12 new openings to still look forward to this year in Greater Manchester
Early artist impressions of Prologue in Stockport
We may be halfway through the year already, but the second half of 2026 is shaping up nicely with some huge new openings still to come.
There are reborn pubs, glitzy new restaurants, giant street food venues, and even a bookshop/wine bar hybrid.
On the list of new openings coming to Greater Manchester this year, you’ll spot a fair few familiar names from the region, some total newcomers, and some big businesses from elsewhere in the UK.
And these new openings span everywhere from Stockport to the city centre, and from the Etihad Campus to… well, a secret location we actually don’t know yet.
Here are a dozen things to look forward to this year.
12 new openings coming to Manchester in 2026
1. Prologue, Stockport – opening this summer
Could you imagine a better afternoon than buying a new book and then reading the first few chapters with a glass of wine? Me neither, which is why you’re going to LOVE this Stockport newcomer.
Prologue will be a bookshop, cafe, and wine bar, from the same team behind Bramhall’s award-winning independent bookshop Simply Books.
It’s set right in amongst the new Weir Mill development from Capital&Centric, and will be hosting all sorts of writing workshops, book clubs, live music and other events.
2. Zadie’s, Etihad Campus – opening this autumn
Manchester City’s £300m Medlock Square development is shaping up to be something impressive, with a new Man City museum experience in the works along with The Medlock Hotel.
And now there’s major restaurant news to look forward to at the new entertainment complex too, with the arrival of Zadie’s.
Zadie’s will be an intimate and glamorous pan-Asian restaurant, offering high-end dining, cocktails which ‘border on the chaotic’, and late-night entertainment.
3. Manchester Street Food, Piccadilly – opening this summer
It’s all gone a bit suspiciously quiet over at Ducie Street Warehouse, where the Grade II-listed building is being transformed into an enormous food hall concept.
It’s tipped to open this summer still, and will be home to 11 kitchens plus an outdoor terrace, mini cinema, tequila bar, and game rooms.
Manchester Street Food will also have a self-service beer tap wall and two stages, with space for 450 people inside plus another 180 on the south-facing terrace outside.
4. The Spinner’s Rest, Ancoats – opening 22 June
The Shamrock, an iconic old pub in Ancoats, is set to reopen under a new name this year after a major £2m refurbishment.
Set to relaunch as The Spinner’s Rest, the 200-year-old pub will be operated by the family-run Joseph Holt Brewery.
There’ll be space for a truck or cart to run an independent food operation for the pub, plus one of the few beer gardens in the neighbourhood.
They promise that while the refurb will be ‘extensive’, the historic charm of the pub will be preserved.
5. Gardens Lounge, Salford – open now
This one caught a lot of eyes for the wrong reason at first – it decided to house a live Macaw, beautiful Rio, in the middle of the restaurant in a glass box.
But now Rio is gone, and it’s time for us all to pay attention to what’s going on beyond the birdcage.
Gardens Lounge is a new Mediterranean restaurant and shisha lounge, right on the banks of the River Irwell.
With beautiful interiors, and huge windows overlooking the water, it’s a stunning new addition to the Salford/Manchester border.
6. GRUB, Stretford – opening 20 June
Beloved Manchester street food OGs GRUB are bringing their signature events programme and award-winning chefs to a new location this summer – a car park.
Plans are in place for GRUB to take over a space in the heart of Stretford, filling it with independent street food traders, family-friendly experiences, and more.
It’s set to be an 18 month residency that will host everything from neighbourhood socials and town fairs to match day warm ups and beer festivals – including the World Cup this summer.
By day the 300 capacity venue will be home to a bakery, coffee shop and popup bottle store before transforming into a larger-scale evening destination.
7. Locker, NOMA – opening this autumn
Following the whispers of New Century’s ‘new chapter’ earlier this year, the venue is now introducing a 450-capacity, intimate live music space called ‘Locker,’.
Opening this autumn, the venue is set to host a wide range of genres from rock, jazz and hip-hop to electronic music, alongside one central food concept.
This new gig venue has vowed to showcase some quality emerging talent from Manchester and further afield, creating opportunities for artists and providing amazing live performances at an affordable price.
And their existing bar is there to stay, alongside the spectacular outdoor seating area which will remain capturing the sunlight just right in these summer months, as well as there being plenty of exciting plans in place for us over summer, including screenings for the World Cup and much more.
8. Ad Maiora – very secretive
Everyone’s favourite homemade focaccia sandwich spot Ad Maiora is expanding to a new location here in Manchester. Aren’t we lucky!
In case you’ve been living under a rock – Ad Maiora serves up huge traditional Tuscan schiacciata bread, packed out with premium Italian ingredients to create beloved butties like the Nonna, the Colosseo alongside crisp Sardinian beers to quench your thirst.
This shop has well and truly won the heart of Manchester. So much so, we’re getting another – Daniela and Enrico have teased a second location is on the way soon.
While we haven’t been told much more just yet, it’s fair to say 2026 is looking up, and we’re so happy to see a (quite literally) homegrown business like this doing so well. Make sure you pay them a visit.
9. Forbici, Trafford Centre – opening this summer
One of the North’s fastest rising foodie names is set to expand yet again.
Rooted in Naples, formed in Manchester, then making its debut in Sheffield earlier this year, Forbici have just announced yet another location, this time at the Trafford Centre.
After being dubbed some of the ‘best pizza I’ve ever had’ by Marco Pierre White, these stone-baked showstoppers will soon be available to all of you shopaholics.
Whether you’re in desperate need of some energy mid-way through a spending spree, you need a pick-me-up after breaking the bank or you make the trip for the food alone, you won’t be disappointed.
10. Bruncho, Northern Quarter – opening June
One of the city’s favourite brunch spots, Bruncho, is getting closer to opening its second site in the Northern Quarter this June.
Since launching in Deansgate, Bruncho has soared in popularity with people queuing down the road to secure a table. Like many, we’re hoping that this new location will alleviate some of the waiting and allow everyone to get their hands on some of the best breakfast food in town.
The team have now confirmed that their new venue will have a salad bar, vegetarian buffet and even coffee raves with DJs at select hours.
We just can’t wait to see it.
11. The Nest and Sister Moon, Deansgate – opening this summer
When one rooftop restaurant closes, another opens. Only a day after Climat announced its closure, we were treated with news of a brand-new sky-high spot opening this summer.
Sister Moon will be the latest project from acclaimed chef Sam Grainger, who’ll be opening a Southeast Asian BBQ concept, boasting bold sharing dishes made with the freshest produce in a relaxed setting way up above the city on the 14th floor – now that’s what we call food with a view.
Not only that, there will also be a brand new bar – The Nest – which is set to be a private rooftop lounge on the uppermost floors of the Treehouse Hotel Manchester.
12. The Abbey – open now
One of Manchester’s beloved historic pubs, The Abbey, is opening its very own 100-capacity live music venue, facilitating a brand new space for grassroots artists and emerging talent, right in the heart of Hulme.
This iconic pub has forever been a cornerstone here since the 1890s, with a stunning 19th-century bar that is set to remain at the heart of the venue, alongside lots of exciting changes and not just one, but two beer gardens to choose from.
On the taps, you’ll find their own house pilsner, alongside beers from Manchester’s Blackjack Brewery and with Pieminister as their in-house kitchen, you can now grab an unreal pie and a pint for £9.99.
A traditional pub, new music, outdoor seating and top notch pies whilst you’re there – what more can you ask for?
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Featured image: The Manc Group