Liverpool’s dim sum and roasted meats kitchen Yum Cha has revealed plans to open a new restaurant here in Manchester.
Known for its richly lacquered roasted meats, dainty dim sum and Chinese small plates, the restaurant will move into the Kampus garden neighbourhood later this spring.
Already well established on Liverpool’s Lark Lane, the move marks owners Adam and Neil Wan’s first move out of their hometown.
Set up by the brothers 11 years ago, Yuma Cha has built an enviable reputation in its home city for its bold dishes and delicate Chinese teas.
Pushing the burgeoning modern Chinese food trend, chefs here are known for taking traditional dishes and dragging them, boldly, into the 21st century.
The menu features a dedicated roast meats section, with choices like crispy belly pork, char sui, duck and chicken – all roasted for 24 hours in Yum Cha’s custom-made roasting oven on site.
Served from 2pm with a choice of steamed rice or noodles and curry, soy or bbq sauce, it’s affordable too – priced at just £9.50 a plate.
The dim sum list is pretty extensive, with a good choice of steamed dumplings and bao buns, as well as a crispy section featuring classics like spring rolls and bbq ribs, alongside more adventurous options such as crisp fried cuttlefish cake.
Image: Yum Cha
Image: Yum Cha
Image: Yum Cha
Elsewhere, you’ll find a decent selection of large plates spanning a range of different curry and noodle dishes, and another section dedicated entirely to noodle soup. There’s plenty for vegans, too, with a good selection of plant-based alternatives on offer.
Yum Cha at Kampus will be open seven days a week, with a relaxed atmosphere. Think industrial chic with polished concrete, softened with lanterns, wood carvings from China and neon lighting.
Adam Wan, Yum Cha Co-founder, said: “People can expect honest, authentic Chinese food, packed with flavour and made for sharing with friends and family.
“More than ever, people are craving spending quality time with loved ones. Yum Cha is the tradition, passed down over centuries, of gathering to swap stories over tea and food.
“We’re bringing a piece of that ancient culture, to a laid back but stylish space in the heart of Manchester.
“We’ve always had big dreams to expand Yum Cha and bring our delicious, home-cooked Dim Sum to new communities and Kampus couldn’t be more perfect. We’ll be among a family of foodies in one of the most amazing places in the city.”
Yum Cha is the latest in a long line of new and expanding independents joining the community, including recently announced Madre, The Beeswing, Cloudwater Brewery and Great North Pie, alongside Nell’s, Pollen and General Store.
Adam Brady at HBD said: “Not only is Kampus shaping up to be one of the best collections of indie operators in Manchester, but it’s a really eclectic offering that’ll keep people visiting time and time again.
“Yum Cha are exactly what we’re all about – delicious food, an effortlessly stylish venue and spaces custom built for people coming together as a community. We’re chuffed to be adding another business, born in the North West, to the neighbourhood.”
Image: Yum ChaImage: Yum Cha
The Kampus collection of old and new buildings offers a melting pot of architectural styles and builds on a rich cultural heritage, making use of historic buildings that lay derelict for years, right next to the famous Canal Street in Manchester’s Gay Village and just minutes from Piccadilly Station.
The Kampus gardens and Bungalow are the central feature of the community and are permanently open to the public, with the Bungalow operating as a village hall for pop-up events and community groups.
The neighbourhood is alive with events and will be home to local independent bars, restaurants, cafés and retail from brands.
Feature image – Yum Cha
News
Inside the new Pull & Bear as shoppers say new Trafford Centre megastores are ‘literally a maze’
Daisy Jackson
The trio of new fashion arrivals at the Trafford Centre is now complete, with a brand-new supersized Zara, Bershka, and Pull & Bear now open for business.
The huge new-look Pull & Bear promises an ‘interactive and visionary’ shopping experience, with modern concrete interiors and metallic finishes.
It’s a similar minimalist design to the new Zara and Bershka that opened a few weeks ago, and signals a new design movement for parent company Inditex.
Pull & Bear now spans 805.40 square metres, showcasing accessories, footwear, and clothing.
It’s an impressive space, but shoppers have started joking that the new stores are so futuristic and modern, they’re getting a little overwhelmed.
One person wrote: “I went today and had to leave it made me feel ill it was like walking in a maze.”
One shopper said it feels like stepping into ‘Kim K’s wardrobe’ and more than a few people have compared the stores to a ‘space ship’.
A viral video on TikTok showed one girl managing to lose her friend inside the maze-like retail space.
She said: “Forgive me for being dramatic but I lost my mate 10 minutes ago in the new Zara in the Trafford Centre and I genuinely can’t find her.
“Like I’ve just been walking round in circles trying to find an outfit for a party, but I’ve lost her instead, so we’re playing a game of hide and seek in the Trafford Centre.
“Oh my god I’ve got a spinny head I’m giving myself whiplash.”
Have you been to the new Zara / Berskha / Pull & Bear yet? What do you think?
A long-standing Italian restaurant in Trafford has sadly announced its imminent closure
Danny Jones
Another day, another bit of unfortunate hospitality news, as long-standing Greater Manchester restaurant, Little Italy in Timperley, has announced it is closing permanently very soon.
The Trafford favourite, which has been serving locals for nearly 20 years, has informed regular diners that it will sadly be closing its doors for good, with Little Italy’s final service set for later this month.
Having earned plenty of praise in its time, including being one of the few spots in and around the Altrincham area to have won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015, before the borough saw its foodie boom begin.
But fast forward a decade, and the Timperley institution is yet another culinary casualty to be confirmed of late, with Little Italy sharing a tear-jerking statement online.
Sharing the tragic news on social media this Friday (5 Sep), the restaurant wrote: “To all our lovely customers, it is with a heavy heart that we share some news with you all. After over 18 years of serving you all in Timperley, we will be closing our doors later this month.
“This has not been an easy decision. Unfortunately, rising costs and a significant increase in rental [costs] have made it impossible to continue in a sustainable way. As much as we love what we do, the reality is that it has become too difficult to maintain under these circumstances.
“Over the coming weeks, we will continue to cook with love and serve with the same passion as always. We would love to see you all and share one more meal, and raise a glass together.”
Safe to say that the post has been met with an outpouring of condolences and support from natives nearby and those who have travelled to enjoy their food.
Little Italy went on to add that they will detail more about their final week of business as soon as possible.
They can’t be accused of not keeping up with times and not trying to promote via social media either, as they small family-run team – headed up by Sam Cauchi, who bought the site back in 2008 – have always given things a go besides the day-to-day operation of the restaurant.
Being one of many saddened customers to respond underneath the announcement, we couldn’t possibly sum up things better than local Vanessa Nice, who said: “Look at all these amazing comments – you certainly made your mark as a home from home for the residents of Timperley.
“The end of an era will always be sad, but sometimes life and families have to move on.”
As for Cauchi and co., they signed off by simply adding: “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support, kindness and friendship over the years. Timperley has been our home, and you have all been our family.
“Love from all the team at Little Italy.”
It goes without saying that we’re gutted for the gang and our thoughts are with everyone involved at this difficult time. For now, we can only say thank you to the countless Greater Manchester locations that continue to fall foul in the face of the rising pressures industry-wide. Case and point…
Georgina Pellant -
24th March 2022 
