The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | December 2022
From fine Japanese dining to smashed burgers, acai bowls and a new rooftop restaurant with stunning views of the city, there's lots to look forward to this month.
It’s nearly the end of the year, and what a year it’s been. We’ve seen Manchester’s bar owners and restauranteursbattle against the odds, not just to stay open but to bring new concepts to the city too.
As we enter the final month of the year, it’s safe to say we’ve got some exciting new openings to look forward to over the Christmas period – from smashed burgers and naughty fries, to new dessert houses selling the likes of Smores donut sandwiches and ice cream sundaes.
Elsewhere, you’ll find healthier options, too. Acai and The Tribe, formerly housed at the Arndale Market, has moved over to Deansgate Mews with wholesome fruit-laden superfood bowls and gluten-free everything, whilst on Bridge Street new opening MUSU is bringing fine Japanese dining to the city in a whole new way.
As we say, lots to get excited about. Keep reading to find out where to put on your list this December.
Acai and The Tribe, Deansgate Mews
Selling beautiful acai bowls, brunch plates and more, this little gem used to be at the Arndale Market but has just moved – taking over the old Butcher’s Quarter site on Deansgate Mews.
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Found within the Great Northern Warehouse complex, everything here is gluten free and suitable for veggies or vegans, with owner Alisha even making her own granola in house to ensure it suits everyone’s dietaries (and keep the cost of her bowls down).
MUSU, Bridge Street
This high-end Japanese restaurant is bringing a theatrical ‘multi-sensory’ dining experience with exquisite service, sashimi, sushi wine and more.
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Dine from specially created 7 and 11 course tasting menus with wine pairings, or opt for a traditional ‘chef’s choice’ experience at its six-seat Omakase counter.
Masa Bakery, Prestwich
Opened by baker Rick Marlow, MASA is a soon-to-be neighbourhood cafe and bakery in Prestwich.
First launched in 2020, he began baking out of his mum’s garage in Macclesfield to keep busy on furlough. Offering local home deliveries and a little market stall, MASA soon built up a solid wholesale customer base – supplying the likes of Yas Bean, Dokes Prestwich, The Nags Head Haughton and more.
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Specialising in sourdough and foccaccia, Rick’s now preparing to launch a new bakery in his hometown before Christmas with the cafe set to open in February next year.
Now That’s A Burger, Ducie Street Warehouse
Super Happy, who operate the counter at Ducie Street Warehouse, have just launched their own burger line this month and it is elite.
The sandwich dealers bake all their own bread daily, now they’ve ventured into the smashed burger world.
Available for collection and delivery only via Deliveroo, we’re talking sexy house baked potato rolls, housemade pickles, the best burger ‘Super sauce’ and fried buttermilk chicken dipped in Szechuan chilli oil.
Creams Cafe, Manchester Arndale
Popular UK dessert chain Creams has taken over a massive new 2,325 sq ft store in the centre’s Halle Place, joining the likes of burger restaurant Archie’s and fellow newcomer Pizza Luxe.
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Here, sweet tooths can get their fix on a range of flamboyant and indulgent desserts. From takeaway ice cream cones to boxes of Biscoff and icing-laden donuts and slices of cake, the cafe will sit in an ideal place for shoppers looking for a mid-afternoon sugar lift.
Gooey Cafe, Trafford Centre
Manchester’s lockdown sugar dealers Gooey have opened a Christmas-themed cafe at the Trafford Centre offering festive afternoon teas and breakfast with Santa, as well as exclusive festive bakes.
Housed inside Selfridges, the 30-seat Christmas cafe menu features seasonal treats like a smores cookie pie, a Snowman choux, a layered chocolate orange cake and Gooey’s beloved millionaire’s shortbread with a Christmas twist.
Climat, Blackfriars House
This stunning new rooftop restaurant in Manchester city centre boasts more than 250 different wines on the menu, a Michelin-recommended pedigree (from the team’s other site, Covino, in Chester), and beehives on the roof.
From its eighth floor position in Blackfriars House, diners will be able to take in the sights of Manchester, including the (currently scaffolded) Town Hall, the ornate rooftop of Barton Arcade, and the spire of St Ann’s Church.
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The 100-cover restaurant has crafted a menu of modern British feasting-size dishes – ‘food you want to eat’ – geared towards groups of three or more to share. Think whole turbot, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, and ex-dairy cuts on the bone.
North Brewing Taproom, Circle Square
Image: North Brewing Co
Image: North Brewing Co
Independent Leeds-based brewery North is opening a taproom at Circle Square, bringing its beer to Manchester’s Oxford Road.
Tipped to open this month, North Taproom will see popular beers from its core poured alongside an ever-changing line-up of beers, wines, cocktails, ciders, and spirits.
The bar will feature 24 draught lines, including eighteen lines of keg beer and one cask, all pouring North’s ever-evolving range of classic beers, specials and collabs, alongside food from Leeds-based eatery Little Bao Boy.
Feature image – The Manc Eats
Manchester
Manchester’s biggest free music festival is back this Easter bank holiday weekend
Danny Jones
Sunnier days are well and truly on their way and better still, that means Manchester’s biggest free music festival and one of the best event series on the annual calendar is returning: that’s right, it’s time for Manifest 2024.
Back and bigger than ever, Manifest over at The Oast House in Spinningfelds returns this Easter Sunday and we cannot wait to get soaking in the sun, tunes and good vibes.
The biggest and most popular free music festival you’ll find anywhere in Greater Manchester, Manifest has been going for a few years now and it’s become such a staple of the warmer months here in the city centre that we don’t consider spring/summertime as having even started until it rolls around again.
Set to deliver an all-day line-up of live music with various acts playing from Sunday, 31 March at 1pm onwards and well into the early hours of Monday, 1 April, we can’t think of many better ways to spend the bank holiday.
Taking place on The Oast House’s large outdoor terrace complete with its dedicated stage and the big beer garden providing both coverage and plenty of room for Mancs to turn it into one giant dancefloor, thousands turn up to this series of events every year now.
Kicking off this season’s festivities on Sunday, 31 March, the first Manifest event of 2024 has a packed roster of musicians lined up including bands, solo artists and duos, as well as interludes from their resident and ever-reliable DJs.
Guests can expect not only a vibrant party atmosphere all day and night but tastes of pretty much every genre, from rock, pop and soul to R&B, funk, disco and blues.
Again, part of the reason this music festival series has become so popular is that it’s completely free, with space inside the venue dished out on a first-come, first-served basis. There were plenty of queues at every single date last year, so we recommend getting there early. Seriously, it packs out quickly.
You’ll have everything you need to keep you sorted throughout the day when it comes to food and drink too, by the way.
The Oast House’s street food-style menu will also be on offer for those looking to line their stomachs during the festivities.
We’re talking katsu chicken fries, Northern poutine with bone marrow gravy and Shorrock’s Lancashire cheese, chicken or plant-based gyros, stacked burgers, hot wings and hanging kebabs. We’ve tried it all and trust us, some seriously good scran this.
Festivalgoers can also keep cool with plenty of cold pints and house-made cocktails, including twists on the classics such as Watermelon Margaritas, Passionfruit Coladas and Pink Gin Punch. Phwoar.
The best part is, even if you’re already busy this weekend (obviously, scrap your plans and come here), you’ll have plenty more opportunity to enjoy Manifest this year with the free music festival returning every bank holiday weekend throughout the spring and summer.
There’s also set to be an extra few Saturday Manifest dates this year which are still yet to be confirmed but we’ll keep you posted as and when we know more – see you there, Manchester!
And to keep track of the other latest music news going on here in Manchester, keep your eyes peeled over on The Manc Audio.
You can take the kids to meet Kung Fu Panda in Manchester this weekend
Emily Sergeant
If you’re looking for something a little different to entertain your mini Mancs this weekend, then how about taking them to meet Kung Fu Panda?
In case you hadn’t heard, the fourth installment in the beloved DreamWorks Animation film franchise, Kung Fu Panda, has just been released today, and there’s no better way to celebrate the long-awaited new flick than taking the kids down to meet the legendary Dragon Warrior himself right here in Manchester city centre this weekend.
Po will be setting some time aside from his busy schedule of Kung Fu mastery to make his way over to Manchester’s landmark entertainment complex, Printworks, this Saturday (30 March) for a very-special meet and greet.
He’ll be meeting his Manc fans every hour, on the hour, from 11am right through to 3pm, and families will need to head to the ‘Printworks Pumpyard’ to grab a selfie with the popular character.
You can also expect loads of FREE giveaways to be up for grabs throughout the day too.
“We are always looking for exciting new experiences for families at Printworks, and are thrilled to bring the fun of Kung Fu Panda to our venue,” commented Kristian Brennan, who is the Marketing Manager at Printworks, ahead of this weekend’s meet and greet.
You can take the kids to meet Kung Fu Panda in Manchester this weekend / Credit: Printworks (Supplied)
“As part of the recent re-launch of Printworks following extensive refurbishment, Kung Fu Panda 4 has been the first commercial partner to take space on the giant ceiling screen amongst a host of unique content.
“This partnership will spark a whole host of entertainment, fun and adventure with our young visitors, and we can’t wait to welcome them this Bank Holiday weekend.”
And then, once you’ve met the main man (or main panda, we should say), you can even extend your bank holiday family fun by sitting down to watch the film itself, as Kung Fu Panda 4 finally arrived on the big screen at Vue in Printworks.
Manchester’s landmark entertainment destination Printworks is the place to meet Po himself / Credit: Printworks
It means that, for the first time in almost a decade, you’ll get to see comedy icon Jack Black return to his role as the world’s most unlikely kung fu master.
With regular screenings available to book throughout the Easter school holidays, families are encouraged to grab some popcorn, kick back, and get ready for a hilarious butt-kicking experience.