11 March 2015

IT’S official. Manchester is the fastest growing city for food led businesses. That’s according to leading leisure consultants CGA Peach, but TOM could have told you that from the number of invitations that flood into the office. It’s a hard life, but we feel we have to accept most of them.

CGA Peach’s most recent figures cover the last decade and show that Manchester city centre posted the UK’s biggest jump in food led businesses such as restaurants, gastropubs and café-bars with a 57 per cent  increase. London incomers Hawksmoor and Iberica are the latest high profile arrivals after the likes of Simon Rogan at the French (pictured above), but the rest of 2015 looks set fair to further establish the city on the culinary map with strong home-grown initiatives, too.

One way to celebrate this amazing expansion, outperforming London, would be to get down to the Northern Restaurant & Bar show at Manchester Central on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18. Ok, it’s hospitality trade-oriented but the emphasis is on hospitality for the pro and non-pro alike with more than 270 exhibitors and a host of international speakers. Hence a record level of bookings for the event – up by 15 per cent on last year. Keynote events NRB Top 50 awards and the NRB Debate also requiring increased capacities.

NRB CEO Thom Hetherington is delighted the exhibition is serving a booming industry: “The North has always punched above its weight in terms of food and drink, but it seems that the rest of the world has finally woken up to its strength and potential.”

The exhibition’s growing profile has attracted international speakers, including Nacho Manzano (above), the three Michelin starred Spanish Exec Chef of Iberica, and Jim Rutledge, Master Distiller of Four Roses, awarded the title of “Best US Whiskey Distillery’. Despite the global flavour NRB keeps it’s Northern soul with demos from chefs including Kenny Atkinson (House of Tides, Newcastle) and Michael O’Hare (The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds, below).  Also on site is a VIP Cocktail bar courtesy of Manchester’s Mr Cooper’s House and Garden, which recently made the Gold List in the prestigious Conde Naste Traveller magazine and, naturally in these hop-driven time, a Craft Beer Quarter.

Northern Restaurant & Bar is a trade exhibition and only open to those actively working in the hospitality trade. To book free tickets follow this link.