breweries is heading back to Victoria Baths between 5 and 8 October. There’ll be talks, tastings, street food, merch, and everything else a beer-lover could possibly want.
Strike Steak at Hawksmoor – Hawksmoor decided in summer to start selling absolute bargain steaks whenever the trains were on strike (so, always), and are now switching the deal up. For £15, you can get a Hawksmoor burger with beef dripping chips, between 12pm and 3pm, on strike days (30 September, 4 October, and 6 October).
Bundo does Oktoberfest – To celebrate Oktoberfest, Bundobust have shaken a spice rack over some iconic German dishes for hungry punters to enjoy alongside a cold German beer. A proper match made in heaven if you ask us. The limited-edition specials will be available until Sunday 15 October,
Bottomless curry at Zouk – For National Curry Week, Zouk’s famous bottomless curry offer is back, with all-you-can-eat curry for £20 per person. The deal is available from Monday 2 October to Friday 6 October, with 120 bottles of Cobra given away each day to the first people through the door.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Eats
Vanilli’s – the Manchester bakery and dessert spot that has carried on the tradition of an old Italian favourite
Danny Jones
Vanilli’s Cake Company is one of those names whose reach extends far and wide, with a history that goes way back into the past, and a deeper Greater Manchester heritage than you can imagine.
It’s one almost as rich as the desserts they’ve been making across the city centre and beyond for decades, but it also begins back in Italy.
Formerly San Marco Products, a fellow cult-favourite bakery, suppliers and catering company from way back, owner Sapna Kumar took over their old premises on Crown Industrial Estate over in Ancoats more than six years ago, and has been carrying on their sweet treat traditions ever since.
The difference these days is that it’s gone from more of an Italian ‘pasticceria’ to a Mancunian bakery with both local and Indian roots.
Born out of pregnancy cravings ahead of her third child, ironically, Vanilli’s Cake Co. went from an unfortunately timed passion project conceived on the cusp of the pandemic to a mainstay of Greater Manchester and North West markets and now part of a mini Manc empire in the making.
After taking control of the old commercial premises back in 2020, their understated but impressively high-output unit still has lots of regulars in the know coming in for the good stuff, but still operates somewhat under the radar.
Maybe that’s part of the reason their quality control has remained at such a high level: although they provide to plenty of vendors all across the city and wider region, they’ve never overextended themselves to the point that even the slightest of standards slips.
If you’ve met Sapna before – the charismatic matriarch behind this brand and others like spin-off Cake Bar Co. and most recently, Punjabee – you’ll know that she doesn’t do anything by half measures.
And yes, there are Vanilli’s desserts on sale here, too.
A familiar face at the likes of Foodie Friday and various other street food stalls across the 10 boroughs and even further afield, she’s been doing some of these events since the very outset.
Sadly, without going into too much detail, she admits that there have been instances where her generosity has been “taken advantage of on more than one occasion”, but they will never stop her continuing to offer a helping hand.
The difference this time, however, is that she’s not simply putting others before herself all the time anymore; the Manc mum who’s played mother to many through her work over the years is finally shouting about herself and her unsung but nevertheless dedicated and talented team more.
And not just a little bit, either (no half measures, remember?) – she proudly proclaims that not only does Vanilli’s serve up some of the most authentic traditional recipes, but she happily lays claim to whipping up “the best Manchester tart” you’ll find anywhere.
As for this location, specifically, she simply wants to give people like you a reminder that it’s been there for more than 30 years at this point
She’s also looking to rebuild support throughout the community by teaming up with local brands and creators moving forward. Again, it’s about time she finally got on the receiving end of ‘You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours’, which sounds like it’s long overdue.
Having recently put on a speciality spread for us, showcasing not only the classic but some fresh new ideas and creative takes on familiar, we can assure you some very delicious things are coming from Vanilli’s throughout the rest of 2026.
So, if like Sapna, you love “indulging in the sweeter side of life”, give a Vanilli’s cake, pastry or one of their other tasty desserts soon.
Find all of these and more at Unit 8, Crown Industrial, Poland Street, M4 6BN. (Credit: The Manc)
All the restaurants, bars and cafes opening in Stockport’s brand-new neighbourhood, Weir Mill
Daisy Jackson
Weir Mill is quickly shaping up to be one of Stockport’s hottest new hangouts.
Capital & Centric’s £60m transformation of the historic riverside mill isn’t just bringing 253 new homes to the town centre – the developers are planning to pack the new neighbourhood with independent places to eat, drink, and spend time.
Set beneath the iconic viaduct and overlooking the River Mersey, the development is swapping spinning mules for Sunday roasts, cocktails, books and buzzing bars.
With a string of exciting independents now confirmed, here’s a list of the restaurants and bars coming to Stockport’s Weir Mill.
1. Social Osteria
Social Osteria is opening at Weir Mill in Stockport
If your ideal evening involves a plate of fresh pasta, a crisp glass of wine, and nattering over dessert with friends, Social Osteria might be your new favourite spot.
The team behind Poynton’s award-winning Social Trattoria are opening a brand-new Italian concept inside Weir Mill, serving fresh pizzas, homemade pasta, small plates and plenty of aperitivos.
Inspired by the traditional Italian osteria, the focus is on simple food done really well in a relaxed setting where nobody’s rushing you out of the door.
The restaurant itself sounds just as appealing as the menu. It’ll make the most of Weir Mill’s industrial heritage with exposed brickwork, vaulted ceilings and even an original kiln still in place, while outside there’s riverside seating that’s practically made for sunny afternoons with a spritz in hand.
2. The Jane Eyre
The Jane Eyre Sunday roast. Credit: The Manc GroupThe Jane Eyre bar and restaurant in Chorlton. Credit; The Manc Group
Already a favourite in Manchester, The Jane Eyre is making the move to Stockport with a neighbourhood bar and restaurant that promises to be as cosy as it is stylish.
Think candlelit tables, warm lighting, mid-century interiors and a soundtrack that carries you from an after-work drink into a full evening out. On the menu will be simple cocktails, local beers, carefully chosen wines and sharing plates, alongside what the team hopes will become one of Stockport’s must-try Sunday roasts.
The team say creating atmosphere is just as important as creating great food, making this the sort of place you’ll pop into for one drink… and somehow still be there three hours later.
3. Bodega Wine Bar
Bodega Wine Bar is coming to Weir Mill. Credit: Supplied
Wine bars have had a bit of a glow-up in recent years, and Bodega is bringing that laid-back European vibe to Stockport.
Expect natural wines, low-intervention bottles, cold lager on tap, generous sharing boards and shelves stocked with bottles you won’t find in your local supermarket. It’s designed to feel relaxed rather than intimidating, whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just fancy a decent glass after work.
The real talking point, though, is the Cellar Club. Members can store their own wine collection inside Weir Mill’s restored Engine Room and have bottles served whenever they visit for a small corkage fee.
Whether you’re squirrelling away supermarket bargains or something a bit more special, it’s a clever twist that’s set to make Bodega unlike anywhere else in the UK.
4. Prologue
Early artist impressions of Prologue in Stockport
Bookshops are having a moment, and Prologue wants to prove they’re about far more than simply buying books.
Created by the team behind Bramhall favourite Simply Books, the new space combines bookshelves with a café, wine bar and packed events programme. Pop in for your morning coffee and pastry, browse the latest releases over lunch or settle in with a glass of wine later in the evening.
Author talks, book clubs, comedy nights, live music, writing workshops and language classes are all planned, making Prologue feel more like a community living room than your average bookshop.
5. Rita Ray’s
A sports bar dedicated to women’s sports is opening in Stockport. Credit: Capital & Centric
Perhaps the most unique arrival at Weir Mill is Rita Ray’s, set to become the North’s first women’s-led sports bar.
Created by founder Becky Brown, the venue will champion women’s sport while keeping everything people love about a great sports bar: big screens, lively crowds, good drinks and plenty of atmosphere.
Importantly, it’s designed for everyone, whether you’re a lifelong football fan or simply looking for somewhere friendly to meet up.
Away from matchdays, Rita Ray’s will keep the calendar busy with run clubs, fitness classes, quiz nights, book clubs and community events. By day it’ll be family-friendly, before transforming into a lively social spot once the evening rolls around.
Weir Mill is officially set to open later this month.
Daisy Jackson -
29th September 2023 
