Zumuku Sushi, Ply pizza and ‘native beef’ steakhouse Tallow to open at New Century food hall
The New Century food hall will host six of the North’s best independent food operators as well as a coffee and a grab ‘n’ go concept when it opens later this month
It was once an iconic concert hall played by rockstars like Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones. Now, after almost a decade of disuse, the former live-music venue New Century Hall is being brought back to life once again (with a slightly different name).
Following a £10 million redevelopment it will reopen in full later this September, but for now all the focus is on the 300-cover food hall which will spill outside onto Sadler’s Yard for al fresco dining, drinking and regular events.
Adam Reid of The French, Altrincham Market House favourite Bahn Vi and father-and-son duo BaoBros23 have already been confirmed as tenants, with the former getting us very excited about a salt-of-the-earth butty shop inspired by childhood visits to the bakery.
Now, the New Century team has announced the next three eateries coming on board to complete its full foodie line up.
Offering a mix of casual dining options, New Century bosses have revealed that popular Northern Quarter pizzeria Ply and Wilmslow sushi favourites Zumuku Sushi will both join the ground floor kitchens alongside Tallow, a ‘native beef’ steakhouse and burger concept from classically trained chef Tom Lowe.
Each will bring something different to the site, with PLY exploring ‘wild pizzas’ as part of a collaboration with the planet-saving flour company Wildfarmed.
ADVERTISEMENT
Firing everything in a custom-built pizza oven at the helm of New Century’s ground floor, chef Carl Fraenki-Retti has developed his recipe using their biodynamic flour to create a 24-hour slow proved dough which forms the basis of a vibrant menu.
Meanwhile, chef Tom Lowe will draw from the great steakhouses of the UK and Europe and his passion for well bred, native beef at new opening Tallow. Working with 28 day aged beef from local butchers, diners can expect to find high quality steaks, burgers and sides.
Image: Zumuku Sushi
Image: Ply
And last but definitely not least, Zumuku Sushi will bring its authentic, fresh sushi and other Japanese favourites to the food hall.
ADVERTISEMENT
Already hugely popular in Wilmslow, this will be the first Manchester city centre site for Zumuku. Sushi chef Benjie did two years of training in Japan, before moving to the UK and taking the plunge in 2018 to set up the first Zumuku takeaway. Now he has seven in total across Greater Manchester.
Alongside the roster of food traders, diners will find a full bar offering with local beers, wines, a creative cocktail menu and artisan coffees, teas, juices and smoothies all available.
As well as the kitchens, music and events venue above, the ground floor will be home to Access Creative College.
New Century will be home to the college’s third site in the city with degree-level courses in music, games and computing delivered by the innovative educational provider, DBS Institute.
The state-of-the-art creative campus will include a media centre, production pods and the opportunity to experience work in a live venue within the same building.
News
Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants
Daisy Jackson
Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.
In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.
The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.
Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”
The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”
After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.
The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.
He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.
Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.
“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.
“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.
“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”
Police release footage of missing Manchester man Adeo Alston-Ekpei’s last-known movements
Emily Sergeant
Video footage showing the last-known movements of a Manchester man who’s been missing for three weeks now has been released.
Detectives at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are continuing to search for Adeo Alston-Ekpei, who has not been seen since Friday 16 May.
The 25-year-old was seen in Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at around 3pm, before later being seen walking down Kingsway away from Manchester and close to the River Mersey, at around 5.20pm that same day.
Multiple lines of enquiry being explored by police at present, but anyone who believes they may have seen him from around this time, is asked to get in touch.
Adeo is described as being a mixed-race male, with long curly black hair and a long singular dreadlock, and bleached eyebrows. He has a cupid’s bow piercing and a right eyebrow piercing. He also has an ‘AKA’ tattoo on his right wrist, and a ‘24’ tattoo in the right side of his chest.
He was last seen wearing long blue denim shorts, an undone green short-sleeved button-up shirt, and white Adidas trainers.
Friends have also recently set up a public fundraiser to help with the search for Adeo.
Adeo Alston-Ekpei has been missing for almost three weeks / Credit: GMP
“We are dedicated to finding Adeo and getting much-needed answers for his family,” commented Detective Inspector Kelly, from GMP’s Manchester district, as the footage was released to the public this week.
“I would ask any residents around the Kingsway area, and surrounding housing estates off Kingsway into Gately, and who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from around this time, to please check and get in touch if you have any information.
“Likewise, if anyone believes they have seen Adeo, please get in touch with one of our officers. Any information is appreciated and investigated as we continue our work.”
#MISSING | We are continuing to ask for information relating to missing Adeo, who was last seen on May 16.
We have additionally released CCTV footage showing Adeo’s last known movements on Kingsway, Manchester.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 5, 2025
A spokesperson for Adeo’s family described the missing man as ‘kind, funny, and intelligent’ with a ‘huge heart’, but they say he ‘wasn’t himself when he disappeared’.
“He may have come across as agitated, lost, or confused,” the spokesperson admitted. “In his last call to his mum, he was in a very vulnerable state.”
Anyone with any information regarding Adeo’s whereabouts is urged to contact South Manchester CID directly on 0161 856 6051 or 0161 856 6063, or you can use the LiveChat function on GMP’s website and quote log number 838 of 18/05/25.
Alternatively, you can report information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.