The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this week
Think a new dive bar selling hotdogs in a doughnut dough casing, plus the return of Piazza's burrata-loaded pasta, a new food hall in Sale and loads more
As we roll full steam ahead into Christmas, hospitality is showing no signs of slowing down. The Manchester Christmas markets are in full swing, and there’s a whole host of new restaurants and bars opening their doors in Manchester.
This week, we’ve got plenty to talk about – from a new beer shop by suburban craft heroes The Epicurean, to the return of the burrata-loaded pasta kitchen known simply as Piazza.
Elsewhere, Northern Soul Grilled Cheese’s Church Street home has been transformed into dive bar Dust Dogs and is selling beef and plant-based hot dogs encased in doughnut bread, whilst Sale prepares to welcome its new food hall.
Keep reading to discover our top food and drink picks from the new restaurants and bar openings in Manchester this week.
Burger slingers What’s Your Beef will be a permanent addition to the new Sale Food Hall alongside artisan pizzeria Basilico / Image: What’s Your Beef
Sale Food Hall
Opening this Thursday, November 18, the newest addition to General Store’s popular foodhall concept lands in Sale with artisan pizza from Basilico and oozing smashed patty burgers from What’s Your Beef, plus a stint from Eat Dutch.
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The mini pancake slingers will be in residence in the pop-up kitchen here throughout November and December bringing a taste of the Christmas markets to Sale’s newest foodie addition.
The new 150-cover food hall replaces the former Groceries and Beer unit, and also includes a bar serving local craft beers, wine and spirits, a coffee shop with a bakery, and a General Store retail space.
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Find it at Stanley Square, Sale M33 7XZ.
Image: Dust Dogs
Dust Dogs
A new hotdog spot from the team behind Manchester restaurant Northern Soul Grilled Cheese, here at Dust Dogs you’ll find premium quality hotdogs delivered in a dive-bar setting.
Made using either beef or 100% plant-based ingredients, its buns are created using doughnut flour and are all vegan. The team has turned its old Church Street unit into a dive bar and is now slinging out hot dogs and ‘American mouth water’ beers hand over fist.
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Dogs come drizzled in sauces and a variety of toppings, whilst drinks-wise think craft beers and classic cocktails with a twist. The house signature here is the beerita (yes, that is a margarita topped with beer), but you can also opt for the likes of PBR or Red Stripe.
Find it at Unit 10, 11 Church St, Manchester M4 1PN.Open Wednesday to Sunday, 12 – 10 pm.
Image: The Epicurean Ancoats
The Epicurean
Already a popular neighbourhood go-to for craft beer lovers in the suburbs, with established shops in Didsbury, Chorlton and Heaton Moor, you can now also find The Epicurean in Ancoats as it opens its fourth Manchester site – its first in the city centre.
Inside, you’ll find over 500 beers – including some rare and niche selections – split across nine fridges at the new Henry Street store. Look out for selections from local breweries like Track and Pomona Island alongside international favourites Amundsen, Cassel and Ayinger.
Find it at 5 Henry St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5DD.
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Piazza
Founded by the team behind popular Ancoats pizzeria Ciaooo, Manchester restaurant Piazza specialises in pasta dishes – but hasn’t been available at its home in the Arndale Market for a while. Fans of its burrata-loaded pasta dishes will be chuffed to hear it’s returned and is now cooking out of the same kitchen as Ciaooo on Swan Street.
There’s eight different pastas to choose from, including three vegetarian options, with classic choices like pomodoro, carbonara, arrabiato and bolognese listed alongside the likes of ‘abruzzo’ (truffle and mushroom pasta with sausage, burrata and parmesan) and ‘pesto’ (pesto, mushroom, chilli, sundried tomatoes, parmesan, burrata).
Find it at 62-64 Swan Street, Manchester, M4 5JU. Open Tuesday to Thursday (5 – 10 pm), Friday and Saturday (4 – 11 pm), Sunday (1 – 9 pm).
Image: Namii
Namii
Newly opened inside the former Blackhouse Grill site on New York street, new Vietnamese-style Manchester restaurant Namii is serving up traditional favourites like Pho, Bahn Mi, and summer rolls.
The new restaurant and bar also offer twists on classic brunch dishes, and an innovative cocktail menu inspired by Vietnamese mythology and folklore.
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Find it at New York St, Manchester M1 4HN.
Feature image – Piazza / Namii / Dust Dogs
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A sports bar dedicated to women’s sports is opening in Stockport
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new women’s-led sports bar is opening in Stockport, marking a first for the North.
Rita Ray’s will be joining the line-up at Weir Mill, the new neighbourhood from Capital & Centric on the banks of the River Mersey.
While women’s sport has grown in popularity in recent years, Rita Ray’s founder says that ‘the spaces to watch it haven’t caught up’.
And so, this new sports bar concept has been born, with all the buzz of a classic sports bar but with women’s sport on the big screens.
The venue will be family-friendly by day, before shifting into a lively social hangout with great drinks, music, and post-matchday energy by night.
It plans to become a community cornerstone too, hosting things like run clubs, classes, quiz nights, book clubs, pop-ups, and community meet-ups.
Founder of Rita Ray’s, Becky Brown, has named the bar after her grandparents Rita and Ray, who loved life, games, golf, and good company.
She says there’s ‘nothing like this in the North at the moment’.
Rita Ray’s sports bar is the second independent venture announced for Weir Mill this month alone – Italian restaurant The Social Trattoria is also heading to Stockport this year.
Becky said: “Women’s sport has grown massively, but the spaces to watch it haven’t caught up.
“There’s nothing like this in the North at the moment, and Stockport and the Weir Mill neighbourhood felt like the perfect spot – creative, independent, and full of character. Rita Ray’s is about sport, community, and inclusion.”
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “Rita Ray’s is exactly the kind of bold, indie concept we love bringing into our neighbourhoods. It’s a brilliant addition to Weir Mill and a great example of the independent operators helping shape this new part of Stockport.”
Cllr Micheala Meikle, Cabinet Member for regeneration, skills and economy, said: “Seeing the North’s first independent bar dedicated to women’s sport choose Weir Mill is a fantastic vote of confidence in Stockport.
“This kind of bold, community‑minded business will add to the growing sense of place we’re creating here – an inclusive space where everyone can come together to enjoy sport, meet friends, and feel part of something special.
“This is exactly what regeneration should deliver: new jobs, strong independents and more reasons for people to spend time in our town centre, while keeping the character that makes Stockport what it is.
“Investment of this quality shows the direction we’re heading and the momentum we’re building, ensuring Stockport remains a vibrant, welcoming and thriving place for residents, visitors and businesses alike.”
Rita Ray’s is all set to open this summer at Weir Mill in Stockport, just in time to roar on the Three Lions.
Mexican chain Wahaca might be returning to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Mexican chain might be returning to Manchester, six years after its closure.
The much-loved restaurant group is eyeing up new locations in our city, as well as sites in Cambridge, Glasgow, and Birmingham.
Retail and leisure agency P-Three has been tasked with sourcing new sites across the UK for Wahaca, which had to permanently close 10 locations in the midst of the pandemic.
Wahaca restaurants that closed included its popular location in the Corn Exchange in Manchester.
Wahaca was founded in London almost 20 years ago, by MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers and Mark Selby.
Its menu showcases food from across Mexico, with restaurants that are inspired by the modern bustling culture seen in contemporary Oaxaca.
It’s also the UK’s first carbon-neutral restaurant group and multiple-time winner of the UK’s most sustainable restaurant group.
P-Three is looking for large restaurant units (2,500-4,500 sq ft) which Wahaca can move back into as it brings its vibrant food back across the UK once again.
Wahaca might be returning to Manchester. Credit: Wahaca
Thomas Rose, co-founder at P-Three, commented: “Wahaca has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s most authentic and lively restaurant groups, offering diners a bold, fresh and modern take on Mexican street food.
“A longstanding client of P-Three, we are excited to be supporting Wahaca with this next phase of growth and look forward to helping them bring their concept to new cities and locations across the UK.”
Mark Selby, Co-founder & Chairman at Wahaca, added: “After the huge success of our Paddington opening in 2024 and the incredible feedback on Wahaca Reimagined across our 14 individually designed restaurants, we are excited to be once again looking to bring Wahaca’s unique restaurant experience to different areas of the UK.
“We want to find buildings that lend themselves to our distinctive look and feel and know that P-Three will do an excellent job bringing that vision to life.”
Georgina Pellant -
15th November 2021 
