Counter Manchester: Andrew Sheridan to launch new contemporary dining spot

Acclaimed chef Andrew Sheridan is set to launch a new contemporary dining destination in Manchester this November.

Counter Manchester, the latest addition to the Open Restaurant Group portfolio and the first in Manchester city centre, promises to bring a ‘theatrical approach’ to dining. It follows the launch of Sheridan’s open-fire concept Arcadian in Didsbury last month.

The 60-cover restaurant will open in the Island Building on John Dalton Street. At its heart will be a four-to-five-seat chef’s counter, placing guests directly at the pass for an up-close view of the kitchen in action. The interiors will feature four-metre elm trees, curved booth seating and a brass wine display.

With Counter, the award-winning chef says he wants to challenge convention by exploring what British cooking can be, placing exceptional local produce at the heart of a menu shaped by flavours, ingredients and techniques from around the world.

The menu puts this philosophy into practice with dishes that combine unexpected ingredients and inventive flavour pairings. Highlights include the Beef Tartare Pressed Croissant, pairing aged beef with a crispy pressed croissant, smoked oyster mayo, wasabi and pickled shallot; the Tuna Pizza, combining a crisp sesame base with raw tuna, avocado, jalapeño and smoked soy; and the Scallop Hash Brown, featuring crispy potato, scallop brown butter satay, green chilli and lime.

From the grill, guests can expect the Satay Spatchcock Chicken, served with peanut satay, fermented chilli, coconut, burnt lime and crispy shallot, alongside Turbot Steak, a bone-in cut finished with brown butter, green chilli and preserved lemon.

Paying homage to Manchester, the dessert menu features Vimto 1908, a nod to the city’s iconic soft drink, bringing together Vimto jelly, baked yoghurt, vanilla sponge, blackcurrant, raspberry and custard. Meanwhile, The Manchester Glory layers vanilla custard, raspberry, coconut ice cream, banana, toasted coconut, whipped mascarpone and cherry for a playful finale inspired by the city.

Drinks will be led by Jake Nutt, who returns to Open Restaurant Group following a stint at two-Michelin-starred Ynyshir in Wales.

Andrew Sheridan, Chef and Co-Founder at Open Restaurant Group, said: “For us, great cooking isn’t about sticking to rules or defining food by where it comes from. It’s about taking the best flavours, textures and ingredients from around the world and bringing them together in ways that surprise people. We start with great produce, take inspiration from different food cultures and have fun with it, creating dishes that are bold, playful and full of flavour.

“Manchester is creative, loud and full of character, and we wanted Counter to reflect exactly that. It’s a place where great food meets a sense of occasion, without ever taking itself too seriously. Whether you’re joining us for lunch or dinner, we want Counter to feel like a natural part of the city, somewhere you come back to time and time again.”

Counter Manchester will open Mon 9 Nov.