GOOD to have clarity finally about the centrepiece of Manchester Hall, that epic £7m conversion of the old Freemasons Hall on Bridge Street. Fable is its name, a £3m pan-Asian restaurant and bar from Joe Akka, owner of celebrity haunt Panacea.
The design images (from starry London outfit Shed Design) follow a lavish Oriental theme – check out that dragon above – and there’ll be a predominantly Japanese menu to match.
It is set to occupy the central part of the ground floor and basement of the great, grey Grade II listed edifice, which is being redeveloped into a new food and drink destination called Manchester Hall.
Vision Investments One Ltd bought the building in summer 2015 with promises to transform it into a food and drink mecca and a major events venue. Also in the mix plans for a nine-room boutique hotel, a rooftop terrace bar and a variety of tenants (Leeds-based tapas eaterie Pintura have signed up).
The Freemasons, who opened the lodge in 1929, will retain use of the third floor for meeting and dining.
Subject to planning agreements Fable is scheduled to open by August. Food is not the only priority. A bar with its own entrance on Wood Street will be created in the Derby Lodge room and corridor, featuring a central bar and a DJ booth built around the existing pulpit, and preserving original features such as the walnut doors and panelling.
After it is all up and running Akka has grandiose plans to develop Fable into a global hospitality brand. He says: “London will be Fable’s second location and the intention thereafter is to take the brand to key cities across Western Europe, the Middle East and USA. And it all starts in Manchester!”
