My top food and drink tips for Manchester in 2024
180° curry, Michelin calling, and a post-punk bar
Another year is on its way out and everyone is starting to look towards what 2024 will bring. The past year was full of big changes for me. I launched this Substack (and my wine one), I quit my job (again) and I launched a small business as a side hustle that has actually now become my main hustle. I may have left Big Manchester Media but my love of our hospitality is stronger than ever. Now I can focus on what I really care about and ignore (or throw shade on) the hype and the noise.
Last year, I wrote a huge round-up of anticipated new openings for Manchester’s Finest, several of these are still yet to open but so many have become firm faves (Higher Ground, Great North Pie Co. and Madre, I’m looking at you). Things have calmed down a bit but there is still loads to look forward to in 2024. I’ve added some extra new opening sleuthing for my much-appreciated paid subscribers at the bottom of this article. Thank you for supporting my work whether you’re a paid or regular subscriber. It means so much that you want to read my words.
Keep scrolling for my Manchester food and drink tips for 2024:
Skof
There’s little doubt that the most anticipated restaurant opening of 2024 is Tom Barnes’ Skof in the Hanover Building near Victoria Station. If you’ve somehow missed this news, Tom is Executive Chef at L’Enclume, the only three-Michelin star restaurant North of London and a worldwide foodie destination. You may also recognise him from Great British Menu, the lockdown edition. Tom has only ever worked in Michelin star restaurants since the age of 18 and now he’s bringing his skills here. My booking finger is hovering and yours should be too.
Royal Nawaab Pyramid
Two Greater Manchester institutions combine to make some kind of culinary Wuzzle of dreams. Yes, Stockport’s iconic Co-Op pyramid building - for many years the most exciting thing about Stockport - will next year house Levenshulme’s legendary Royal Nawaab curry buffet and banqueting hall. It almost makes me want to get married just so that I can do it there.
Treehouse Hotel
One of my fave chefs in Greater Manchester is Mary Ellen McTague, the woman behind the much-missed Aumbry in Prestwich and The Creameries in Chorlton. We first met when we were both involved with The Real Junk Food Project. Mary Ellen has kept busy with her social enterprise Eat Well MCR but it’s been a while since you could sit in a restaurant and eat her food. That’s set to change when the Treehouse Hotel finally, FINALLY opens its doors in 2024. Mary Ellen will be behind the hotel’s main restaurant while Madre’s Sam Grainger oversees rooftop dining and Luke and Justin (aka the Unabombers) ensure the bar side of things is popping. I just wish this hotel would look like this which is how I imagined it when I first heard the name.
The Edinburgh Castle
Next year, the Top 50 Gastro pubs will once again be announced and for the first time, since I’ve been following it at least, a Manchester pub is on the list. That pub is The Edinburgh Castle and its inclusion is well deserved. Head Chef Shaun Moffat goes to extremes to ensure everything he uses is British. This means no olive oil, no lemons, but also means that the British produce he does cook with is prepared with absolute reverence. It’s a fantastic pub and you should book yourself a table before the Gastro Pubs list is revealed and everyone wants to eat there.
Another Michelin Star for Manchester?
It’s not a new opening or an event that most people will be able to attend but it’s HUGE news that Michelin has decided to host its 2024 award ceremony here in Manchester. They’ll be dishing out stars at The Midland Hotel, news which has already prompted a few people to ask if Adam Reid at The French, the fine dining restaurant in the Midland, will finally get a star. If not, then perhaps another Manchester restaurant will get spangled. Either way, it’s yet another sign that Manchester is the city to be in right now.
The Armenian Taverna expansion
If you know me, you know I adore ancient Manchester restaurant The Armenian Taverna with its oozy khachapuri breads and vintage-style wine glasses. Tucked away in a basement off Albert Square, this unique spot goes unnoticed by many but I suspect that’s about to change. For the past few months when I have walked by, I’ve seen activity going on upstairs, the window is emblazed ‘coming soon’ and it all adds up to them extending into the upstairs unit. This could be a game changer for them and might put this fabulous place on the mainstream foodie map after an Aesop-worthy 50-odd years of working up to it.
Rigatoni’s
Pasta kitchen Sud, formerly known as Sugo, has been riling up social media recently with its mysterious ‘Are we closing or aren’t we?’ posts. On 20 December the team revealed they will be rolling out a rebrand in 2024. Henceforth to be known as Rigatoni’s, the new venture will focus on one tubular pasta shape with sauces as clingy as your insecure new boyfriend. They assure us that all dishes will be both hearty and affordable with prices within the £7.50 to £13.50 a dish range.
More pasta Onda move
The social media pasta restaurant success story of the year, Onda, will also be going through changes in 2024. The fantastic fresh pasta brand went viral to the tune of 25 million reel views for its Tiramisu drawer this year. Even stars as famous as Florence Pugh were getting in on the action. Now, it has announced it’s outgrown its primary school pants having quickly graduated from the nursery of Exhibition to a peppy pop-up at New Cross. Onda will open its own proper grown-up restaurant in 2024.
A new thing from Simon Shaw
Everyone loves El Gato Negro and I think Simon Shaw is a nice bloke but I never quite got on with his ‘Middle Eastern’ small plates restaurant Habas. Towards the end of 2023, he announced the restaurant would be closing in January but that a new concept is being cooked up to replace it. I’m intrigued to see what comes next from Simon and hoping it’s something I can really get behind.
Soho House and Mollie’s Motel
Another big opening that was chalked for 2023, hip London-born members club Soho House should be opening early this year for those who can afford the eye-watering membership fees. It will be interesting to see how it goes down in a city like Manchester. Mollie’s Motel is due to open underneath it and will likely have an American-style diner selling burgers, fried chicken and breakfasts too. Something called Caravan is opening here in the St John’s District too, it says it will be an all-day world food restaurant and speciality coffee shop. Not sure if it’s a new name for this one or something else.
Other new stuff I have spotted
For my paid subscribers, below is a roundup of other new openings I have my beady eye on. Some very interesting stuff here including new hotels, Malaysian, Chinese and Ethiopian restaurants and an 80s synthwave bar in a familiar spot.