Big Mama Group to bring its glitzy Sardinian trattoria to Manchester

Hospitality veteran Big Mama Group has confirmed that Manchester will become home to its latest venture.

Circolo Popolare will be based in the brand-new £400m St Michael’s development, just off Deansgaste, and hopes to ‘take Mancunians, young and old, on the ultimate authentic Italian trip’.

Described as a Jasmine-clad Sardinian trattoria, the restaurant will be spread across two floors and boast space for 280 covers. Upstairs will feature intimate alcoves and an open kitchen run by Head Chef, Campanian-born Alfonso Esposito. Downstairs will be one huge room inspired by an overgrown Mediterranean courtyard.

Commenting on their first restaurant in the North of England, Co-Founders Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux have shared: “Our 10-year Big Mamma adventure has continued to surprise and challenge us, and we couldn’t think of a better restaurant that encapsulates everything we strive for than the joyful and atmospheric Circolo Popolare, in the vibrant community-driven city of Manchester.

“Having visited Manchester multiple times to find this unique spot, we have both been bowled over by the sheer plethora of hospitality talent within the city. We are hugely excited to be even a small part of this, and to bring our superb Italian products we spent 3 years personally sourcing to another major European city.”

Big Mama’s Circolo Popolare also operates in London’s Rathbone Place, alongside its Gloria, Carlotta, Jacuzzi and Ave Mario concepts in the capital. Further afield, the group also operates a Gloria in Milan as well as Barracuda in Brussels and, most recently, Barcelona.

Circolo Popolare is set to open this June.