SO Dishoom is definitely coming to Manchester Hall but Fable won’t be. The spectacular £3m Pan-Asian restaurant project (in CGI above) from Panacea’s Joe Akka has pulled out “due to insurmountable building challenges and persistent delays”.
Instead the team will concentrate on creating an all-day neighbourhood eaterie in cutting edge Cutting Room Square, Ancoats (below), already home to Elnecot, Jane Eyre, Seven Bro7hers, Nam, Rudy’s and, soon, Canto.
Meanwhile, Fable will remain on the back burner. Speaking of the withdrawal, Joe said: “Regretfully, we are no longer taking the Fable concept to Manchester Hall. The building has thrown up too many challenges, which have caused continued delays to the project. We have, therefore, decided to relocate the offer to a different location in the nearby area.
“We have looked into a number of alternative sites and will continue to do so until we are confident we have founda building that resonates with the theatrical nature of Fable’s concept. The essence of the brand is so visually unique, we have to ensure the dynamics of any building match the creative direction we are all so excited to take.”
That direction originally featured suspended dragons and massive tapestries at the heart of the expensively refurbished Manchester Hall, formerly the Freemason’s Hall, on Bridge Street. With Leeds’ Pintura, also mooted at one point, not showing, it leaves the Grade II listed building with just Mason’s restaurant and bar alongside its lavish events spaces.
