A high-end restaurant popular with celebrities and foodies is to close its Manchester city centre branch for good.
It’s been revealed that The Restaurant Bar and Grill – an upscale John Dalton Street venue loved by the city’s rich and famous – is to cease trading on 5 September, and is one of four to be shuttered by its parent company, the Individual Restaurants group.
The Restaurant Bar and Grill has been part of Manchester’s restaurant scene for decades, launching in the early 2000s.
A £1m all-weather roof terrace, complete with heaters and retractable roof, was added in 2013.
Sitting above popular nightlife hotspot Panacea, The Restaurant Bar and Grill was Individual Restaurants’ flagship site – but it’s sadly set to close doors alongside several of the company’s other local restaurants.
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The Restaurant Bar and Grill has been part of Manchester’s restaurant scene for decades / Credit: The Restaurant Bar and Grill
The company – which operates 28 restaurants across the UK – has also announced that it will close its Piccolino sites in Clitheroe and York, as well as the Alderley Bar and Grill in Cheshire.
Four Individual Restaurants sites will lock their doors, with 140 jobs affected.
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Speaking on the closure of the restaurants, Karen Forrester – Executive Chairperson of Individual Restaurants Company – commented: “The closure of these sites is part of a long-term investment and development plan for the future of Individual Restaurants.
“Our main priority is to keep our people within our Individual Restaurants family by offering opportunities to relocate to other Individual Restaurants’ locations, we will be supporting them throughout this process.”
A period of consultation will now take place at each of the restaurants.
Featured Image – The Restaurant Bar and Grill
News
Award-winning Manchester restaurant Another Hand announces closure with ‘immediate effect’
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most popular intimate restaurants has sadly announced that it’ll be closing its doors with ‘immediate effect’.
Another Hand – which can be found tucked away up on Deansgate Mews – opened back in 2022 to acclaim from critics and customers, as well as scooping up several awards along the way like Best Newcomer at the 2022 Manchester Food and Drink Awards, and places in the Michelin Guide and the Good Food Guide along the way.
Not only that, but the 24-seater intimate casual dining restaurant was also named as one of the best restaurants in Manchester merely three weeks ago by respected publication, Time Out.
Launched by the team behind 3 Hands Deli – which operated from a site two units down – Another Hand was known and loved for focusing on sharing plates made with produce from local ethical growers.
And it seemed to be going from strength to strength, but sadly, the restaurant took to social media yesterday to announce its decision to close ‘with immediate effect’.
Another Hand said in its statement on Instagram: “With heavy hearts we are sad to announce that after five years Another Hand will be closing its doors with immediate effect.
“Unfortunately, as most of us know, the current economic climate for the hospitality sector is facing steep challenges, sadly a familiar story. And after five years of operating within this increasingly challenging environment, we feel it’s time for us to step away.
“This isn’t a decision we’ve taken lightly, but it feels like the right time to bring this chapter to an end.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built here. From the people who have worked alongside us, to the producers and suppliers who have supported us; and most importantly, everyone who has come through the door and eaten with us…. thank you.
How will the Government’s new digital ID alternative for alcohol sales work?
Emily Sergeant
All licensed venues across England and Wales now have the choice to introduce digital proof of age for alcohol sales alongside physical.
Instead of having to hand over physical ID that contains personal information, such as names and home addresses, customers now have the choice to simply provide confirmation that they are 18 or over on their phone – helping to better protect privacy and personal safety in the process.
This means that, no matter whether you’re buying a drink at your favourite pub, heading to a festival, or enjoying a night out at a concert, you won’t need to worry if you’ve left your ID at home.
According to the Government, this new change will benefit businesses greatly too, as certified digital services are able to check that an ID is genuine and belongs to the person presenting it much easier than the alternative can, which therefore helps to reduce the risk of any fake or borrowed IDs going undetected.
Well, according to the Government, it could be as simple as a customer showing a QR code for staff to scan, or tapping their phone against a compatible reader, where staff will then receive a clear confirmation on their device that the customer has passed the age check.
This change follows a 2024 Government consultation where it was reported that 72% of respondents supported the use of digital identities for age verification when buying alcohol.
Digital Government Minister Stephanie Peacock reiterated that ‘it will remain an individual or business’ choice whether to use or adopt [digital ID]’ and that physical ID will ‘still remain a valid way’ for customers to prove their age.
“This groundbreaking change in the law will mean you do not need to carry a physical ID, nor hand over sensitive personal information such as your name or address just to prove your age, allowing everyone to feel safer on a night out,” she concluded.
The Manc -
4th August 2021 
