The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | May 2022
Think Italian subs, sit-down lasagne, a new Spring Gardens cocktail bar from Gordon Ramsay's former bars boss, plus sushi, sashimi and (maybe) even a new dumpling place.
With a whole host of Bank Holidays stretching ahead of us, we roll slowly into May with plenty of free time on the horizon and even more new restaurants and bars to visit.
THis month, not only do we have a load of new eateries on the cusp of opening, we’ve algo got a few who’ve snuck through right at the end of April – all well deserving of an honourable mention.
Over in Stockport, one half of The Otto-Men has launched OTTO Vegan Empire – taking veganism back to its roots with a focus on grains, spices and legumes from a new home above a country pub.
In Sale’s Stanley Square, Sugo has just opened its third Manchester site with new artwork on the walls celebrating the Kickstarter supporters who made it happen, whilst in town we’ve been bless with a new Mac and Cheese restaurant in the Arndale, award-winning Stockport pie shop Ate Days A Week and vegan burger spot The Vurger Co.
As for what’s still to come? Think Italian subs, the return of sit-down Lazy Tony’s lasagne, a new Spring Gardens cocktail bar from Gordon Ramsay’s former bars boss, sushi, sashimi and (maybe) even a new dumpling place.
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Keep reading to find out the new Manchester bars and restaurants to put on your list this month.
Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria, Alvarium
Image: The Manc Eats
Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria takes over the former Black Leaf kitchen in the basement at Alvarium, switching out vegan fine dining for giant slabs of meat and cheese starting from the beginning of May.
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Chef-owner Danny is bringing along all of his favourite dishes, so get ready for great lasagne, loaded mac and cheese and fries, as well as a host of new Italian subs and desserts like Nutella cannolis, apple pie, and pizza subs.
8 Dorsey St, Manchester M4 1LU.
Green Lab, Deansgate Square
Image: Supplied
The Green Lab at Deansgate Square opens on Friday, 6 May with a new evening offer to complement its existing salads, juices, treats and plant-based options.
Expect an organic wine list and twists on classic cocktails, including a miso caramel espresso martini and a strawberry matcha highball, plus new menu items such as sushi and sashimi.
Open from 7am weekdays and 8am at weekends, Green Lab at Deansgate Square will serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner all week long, with live entertainment from Wednesday to Sunday.
Manchester’s newest cocktail bar, Blinker, will open its doors on Spring Gardens on 17 May.
Bringing everything founder Dan Berger has learnt from his time at 5-star London hotel The Ned and overseeing the bars for Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant group, it will focus on classic cocktails, with an additional menu of reimagined classics based around four set flavours changing each month.
Blinker will sit at the top of King Street, close to Hotel Gotham and Six by Nico.
Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 2BQ.
Burgerism, Escape to Freight Island
Image: Burgerism
The one and only Burgerism will take over from Patty Queen at Escape to Freight Island in May, bringing what are widely considered to be the best smashed burgers in town to this corner of Piccadilly.
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Fans of the brand can look forward to the famous ‘Cheesed’ burger with two smashed patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and Burgerism sauce in a brioche bun, alongside the mouthwatering chicken burger.
11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ.
Kong’s Sandwich Shop, Hatch
Image: Hatch
The team behind Manchester fried chicken heroes Kong’s Chicken Shop is opening a new sandwich spot at Hatch over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend – and there will be crisp butties on the menu.
Moving into the Oxford Road food and drink shipping container village this Friday, Kong’s Sandwich Shop will serve up an NYC bodega and deli-inspired menu with a few cheeky northern twists.
There’ll also be frozen margaritas and bottles of Pacifico for sale over the counter, in a nod to its founder’s bartending roots.
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Read more:
103 Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 7ED.
Matterello, Trafford Palazzo
Image: Trafford City
Luxury Italian restaurant Matterello comes to Trafford Palazzo (formerly Barton Square) at Trafford City this month, promising ‘authentic cuisine’ and immersive events like on-site pasta-making classes.
Developed by Manchester restaurateur Steve Pilling from the Northern Restaurants Group – which also has The Dockyard, Gas Works, and Roost – it will draw inspiration from Southern Italian kitchens, serving the likes of bruschetta with salsa Rossa, marinated squid, fettuccine with pesto and gorgonzola and a wide selection of desserts.
Trafford Palazzo, Greater, Manchester M17 8AS.
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Hooters, Salford Quays
Image: Hooters
Hooters, an American restaurant chain more famous for its scantily clad waitresses than its food, is opening a site in Salford Quays this month.
Home to the Playboy bunnies of the hospitality world, the Hooters chain is actually pretty famous for its chicken wings – but even more so for its ‘girls’.
It serves up six different wings styles – original breaded, naked, boneless, Datyona, smoked and roasted – with a choice of 17 different sauces ranging from mild to ‘hot as all hell’.
Elsewhere on the grill-focused menu, you’ll find burgers, sandwiches and tacos, seafood like snow crab legs and shrimp platters, alongside fries and other sides.
Avanti West Coast staff set to strike on major days over festive period
Emily Sergeant
Avanti West Coast staff are set to strike on some major days over the festive period, it has been announced.
Train managers who are members of the RMT Union will stage industrial action on New Year’s Eve and 2 January 2025 after “overwhelmingly rejecting” the train company’s “inadequate proposals” on rest day working arrangements.
On top of this, strikes will also go ahead on Sundays between 12 January and 25 May too.
According to the union, up to 400 members are involved in the dispute with Avanti, and 83% of those voted against a suggested deal.
Strikes were previously planned for 22, 23, and 29 December as well, but they were suspended last week after a suggested agreement was put to a referendum of RMT members.
Avanti West Coast staff are set to strike on several major days over the festive period / Credit: Avanti West Coast
“Our members have resoundingly rejected Avanti’s latest offers in two referendums,” explained an RMT spokesperson. “Sustained strike action is now the only way to focus management’s minds on reaching a negotiated settlement with the union.”
In case you weren’t familiar, Avanti’s West Coast Main Line operates six routes along the west of the UK, including from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, as well as services from London to other major cities such as to Blackpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Holyhead, Wrexham, and Liverpool.
Avanti has warned its customers that the strikes will likely cause “significant disruption” on the West Coast Main Line.
The train operator took to X to assure that its plans will be confirmed “as soon as possible”.
The RMT union has announced strike action affecting Avanti West Coast on 31 December and 2 January, along with all Sundays from 12 January to 25 May 2025. We’re looking at how this industrial action will impact our services and we’ll confirm our plans as soon as possible.
“The RMT union has announced strike action affecting Avanti West Coast on 31 December and 2 January, along with all Sundays from 12 January to 25 May 2025,” the statement reads on X.
“We’re looking at how this industrial action will impact our services and we’ll confirm our plans as soon as possible.”
An Avanti West Coast spokesperson also added in response to the industrial action being called yesterday: “We’re disappointed our train managers who are RMT members have voted to decline the very reasonable, revised offer made to them to resolve the rest day working dispute and avoid inconveniencing our customers.
“We remain open to working with the RMT to resolve the dispute.”
Featured Image – Avanti West Coast
News
Full list of Christmas opening hours at all UK supermarkets 2024
Emily Sergeant
Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, and M&S are among the supermarkets to adjust opening hours at stores across the UK during the festive period.
As Christmas is fast approaching, most of us will have already started to stock up on food and drink for the big day ahead of time, but with so much to prepare for, it’s pretty easy to forget something important – which tends to leave us running to the shops before 25th.
While some have probably opted for home deliveries or Click & Collect services, others still prefer to shop in store.
To help you make sure everything is sorted, we’ve pulled together a list of all the major supermarket opening hours over the festive period, so grab your bags for life and get your shopping list at the ready, because Santa is on his way and he’ll be expecting his annual dose of mince pies.
Here’s a roundup list of supermarket opening hours.
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Tesco
Shoppers are being advised to check the Tesco Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local, as different branches may be operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.
Here’s a rough guideline:
Monday 23 December: 6am – 12pm
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 6am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm
Check the opening times for your local Tesco store here.
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Sainsbury’s
Just like Tesco, Sainsbury’s will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, as well as being closed on Christmas day, but shoppers are encouraged to head to the retailer’s Store Locator to find out the opening times for their nearest branch.
Monday 23 December: 6am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm
Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 8am – 8pm
You can check the opening times for your local Sainsbury’s store here.
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Asda
Following along the same lines as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, Asda shoppers are being advised to check the Asda Store Locator for the festive opening times at their local store, as different branches are operating different hours, however, most stores are operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, as well as being closed all day on Christmas Day.
Here’s a rough guideline:
Monday 23 December: 5am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 5am – 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm
Check the opening times for your local ASDA store here.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and more have adjusted their opening hours for the festive period / Credit: Tesco
Morrisons
Morrisons is open throughout the festive season, just like its other competitions, and will only closing on Christmas Day, but hours will vary so you’ll need to check the opening times for your local.
Monday 23 December: 7am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 5am to 7pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
Friday 27 – Monday 30 December: normal hours
New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: 9am to 6pm
Check the opening times for your local Morrisons store here.
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Aldi
Aldi stores across the UK are set to close of the three major festive bank holidays this year, meaning doors will be shut on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, with reduced hours in operation on the days surrounding it.
Here’s what you need to know:
Monday 23 December: 7am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 7am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
Friday 27 & Saturday 28 December: 8am – 8pm
Sunday 29 December: 9.30am – 4pm
Monday 30 December: 8am – 8pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
You can find out more about the supermarket’s decision to shut up shop on the three festive bank holidays this year here.
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Lidl
Lidl has released a list of its festive opening hours, and just like Aldi, will also be closing most of its stores on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, but you’ll want to check Lidl’s website to find out more information.
Just like many other retailers on this list, Co-op’s opening times vary from store to store over the festive period, but the retailer has confirmed it will be operating reduced hours on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day – with all branches closed on Christmas Day across the UK as a standard.
Shoppers are being urged to check the Co-op Store Finder for the opening hours for their nearest branch here.
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M&S
Once again, M&S is another retailer where festive opening hours differ from store to store, so it’s best to check your local branch specifically, but what we do know is that all stores across the UK will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day as a standard.
Monday 23 December: 6am – 10pm
Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: CLOSED
Friday 27 & Saturday 28 December: 8am – 8pm
Sunday 29 December: 11am – 5pm
Monday 30 December: 8am – 9pm
New Year’s Eve: 8am – 7pm
New Year’s Day: CLOSED
Check the opening times for your local M&S store here.
Georgina Pellant -
29th April 2022 
