Cibo Manchester is set to open its doors this weekend as bosses prepare to launch the popular Liverpool road restaurant’s second site inside the Great Northern Warehouse.
Taking over the former Home Sweet Home unit, the swanky new Italian independent eatery is all yellow-gold and burnished copper with exposed industrial details and a cluster of filament bulbs making a statement above the impressive bar area as you enter.
When it opens on Friday, diners can expect a brand new cocktail menu, late weekend opening hours stretching to 2am, and flaming parmesan cheese wheels in which pasta is swirled whilst you watch to create the ultimate indulgent cheesy dish.
Image: The Manc Group Image: The Manc Group
Regulars of Cibo in Castlefield can expect to see the same yellow-gold seating and plush booths, dark wood, and white herringbone details here that make the existing Liverpool road site so sleek – but this time on a much grander scale.
Split across four different levels, there’s a huge bar as you enter, boasting a brand new cocktail menu with flaming drinks to match the flaming parmesan cheese wheels for which the group has already become quite famous.
ADVERTISEMENT
Elsewhere, you’ll find Italian classics like the bellini and negroni sbagliato – a lighter, low ABV alternative to the classic negroni that replaces gin with prosecco.
Seating is tiered, with plump comfy booths lining the wall on the top mezzanine level giving views across both Great Northern Square and the glitzy interior of the restaurant below.
ADVERTISEMENT
Image: The Manc Group Image: The Manc Group
Food-wise, all a la carte dishes remain the same here as in Castlefield – meaning diners can enjoy the authentic Italian pizza and pasta favourites they have come to know and love, alongside traditional mains and sides.
What’s more, further quarterly menu additions in the form of specials promise to introduce something that is just “as big and as exciting” as the epic flaming cheese wheel every few months here.
Owners have invested over £600,000 into the snazzy new restaurant, which opens inside the Great Northern Warehouse this Friday 14 January.
ADVERTISEMENT
Already nearly fully booked for its opening weekend, it’s easy to see why so many Mancs – already enamored with the existing Cibo – are flocking to making a booking at the new site.
Image: The Manc Group Image: The Manc Group
Alongside the regular a la carte menu, which is 50% off Sunday – Thursday throughout the month of January, diners can also opt for more savings at certain times of day by choosing set menus like the lunch menu (1 course £7 or 2 courses £12) or the pre-theatre menu (2 courses £14.95 or 3 courses £19.95).
The pre-theatre menu, available between 5-7pm every day, features pizza and pasta favourites, including the house-made lobster ravioli, as well as a selection of side dishes ranging from salads and ‘mama’s mashed potatoes’ to spicy wild spinach and courgette fries.
The set lunch, meanwhile, is available in the week from 12-2pm and on weekends from 12-3pm, includes choices such as a whole burrata topped with cherries and balsamic glaze, wild mushroom risotto, and homemade ravioli stuff with either lobster or spinach depending on your preference.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bosses have also introduced a new three course Italian bottomless brunch service at the restaurant on Saturdays, with endless mimosas and prosecco making an appearance alongside Italian breakfast twists on mid-morning classics.
Open from 12pm-11pm Monday to Thursday, and 12pm-2am over the weekend, Cibo Manchester opens its doors to the public this Friday 14 January. To find out more and book, visit its website here.
Manchester Basketball set to make history at first-ever Super League Cup finals in the city
Danny Jones
In case you missed the latest landmark for Manchester Basketball, both of our men’s and women’s teams have officially reached the 2026 Super League Cup Finals.
Aside from being a huge achievement for the fresh sporting franchise in itself, things are now all set up for a perfect weekend for local fans, with the conclusion of the Super League Cup taking place in our city for the very first time.
All that being said, it’s quite a watershed moment for this new and improved outfit – and pretty soon, too, so here’s hoping they can follow it up with a dream ending against the kings and queens of the capital.
Secure your Cup Finals tickets now 🏆 You don’t want to miss it 🎟️
— Super League Basketball (@SprLeagueBballM) March 8, 2026
It’s rare you get both the male and female members from the same side making it to the final of a major competition in the same year, not to mention having it hosted on their own turf.
Zak Irvin, Captain of the Men’s side, said in a statement: “Since I arrived here, the goal has been to bring championships home to the city.
“Our team has a great opportunity to do that in front of a Manchester crowd on the 22nd. It’s going to be an electric final, and having the backing of the Manchester crowd can be a real difference maker.”
With multiple Manc natives like Kaiyem Cleary, Demi Babalola and Irene Oboavwoduo in the squad – all of whom have come through the club’s junior pathways – they’ve got hometown pride on the line, too.
And better yet, they’ve already proved that they can make sure the weight of the occasion doesn’t get the better of them, having just won a major European knockout match as part of the MOBOs Fringe Festival earlier this week.
Facing off against KK Dubrava from Zagreb, they managed to pull off a narrow victory, beating the Croatians 94-92 to make it through to the quarter-finals of this year’s European North Basketball League (ENBL) knockout phase.
17-year-old Irene added, “It means a lot to me to play in a Cup final in my home city. Having my family and friends there, as well as all the support for Manchester, will be incredible.
“To play in a domestic final around the corner from where I’ve grown up is really unique. We’re all excited for the game; it will be a great occasion.”
With the stage set for what we have every faith will be an unforgettable conclusion at the AO Arena, it’s on us to make sure they’ve got the stands on their side.
Taking place on Sunday, 22 March, with seat prices starting from just £26 for adults (or £65 if you want to sit courtside), let’s help Manchester Basketball get over the line against London Lions.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via MCR Basketball/AO Arena)
Manchester
The Pussycat Dolls announce major comeback with huge global arena tour
Daisy Jackson
Global pop icons The Pussycat Dolls have announced a major global tour, with 50+ shows across Europe and North America.
The pop icons will be performing a massive show here in Manchester as part of the tour, which kicks off this summer.
The Pussycat Dolls have been teasing their return this week, plastering hints on venues across the UK – including the Co-op Live, which displayed a pink digital ad reading ‘Don’t cha wish you knew who we’re announcing tomorrow??’
The multi-platinum pop supergroup will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut record, PCD. They’ll be supported on the European leg of the tour, which will bring them to the UK in September and October, by Lil’ Kim.
The PCD Forever tour will span a whopping 53 dates, where they’ll perform their chart-topping hits including the 5x platinum Buttons, plus Don’t Cha, and Stickwitu.
The Pussycat Dolls were pop heavyweights in the 2000s, known for their electrifying choreography and live performances.
The Pussycat Dolls have announced a major global tour with a Manchester date. Credit: Rankin
Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt, and Ashley Roberts will be back together once again this year for what will be their biggest international run in years.
They’ll be releasing a new song for the first time since 2019 – Club Song is produced by Mike Sabbath (RAYE, Jade) and written by Nicole Scherzinger with Sabbath, Caroline Ailin (Dua Lipa) and Solly (Teddy Swims).
General tickets will go on sale from 10am on Friday 20 March, but fans can sign up for pre-sale at pcdforever.com by Monday to access tickets early.
The Manc -
13th January 2022 
