A new Vietnamese-style restaurant is due to open in the former Blackhouse Grill site later this autumn.
Called Namii Kitchen & Cocktails, it will take over the space in Manchester city centre this autumn – opening just behind Piccadilly Gardens bus station on New York Street.
Now Namii is moving in, bringing the building back to life after over a year of it sitting empty.
Featuring authentic pan Asian cuisine with a heavy Vietnamese influence, the new Manchester restaurant will serve traditional favourites such as Vietnam’s national dish, Pho, Bahn Mi and summer rolls.
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Opening for breakfast and brunch from 10am daily, its mid-morning offering will also include Asian twists on brunch classics like an Eggs Royale with a honeyed miso dressing.
Namii Kitchen & Cocktails features authentic pan Asian cuisine with a heavy Vietnamese influence / Credit: Namii
On the drinks side of things, Namii is promising to deliver an innovative cocktail menu inspired by Vietnamese mythology and folklore.
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One drink called The Horse of Iron combines Roku gin, ginkgo kernel and wasabi syrup – drawing on an ancient legend that tells of a horse belonging to Saint Giong that spit fire from its mouth to defeat invaders, then flew away into the sky.
The restaurant and bar will also offer an extensive wine and sake selection alongside its signature cocktail menu, as well as teaming up for monthly residencies with respected spirit and wine brands.
Namii Kitchen & Cocktails will host four ticketed events each month as part of the residencies from sensory tastings to tasting menus with paired drinks.
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Entertainment-wise, guests can look forward to a variety of live music and DJ’s every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the holiday period, as well as a planned scotch whisky event that is due to take place in January.
The venue has been working to eliminate packaging waste and overall reduce its carbon footprint, collaborating with brands including ecoSPIRITS to ensure that sustainability is at the core of its drinks menu.
The restaurant has revealed its opening date on social media as Saturday, 6 November 2021 / Credit: Namii
Owner and Managing Director Terence Lee, said of the opening: “We can’t wait to open our doors in Manchester.
“The city has established itself as one of the UK’s most exciting food destinations over the past decade and we’re thrilled to be able to add to the line-up.”
Sales and Marketing Manager John Clossick added: “Namii Kitchen & Cocktails is a new, bold concept, blending authentic Vietnamese food, flavours and technique with modern service, style and setting.
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“Food is the centre of so many social occasions, and we want the restaurant to be somewhere friends can get together and catch up over a great dining experience.”
The restaurant has revealed its opening date on social media as Satuday, 6 November 2021 – announcing that bookings are open now.
To keep up with news about Namii ahead of its opening, you can follow the restaurant on Instagram here or email the team directly.
Featured Image – Namii
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Prestigious Edinburgh TV Festival to move to Manchester for first time in 50 years
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester will become the new host city for the TV Festival from 2027 onwards it was announced today.
For the first time in five decades, following an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process – which was launched in 2025 – the prestigious festival is set to move from its home in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh to our region from 2027 onwards, beating out other major northern cities like Newcastle in the process.
As part of a UK-wide strategic review into the event’s long-term future, the Festival’s board of directors say the review was undertaken in order to ‘examine how the TV Festival could continue to grow’ amid increasing challenges around accessibility, affordability, and sustainability across the television industry.
Greater Manchester‘s ‘successful and comprehensive’ bid included commitments around affordability, infrastructure, industry partnership, and long-term growth potential.
Plans include holding the Festival in locations in the newly developed St. John’s creative and cultural district.
“Greater Manchester presented a vision for the Festival that combined genuine creative ambition and future-facing energy with practical accessibility and affordability for delegates,” commented Campbell Glennie, who is the CEO of the TV Festival and The TV Foundation.
“This means we can radically reduce the costs associated with attending the Festival as well as the cost of passes.
“The city reflects the expanding ambition of the UK television industry, while still offering the scale, connectivity and unique cultural identity needed for an event of this significance – it gives us the strongest platform to grow the Festival’s reach and impact in the years ahead.”
Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, said being chosen as TV Festival hosts is ‘brilliant news’ for Greater Manchester, adding: “It speaks to the growth, success and strength of our screen sector in the city region and the strong partnerships and talent we have here.”
The final Edinburgh edition of the TV Festival will take place this August, and dates and further details for the TV Festival in 2027 will be shared later this year.
Featured Image – PickPik
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Even more of the Gay Village will be turned into outdoor seating this summer
Daisy Jackson
The Gay Village is set to get even more outdoor seating this summer, with the council moving to partially close several key streets to traffic.
The news lands mid-heatwave when thousands of Mancs are clamouring for a seat in the nearest beer garden or cafe terrace – with a huge proportion of those flocking to Canal Street.
Now, plans have been revealed to bring ‘a touch of cafe culture’ to the Gay Village, with even more outdoor seating space created for businesses in the area.
Initially running as a trial this summer, it will mean new terraces for New York New York, The Goose and The Eagle on Bloom Street, plus more locations on Richmond Street.
Manchester City Council has said that similar schemes on Thomas Street and Stevenson Square have been hugely popular with both punters and businesses, especially during the summer months, and can give local operators a huge boost.
So now it’s time for this thriving corner of the city to get the same treatment, as part of the ongoing work through the Gay Village Action Plan identified the need for more outdoor seating areas.
The two locations which will have the changes will be Bloom Street, between Abingdon Street and Chorlton Street; and Richmond Street, between Sackville Street and Chorlton Street.
In order to put these protected spaces into effect, some changes to the existing road network will be made:
Bloom Street becomes one-way from Chorlton Street towards Princess Street
Richmond Street is closed to through traffic between Chorlton Street and Sackville Street.
The scheme will initially run on a trial basis from 10 July throughout the summer to evaluate if it could be a viable long-term solution.
During this, plans will also be in place to ensure that deliveries and loading can go about unhindered, as well as daily waste collection and access for residents.
Councillor Mandie Shilton Godwin, Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport, said: “The Gay Village is one of our most precious communities. For decades the queer community has been able to call this neighbourhood its own, establishing a long and proud place in the history of the fight against bigotry and discrimination.
“Needless to say, it’s one of the most-visited places in Manchester and sees thousands of people tread its cobbled streets every year. Because of that we’re always looking at how we, as its custodians, can continue to support its legacy and ensure that it meets the needs of people who live and work there.
“We’re excited to be trialling additional outdoor seating for these streets, and we hope to bring the same success that we’ve seen in the Northern Quarter after putting similar schemes in place.
“But, above all this has to work for everyone, so I would urge people to take part in this consultation and help shape the future of the Gay Village.”
Georgina Pellant -
25th October 2021 
