The first food line-up for the kitchens at New Century has been announced, featuring a butty shop from one of Manchester’s most prestigious chefs.
The legendary music venue New Century Hall has been unused for the best part of a decade, but is set to reopen this summer under a (slightly) new name as an events, music, and food and drink destination.
The heart of the development will be the 10,000 sq ft kitchens, with six independent operators serving up food to around 300 diners.
Adam Reid, the chef behind The French inside The Midland hotel (often lauded as one of the regions’ best restaurants), will open a brand-new concept that’s a bit of a departure from his usual fare.
The new-look New Century Hall. Credit: Supplied
Two-time Great British Menu winner Reid will launch The Butty Shop, which he hopes will bring the classic British butty back to life.
He’ll use classic northern flavours inspired by childhood visits to the bakery, with sides including pickled eggs and potato salad.
Also joining the food line-up at New Century is Banh Vi, a favourite from Altrincham Market.
Adam Reid, of The French, will be opening a butty shop at New Century
Banh Vi are also opening
They’ll be bringing their plant-based Vietnamese and Thai dishes to the venue, including banh mi baguettes, steaming bowls of Pho, and fresh summer rolls.
2021 British Street Food Awards ‘People’s Choice’ winners, BaoBros23, are also joining New Century – their first foray into Manchester.
Father-and-son duo Daniel and Iain Woodhead will bring Asian-inspired cuisine with a touch of nostalgia, like bao, loaded fries and desserts, fresh from their success as a pop-up at Riverhead Brewery Tap in Marsden.
BaoBros23 are joining the food offering at New Century. Credit: Supplied
There’ll also be coffee and grab ‘n’ go concepts from New Century, plus local beers, wines, cocktails, teas, juices and smoothies.
The redevelopment of the Grade II listed building is already underway, and will soon be spilling outside onto Sadler’s Yard for al fresco dining and events.
Across the three-floor social hub, there’ll be an 800+ capacity live music venue, a large food hall, and a creative college.
The venue is located between Victoria Station and Shudehill, right at the heart of one of central Manchester’s best connected areas, the 20 acre NOMA neighbourhood.
Hotel Chocolat to open viral chocolate Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Hotel Chocolat is set to open a Velvetiser Cafe in Manchester city centre, and it’ll be absolute paradise for chocolate lovers.
The popular chocolate shop, which has stores across the UK selling delicious chocolate bars, boxes and more, is now preparing to branch out in town.
Hotel Chocolat then hit a new level of fame with its Velvetiser, an invention that creates velvety smooth hot drinks at the touch of a button.
They’ve been so popular, Hotel Chocolat is now opening Velvetiser Cafes across the UK – and Manchester is up next.
If it follows in the footsteps of the Meadowhall cafe in Sheffield, visitors will be able to customise their perfect hot chocolate from thousands of combinations.
There are 18 flavours, different milks, and a whole variety of toppings available.
Then you drink can be served hot, over ice, or as a choc shake.
Colourful hoardings for the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser Cafe have now appeared on Cross Street, just next door to the new Joe & The Juice.
A planning application has also been lodged with Manchester City Council.
Drake-backed fried chicken brand Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
The huge LA-based fried chicken brand backed by Drake is heading to Manchester for the very first time this summer.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to open in the Printworks this August – the first UK branch outside of London and Birmingham.
The cult chicken brand has said that its new venue will feature an ‘industrial design inspired by Manchester’s rave scene’ (if we had a pound every time a new venue used that design style, we’d be as rich as Drake…).
Dave’s Hot Chicken is famed for its signature Nashville-style hot chicken, which is served in seven different spice levels from No Spice to Reaper.
Expect sliders, tenders, ‘next-level’ top-loaded shakes and slushes.
It’s grown so quickly that in 2021, it caught the eye of none other than rapper Drake, who is a ‘significant investor’ in the brand.
The fried chicken spot will be moving into the large corner unit at Printworks, which has previously been Busaba Thai, and Floripa, with 139 covers.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming to Manchester
Inside, it will feature towering ceilings, exposed steelwork, and laser lights, claiming to be a ‘full-on sensory trip, where music, light and fried chicken will come together to create a high-voltage experience’.
There will also be custom graffiti inspired by L.A.-based street artists Splatterhaus and Dehm.
Dave’s Hot Chicken still has hour-long queues down in London, several months after opening on Shaftesbury Avenue – next up will be a Birmingham branch in July before Manchester opens later this summer.
And this is just the start of a nationwide expansion.
Jim Attwood, Managing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK, said: “Printworks Manchester is the ideal setting for our next UK site – right at the heart of one of the country’s most exciting cities.
“The new restaurant pays homage to Manchester’s legendary warehouse rave scene, with an industrial-inspired design and bold, high-energy atmosphere to match our signature flavours.
“We can’t wait to bring something fresh to this iconic venue and its vibrant mix of entertainment, food and culture.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken will open at Printworks Manchester on 8 August.
Daisy Jackson -
14th July 2022 
