Food & Drink

Manchester’s pink restaurant 202 Kitchen is moving to a permanent Spinningfields location

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th April 2021

The eye-catching “Instagrammable” pink restaurant that popped up in the heart of the city centre last summer is to move into a permanent home in Spinningfields.

Having successfully launched its first restaurant in Birmingham in early 2020, 202 Kitchen appeared as a pop-up in a vacant plot on Bridge Street last August – November, filling the space with pink blooms, neon signs, and a life-size Barbie box, as well as several photo backdrops – and now, after “testing the concept” and outgrowing the space, the brand has secured a large permanent site nearby to launch a flagship restaurant and bar.

The vibrant interiors of 202 Kitchen quickly made it a favourite of social media savvy millennials and the launch of the new venue will take their concept to a new level.

The owners have committed to investing £1 million into the new space. 

The Manc Group

Situated on Leftbank in the heart of Spinningfields, the huge 7000 sq ft venue will overlook the River Irwell and provide 200 covers to give guests the option to enjoy outdoor waterside cocktails, or the iconic lavish pink surroundings.

The Manchester site – which will be formed by knocking together the two restaurant spaces previously occupied by Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Zizzi to create a huge new venue – will now become 202 Kitchen’s flagship hub, after the brand’s former home on Bridge Street has now been taken over by Real Housewives of Cheshire star Lystra Adams, who has launched her Boujee concept in the site.

The new 202 Kitchen will create over 100 hospitality jobs in the process and bring with it “deliciously indulgent food”, an atmosphere like no other, and an enclosed outdoor area designed for all weathers, set against the backdrop it’s become most known for.

The menu will showcase “colourful cultural foods”, such as mac’n’cheese, waffles, fried chicken, burgers, grilled seafood, and more.

The Manc Group

Speaking ahead of the opening of 202 Kitchen, the brand’s Directors Leon Beckford, Panikos Myrritis and John Sambo, said: “We are looking to move out of lockdown by making significant moves and the future looks bright for 202 Kitchen.

“Having successfully tested our concept in two cities during a difficult year for the hospitality sector, we are now perfectly placed to expand our operations, starting with Manchester. 

“We can’t wait to reveal our plans for the fit out.”

202 Kitchen is set to open its doors at the end of June, and you can register for priority reservations via the website here.

Featured Image – The Manc Group

Food & Drink

The old fire station in Salford that’s now home to a bakery, brewery and bar

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The 'Salford Bagel' with smoked salmon

A former fire station in Salford has been turned into a bustling base for some of the North West’s finest baking and brewing talents.

The Old Fire Station, right beside the University of Salford, is now operating as a bakery, brewery, bar, cafe and restaurant.

That means pastries, bread, pizzas and even beers are made within a few feet of where you’ll be eating and drinking them.

The space is beautiful, still boasting those gigantic red fire station doors and the traditional ceramic tiles that would have been here when the space was still home to fire engines instead of bread mixers.

Around half of the pastries coming out of the bakery, headed up by Erick Molero Delgado (his CV includes top bakeries across the USA and Europe), are completely vegan – not that you can tell from looking at their glossy, laminated layers and extravagant fillings.

We’re talking perfectly cubed laminated brioche with sweet maple flavours, mini pizzettes with olives and tomatoes dotted inside a pastry wall, and striped pain suisse stuffed with nuts and chocolate.

Then there are the not-very-vegan-at-all pastries, like a spandaeur, which is like a croissant and pastel de nata hybrid, and thick slices of Basque cheesecake.

There are new signature ‘Salford bagels’ too developed by assistant head baker Scott Shannon, which are a fusion of North American, German and Jewish styles, fermented for up to 48 hours with a crisp outer shell and a chewy centre.

A spandaeur pastry and a pain suisse
A spandaeur pastry and a pain suisse
Heirloom tomato bruschetta on sourdough
Heirloom tomato bruschetta on sourdough
The bakery line-up
The bakery line-up
The 'Salford Bagel' with smoked salmon
The ‘Salford Bagel’ with smoked salmon

We had ours stuffed with smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers and raved about it all the way home.

Erick says: “Our new menu is a true labour of love by the whole team – from early ideas and experiments right through to the final bake.

“If someone has an idea, we run with it. That creative freedom is priceless. It keeps the work exciting, and it means our customers have the opportunity to get something fresh every time they visit.”

As for the beers, they’re all made on site too – on the opposite side of The Old Fire Station is Lark Hill Brewery, headed up by Jack Dixon, who’s able to experiment and explore new flavours in this top-spec microbrewery.

Jack Dixon in the Lark Hill Brewery
Jack Dixon in the Lark Hill Brewery
Laminated brioche
Laminated brioche
The Old Fire Station bakers at work
The Old Fire Station bakers at work

There are experimental beers, sometimes made in collaboration with researchers at the University, as well as true-to-style classics like a New England Pale Ale and the Lark Helles, a fresh take on a classic German lager.

Jack said: “Having the autonomy to design and brew what I want, without limits, is rare and exciting,.

“It means every beer we pour here has a story and a personality. We’re proud to bring something new to Salford’s craft scene.”

This summer, they’re launching New York-style pizzas, made on slow-fermented, hand-stretched pizza dough.

And very little goes to waste here – the trimmed-off croissant pastry is now being turned into their own croissant loaf, which they’re whipping into French toast for the brunch menu.

Everything at The Old Fire Station is crafted with talent and love, and you can really taste it.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Food & Drink

Lord Mayor of Manchester opens crucial new community kitchen in Blackley

Danny Jones Danny Jones Lord Mayor helps reopen community kitchen in Blackley

The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Carbine Grimshaw, has opened an upgraded community kitchen in the heart of Blackley.

Recently refurbished and officially unveiled last week, the uplifting new space, based out of the GM ward’s Higher Blackley Community Centre (HBCC), aims to be a key outlet and amenity for the area.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which took place on Thursday, 17 July, was attended by local councillors, centre staff, as well as local community members and volunteers.

Christened with a commemorative plaque celebrating the completion of the important renovation, the work has been carried out by North West-based perimeter physical security specialists, ATG Access.

lord mayor of manchester ribbon cutting ceremony
A wholesome moment with the Lord Mayor.

Having sat virtually untouched since the 1960s, the kitchen space was long overdue for some TLC, and now it has been reopened as a modern, purpose-built and community-driven facility.

Speaking at the event, the Lord Mayor said: “The work that has been done here is fantastic, especially the social value aspect of it. It’s clear to see it’s far more than just a community centre; it’s the hub of the community. The support it provides to so many people is remarkable.

“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the unsung heroes behind it all, from centre manager Kate and her dedicated team, to the board of trustees and all the volunteers. It’s a shining example of what community spirit can achieve, and I’d love to see it replicated right across Manchester.”

The kitchen itself is now kitted out with entirely new units, fresh flooring and splashback surfaces, as well as large appliances including a big range cooker, American-style fridge freezer and commercial dishwasher – all donated by ATG and its supply chain partners, Van Leeuwen and Welding Engineering.

But it isn’t just a place to cook; the sizeable room will host workshops, events, meet-ups and various other activities, from toddler groups to adult learning programmes, as well as offering services to various classes and groups.

blackley community kitchen
Before
community kitchens greater manchester
After

In just its first week of being put to use, the kitchen has already helped provide meals for 11 families who would otherwise have gone without – nothing short of brilliant news for the district.

As for ATG, Managing Director, Richard Ellis, went on to say: “From our first visit, it was clear this was a place where we could make a real impact. The building was well-used and worn, but the people and the work being done there were inspiring.

“We felt a responsibility to help and were delighted to do so, getting ‘hands on’ through our volunteering programme.”

Finally, HBCC Manager Kate Shannon added: “It’s been a huge lift for the community. The new kitchen means we can do more, support more people, and take pride in our space again. It’s been a real team effort, and we’re so grateful to ATG.”

Well done to everyone involved in bringing the Higher Blackley Community Centre Kitchen to life.

Well done to everyone involved in bringing the Higher Blackley Community Centre Kitchen to life.

Read more:

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Featured Images — Supplied

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