Italian celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo has announced a nationwide partnership with Spanish lifestyle hotel brand Innside by Meliá. Manchester has been chosen as the first site for the new collaboration with the launch of Gino’s First Street Bar & Kitchen.
The exclusive partnership between the two world-class brands will see them setting a new standard for accessible, modern hospitality. Gino D’Acampo’s experienced team will open a series of upmarket Italian restaurants with the global hotel giant, tailoring internationally inspired menus exclusively to the destination.
This will be Gino’s third offering in the city. The first Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant opened in Manchester in late December 2015, expanding into Leeds and Harrogate over the next two years. In July 2017, Gino announced a partnership with leading UK fashion retailer Next with whom he has three restaurants in prime stores, including the Arndale Centre.
Opening on Monday 17th May, in line with the government roadmap, First Street Bar & Kitchen will see Gino’s hand-picked team work closely with INNSiDE Manchester to deliver an exceptional food and drink experience for hotel guests and visitors.
The spacious, open plan restaurant and lounge has been inspired by the Mediterranean, with stylish, comfortable seating for 200 guests. Floor to ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, while velvet furnishings provide a bold injection of colour against the cool, tiled floor. Trailing plants have been suspended from the ceiling and a photographic feature wall depicts iconic world first events together with leading Manchester destinations.
At the end of the restaurant will be the Spritz Bar – a large, copper-effect island bar with seating for 40. Here guests can enjoy a post-work Aperol Spritz or the restaurant’s signature Pino Spritz – a blend of Prosecco Primo, Fabbri Fiori Di Sambuco and Fever-Tree Soda, garnished with mint leaves and lime.
A second, central bar will offer a mix of cocktails and premium wines, beers and spirits. Local DJs will provide a background soundtrack.
An extended terrace that will wrap two sides of the impressive building will provide seating for a further 64 guests, capturing the sun from morning through to night. Pull up a seat in the afternoon and guests can enjoy early evening nibbles served with the compliments of the restaurant.
The all-day-dining menu features signature dishes suck as whole boneless sea bass with Tikka spices; meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce with chilli and basil; and cod a la plancha with chorizo, new potatoes, cherry tomatoes and rosemary.
A generous selection of sharing plates and salads are also available, including Parma ham bruschetta with spicy ‘nduja, honey and pistachio; crispy rice croquettes stuffed with creamy taleggio cheese and peas; fried chilli squid with Thai herbs and noodle salad; and truffle cheesy fries (V).
Garry Fortune, Cluster General Manager at Meliá Hotels International, said: “This is a very exciting development as we look ahead to the full reopening of the hotel and restaurant on May 17. We’re thrilled to work with Gino D’Acampo and his team to bring a brand-new destination to Manchester, adding a new dimension to his existing portfolio of restaurants in the city.”
Gino D’Acampo added: “After many years of talking to Meliá about a partnership I am super excited to be working with Garry and the team. I want First Street Bar & Kitchen to not only provide incredible food to hotel guests but to be a destination for food lovers to hang out from morning until night in cool surroundings.
"Manchester’s an incredible city and to have the opportunity to open a third restaurant here is a real honour. It will have a totally different feel to that of my other restaurants.”
Open since 2015, INNSiDE Manchester is located in one of Manchester’s most vibrant neighbourhoods as part of the First Street development and is ideally situated for both business and leisure guests looking for a city centre destination. Upcoming new openings include INNSiDE Newcastle, INNSiDE Liverpool, and INNSiDE Lisbon.