Manchester restaurant Browns on King Street has revealed a brand new look following a major refurbishment.
The brasserie and bar is housed in one of Manchester’s most beautiful buildings, an awe-inspiring Edwardian former banking hall with imposing high ceilings, original marble, wood panelling and exquisite art nouveau detail.
Still, it hasn’t had a makeover in quite some time, so bosses decided to upgrade its interiors to match the restaurant and bar’s stunning settings.
Image: Browns
Its new refurbed interiors now match the venue’s glamorous settings perfectly, taking inspiration from the 1920s with art deco styling, luxurious furnishings, and opulent finishes.
To add an extra magical touch, the venue has also revealed it will now be hosting weekly live piano performances in its restaurant every Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime.
As for the menu itself, Brown’s brasserie continues to offer a seasonal British menu, extensive cocktail list and fine selection of wine and champagne.
Ideally located for shoppers looking for somewhere swanky to lunch, it’s at most a five-minute walk from Manchester’s bustling Market Street and only a short stroll from the Northern Quarter.
Open all day from breakfast through to dinner, cuests can choose from fresh market fish delivered daily, fresh lobster, sharing Chateaubriand and fillet steak surf & turf from Thursday to Saturday, and traditional roasts on Sundays.
There is also plenty for vegetarians and vegans to enjoy, as well as a Coeliac UK-accredited gluten free menu.
Image: Browns
Offering a relaxed yet sophisticated space for drinking and dining, it’s a must visit for any fans of baroque Edwardian architecture,
Speaking on the new look, Kieran Robinson, general manager at Browns Manchester, said: “The level of transformation we’ve had is amazing, we’re all incredibly proud of our new brasserie, and can’t wait to show it off to our guests, both old and new!”
‘Eyesore’ Northern Quarter car park to be redeveloped as ambitious new neighbourhood
Emily Sergeant
An underused multi-storey car park in the heart of the city centre is set to be sold and redeveloped as an ‘ambitious’ new neighbourhood.
The ‘eyesore’ car park situated in Manchester’s iconic Northern Quarter will be transformed into what Manchester City Council is hoping will become a green and sustainable neighbourhood set to complement the ‘unique and independent’ ethos of the area.
It comes after developers CBRE were appointed by the Council last year to market the Church Street site for disposal, ahead of seeking formal planning permission.
The new scheme will deliver more than 300 new homes – including 60 affordable homes – alongside new commercial opportunities and high-quality public spaces.
A before and proposed after of Church Street Car Park / Credit: Manchester City Council
It’s expected that the development will respect the heritage and architecture of the historic city centre neighbourhood and help to enhance the wider area, all while improving a car park site that has long fallen out of favour.
The new neighbourhood will also feature four new public squares and green spaces, along with opportunities for pedestrianising the surrounding streets as part of the public realm.
As mentioned, commercial space is also part of the plans, as the ground floor of the building will offer a mix of smaller, more affordable units to ensure local independent businesses can access the neighbourhood, alongside units for food and beverage outlets.
“For too long, the Church Street car park has been an eyesore and a barrier to the ongoing success of the Northern Quarter,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
“We want to bring forward a world-class development that has the potential to completely transform this part of the neighbourhood, together with the newest city centre public squares and green spaces.”
The final legal negotiations will conclude over the summer, and it’s expected that a public consultation will then take place to inform a future planning application.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
‘Major milestone’ as planning permission secured to transform Oldham town centre
Emily Sergeant
Planning permission has been granted for six transformational sites in Oldham town centre, with developers calling it a ‘major milestone’.
This approval marks a key step forward in Muse Places and Oldham Council‘s long-term partnership with a shared ambition to deliver a ‘vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable’ town centre that not only reflects Oldham’s heritage but also meets the needs of the people who live there.
Following ‘extensive consultation’ with the local community earlier this year, where hundreds of people took park and shared valuable feedback to help shape the proposals, a total of 1,619 new homes will be delivered as part of the plans, offering a mix of high-quality, energy-efficient apartments designed for families, older people, and young professionals.
The plans also include social and affordable housing provision too in a bid to help more local people find a home that suits their needs and circumstances.
According to the Council and developers, the approved plans will bring underused sites back into ‘productive’ use and support a ‘cleaner, greener’ future for Oldham, opening the door to new opportunities for local businesses and communities alike.
“This decision marks a key milestone in delivering on our promises for Oldham,” commented Cllr Arooj Shah, who is the Leader of Oldham Council.
Planning permission has been secured to transform Oldham town centre / Credit: Muse Places
“Oldham Council and Muse have a shared, ambitious vision to create a quality place that people genuinely want to spend time in.
“I am thrilled that we can continue moving forward with our plans, delivering high-quality homes, including the provision of social and affordable homes to meet local needs. We will also support local businesses and create opportunities for everyone, as part of a clean, green and sustainable future.
“Together, we are creating a place that we can all be proud of.”
Site investigation works are now complete at the Civic Centre, and works at Prince’s Gate will begin shortly, followed by the former Magistrates’ Court later this year.
With planning consent secured and preparatory works underway, construction at Prince’s Gate is expected to begin this autumn.
Georgina Pellant -
13th April 2022 
