LIKE the first cuckoo of spring, the dreaded words ‘Michelin for Manchester’ are being tweeted again, as I write. For Mike Ingall of Allied London that elusive star seems to matter more than for many chefs. Already this year he has pledged to bring one to the London Road Fire Station development, now there are hopes for one to top off a monumental Spinningfields new-build.
If the tyre-sponsored cuckoo (or golden goose) finally lands here it’s going to be on a very high perch.
Spinningfields landlords Allied London are preening themselves on a major coup after attracting restaurant operators D&D London to open a panoramic rooftop restaurant and garden terrace at the 19-storey No.1 Spinningfields tower being built in Hardman Square. Looking down from a great height on nearby fine dining beacon Manchester House.
D&D is the fine dining chain formerly owned by Sir Terence Conran and has a couple of Michelin-starred joints in its 35-strong international roster, including the exquisite Launceston Place in South Kensington, hence the enthusiasm of CEO Ingall for their latest project.
Their last one, the 400-cover German Gymnasium, set in the former premises of the German Gymnastics Society next to King Cross Station, has met with a lukewarm critical response, while their two Leeds Trinity outlets Crafthouse (below) and Angelica are slick contemporary restaurant/bars with an attractive rooftop setting but little of Michelin quality about them.
Still we’ve got to dream? The new Manchester venue, yet to be named, will occupy a 9,500 sq ft space 100m above ground level. Allied London describe it as a “game changer for the city’’.
This latest development marks an amazing decade of growth for D&D since the then CEO Des Gunewardena and MD David Loewi led the management buy out of Conran Restaurants.
Gunewardena, chairman and CEO of the group, said: “Expansion in northern England continues to be a significant part of our group’s growth strategy and this announcement reflects that. Manchester is a fantastic city and we have watched closely over the last few years the resurgence of the restaurant scene in the city and in Spinningfields in particular.”
Mike Ingall said: ”With numerous superb operations in London as well as restaurants in Paris, New York and Tokyo -– and two Michelin stars, D&D is a quality operation in every sense of the word. We are delighted they have chosen No.1 Spinningfields as their first restaurant in Manchester.”
The restaurant is set to open in autumn 2017. In the meantime Allied London are hatching up further big plans for the new St John’s neighbourhood and London Road Fire Station.