Despite uncertainty for hospitality, restaurant businesses continue to come up fighting. New openings continue to roll on with many street food success stories preparing to move into a bricks and mortar space in 2022. Quite a few London venues have decided to follow the likes of L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele and The Real Greek who both opened their first northern outposts in Manchester recently. It’s lovely to have so many positive stories to report.
In no particular order, here’s what we have to look forward to in 2022 – and there are lots more where these came from.
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What - Market 41
Where – Urmston
When – Work starts in summer 2022, so by the end of the year
Planning has finally been approved for work on Urmston’s new food hall development Market 41. Developers, the McGoff Group, had to submit a redesign of plans earlier this year to make sure they comply with business and leisure needs in a post-Covid environment. The approved plans for Market 41 comprise a three-storey scheme with a food hall and communal dining area, more space between individual operators and an extended outdoor space along with a retractable roof to promote the constant flow of fresh air.
In addition to an exciting mix of cafes, restaurants and bars located on the ground and first floors, Market 41 will benefit from dedicated areas for flexible working, lifestyle pop-ups, artisan markets, plus private dining and events. The second floor will feature a 32-room contactless ‘hands free’ hotel and stunning rooftop event area. Read more HERE
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What – Noodlehaus
Where – Near Piccadilly, Manchester
When – Spring 2022
Pippa Middlehurst, former cancer research scientist turned cook, has made a name for herself over recent years hosting supper clubs and teaching cookery workshops with a focus on noodles, dumplings and Asian broths. She has also had growing success making and supplying her own brand of chilli sauces and has brought out a cookery book.
Now it’s time for her to open her own place, Noodlehaus, and the project managed to get off the ground thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. The new venue will be a cookery school and event space, situated in a beautiful old mill in Manchester city centre, 5 minutes from Piccadilly.
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What - Giggling Squid
Where – Hardman Square, Spinningfields
When – Summer 2022
The popular Thai restaurant chain which has 41 branches (mostly down south) will be opening its first northern outpost in Spinningfields next year. A spokesman for the Brighton-based venue confirmed that plans were in place by telling us; “We are yet to fully complete the legal side of things, so nothing is 100% right now. But all being well we hope to arrive sometime next Summer.” The menu is divided into seven sections to include starters, from the land, from the water, stir fry, curry, noodles and sides, and rice.
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What - Benji’s Vegan Kitchen
Where – Stockport
When – February 2022
Former music promoter Benji Taylor became a vegan in 2016, which lead to a love of cooking and experimenting with plant-based dishes – this increased over lockdown when live music events stopped. He had great success making batches of vegan truffles for friends and family so decided to put together some branding, build a website and turn it into a Manchester based business. The orders just never stopped. Benji supplied the Trafford Centre, restaurants, delis, cafes and earlier this year, Benji’ truffles were included in The Independent’s ‘list of top 13 chocolates that will make you not miss dairy.’
Then the opportunity to open his own vegan restaurant appeared. “I don’t think I even paused to think, I jumped straight in,” says Benji. “It’s a dream really and something I’ve wanted to happen for a long time. I have to pinch myself each day, but it is happening and I can’t wait to get started.”
Although Benji’s Vegan Kitchen will be the new home of the truffles, a full menu of interesting plant based food to eat in or take away will be revealed soon.
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What – Beeswing
Where – KAMPUS
When – March 2022
The latest independent operator to announce that they will be opening at Manchester’s KAMPUS garden neighbourhood will be Beeswing, a new wine bar, bottle shop and kitchen. Beeswing (named after the crust formed on old wines, which resemble the wing of a bee) will be a collaboration between wine expert Anna Tutton (the founder of Vin-yard, previously at Hatch) and Joe Maddock (of West Didsbury tapas bar, Pinchos.) It is set to open in March 2022. Read more HERE.
More independent operators are soon to be announced for KAMPUS but work is soon to begin on a new venue for Pollen Bakery who are also planning to open a ground floor flagship pastry kitchen and café there in the spring (read more about that HERE.)
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What - Soho House
Where – Former Granada Studios
When – Late summer/ Autumn 2022
Exclusive members club Soho House has announced that it will be opening its first Northern outpost in 2022. Manchester’s Soho House will occupy the upper three floors of the former Granada Studios building. The exact opening date and facilities at Soho House Manchester are yet to be confirmed, but they have submitted plans for a rooftop bar and a swimming pool. Expect dining rooms, tastefully designed lounge areas, artwork and a variation of the group’s Mollie's Motel & Diner concept. Soho House Manchester has not yet revealed its membership prices, but membership prices for Soho House clubs in London range between £680 to £1,800 per year.
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What - Salvi’s (and Green Lab)
Where - Deansgate Square
When – Early 2022
Salvi’s is planning to bring an authentic slice of southern Italy to the southern end of Deansgate with a new food hub within luxury development, Deansgate Square. The new 3,000 sq ft unit within the flagship scheme will incorporate a restaurant, bar, deli and exhibition space. A weather protected and heated terrace will provide all year-round outdoor and indoor dining. Read more about it HERE. Salvi’s will be joining the likes of General Store Deansgate Square, and wine bar Atomeca who are already open and the hospitality offering will also soon be joined by and popular health food and wellness café The Green Lab (read more about that HERE.)
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What - Lily’s Deli
Where – Ancoats, Manchester, M4 5BF
When – (Very) early 2022
The successful Ashton Indian vegetarian restaurant branched out to open a deli in Chorlton deli and a franchise in Manchester Metropolitan University’s student union building. Now it is to expand even further with a new branch in Ancoats which will open in Cutting Room Square at the beginning of the year. The deli will offer meat-free snacks such as samosas, chaat and Indian desserts and there will be a small café-style seating area.
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What - Lucky Mama’s
Where - Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton
When – Early 2022
Lucky Mama’s (aka ‘head honcho’ Mamadou and ‘head honchess’ Gaby) have been thrilling festival goers and private parties with their made to order real pasta, homemade sauces and proper pizza cooked from their airstream kitchen trailer. Now they’re ready to open their first bricks and mortar place and have secured a site on Barlow Moor Road which they’re fitting out now – hopefully to open early spring 2022.
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What – Sugo Pasta Kitchen
Where – Stanley Square, Sale
When – Spring 2022
After managing to secure £190,000 themselves to open a new Southern Italian restaurant in Sale, Sugo Pasta Kitchen managed to smash their crowdfunding target of £85,000 in only eight days. This will be Sugo’s third venue following the original Altrincham restaurant, which opened in 2015, and the Ancoats branch, which launched in 2018. It will join the likes of Sale Food Hall, Roti contemporary Indian restaurant, Rudy’s Pizza and a soon to open second venue for Altrincham’s Blanchflower. Read more HERE.