A SPECTACULAR re-fit demands a spectacular launch party and The Refuge by Volta didn’t disappoint. More than 1,200 guests packed the new food and drink facility inside The Palace Hotel, soon to be renamed The Principal by owners Starwood, who have spent an estimated £25m on the refurb.
The portion that went to creating The Refuge from 10,000 sq ft of breathtaking Edwardian space looks money brilliantly well spent. ToM has had sneak previews http://tasteofmanchester.com/news/volta-storm-the-palace-a-food-revolution-in-the-making/of the place and its food and drink but nothing prepared us for the extraordinary official opening night. Pure, colourful carnival as our image gallery shows (thanks Jody Hartley).
The curators of the space are the two men behind the multi-award-winning Volta in West Didsbury, DJs turned award-winning restaurateurs Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford of “Unabombers” fame.
The Refuge is located in one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings - the former offices of the Refuge Assurance on Oxford Street, which was constructed in stages between 1891 and 1932. The building has been subject to a painstaking renovation, restoring a feast of original details in glorious terracotta, faience, marble and glazed brick.
Modern design has been woven carefully into the space by project architects 3D Reid and interior designers Michaelis Boyd, with final layering by Luke and Justin who are masters at creating the perfect atmosphere for enjoying their acclaimed food and drink.
The result in an exceptional all day dining and drinking space for eating, meeting, relaxing, working, toasting… and perhaps a bit of dancing.
The Refuge is divided up into 4 areas:
Dining Room: A 139 cover relaxed dining restaurant with an open kitchen, booths, private dining room and high benches perfect for sharing plates.
Public Bar: a 40ft granite bar with 18 craft ale taps, a drinks menu hand selected by Luke and Justin, and a Refuge signature cocktail list.
Winter Garden: Housed inside a glass atrium cascading with natural sunlight, the Winter Garden (above) is perfect for enjoying The Refuge’s elegant cocktails and will be the venue for afternoon and champagne teas too.
The Den: A cosy den space provides the perfect breakout and working area or a great spot for parties. Complete with table football, pool, big screen, and its own private bar, it can be hired for events or just be enjoyed post dinner/during drinks.
The food at The Refuge brings Volta’s formula of crafted and beautiful small plates and grills to the city centre. The menu is inspired by Luke and Justin’s well-travelled background as globetrotting DJs, in San Sebastian, Barcelona, Rome, Sydney, Tokyo and beyond.
Refuge Head Chef Alex Worrall makes it all work. Traditional Volta dishes such as the lamb shawarma; smoked feta and beetroot; and Gloucester Old Spot pork belly sit alongside a new, wider grill selection and large plates.
The menu also includes a show-stopping range of ‘friends and family’ style dishes for the table including an indulgent leg of slow roast lamb with harissa rub and mutabal, and a whole stone bass with shallots, peanuts, tamarind, chilli and lime.
The motto of this all-day food and drink offering is “Come As You Are”, emphasising the relaxed vibe exemplified by The People’s Lunch, where for £7.50 diners can enjoy a veg, meat or fish seasonal special – an express, big hearty bowl of fresh soul food.
As at Volta, drinkers will be just as well looked after as diners, courtesy of The Refuge’s well-travelled wine list, local craft beer menu (including their own Volta brew) and cocktail collection under the watchful eye of bar manager Joseph Spencer, while restaurant manager Siobhan Sewell (below) – once a key figure in Aumbry’s success – marshals The Refuge Dining Room.
Volta at The Refuge, Palace Hotel, Oxford Road, Manchester, M60 7HA. 0161 2281111.
