After weeks spent indoors, Manchester is finally starting to re-open – with bars, pubs, restaurants and other city centre spots swinging open their doors from Saturday 4 July. For many, this new beginning will come with a handful of tweaks in order to ensure customer safety and adhere to social distancing guidelines – however on the whole, it’ll be business as usual – and just in time too. Summer has finally arrived and we’re looking forward to getting back to some of the city-centre haunts we can’t get enough of. With that in mind, here’s a handful of restaurants and eateries that you can visit throughout July. We’ll be updating this article as new venues start to open up, so be sure to check back regularly for updates.
The Northern Quarter just hasn’t been the same without Common, which is why we’re definitely looking forward to its grand re-opening on Saturday 4 July. With a few tweaks in place to make service as safe as possible (it’ll be bookings only for the foreseeable and there’ll be no walk up trade for eating indoors), hungry visitors can get their mitts on slices of Nell’s New York style pizza – all washed down with their excellent selection of craft beers.
During lockdown, Rudy’s adapted well to the recent uprise in restaurants offering take out services, providing customers with pre-cooked Neapolitan pizzas that they could enjoy at home. Still, it’s nothing compared to visiting their city centre restaurants in person – and we’re glad that they’ll be back cooking up chewy, irresistible slices from Saturday 4 July. To book a table at this ever-popular venue, simply follow the booking button below.
Almost Famous will re-open their Great Northern venue from Saturday 4 July, returning with a stripped down menu that brings things back to basics. Visitors can expect the Ultra Famous Burger which features a double cheeseburger, adorned with famous sauce, wonderbutter onion, bacon ketchup and pickles and the Crack Shack, boasting double buttermilk fried chicken on top of a double cheeseburger and drenched in JD maple, smashed tots, bacon rain and awesome sauce – alongside a few more burger treats. Their original Northern Quarter space will re-open soon.
Ah how we’ve missed Hatch. This multi-coloured box-park pop-up became a fast-favourite when it landed on Manchester’s street food and drink scene back in 2017 and we’re super pumped that they’re back doing what they do best. With a reduced capacity and a new table layout to ensure social distancing, Hatch will also be debuting a new digital ordering system that will allow customers to stay safe while they eat and drink. What’s more, in addition to food and drink, Hatch’s many traders will also be retuning – including their onsite barbershop. So long, quarantine cuts!
Want to celebrate the end of lockdown in style? Get yourself to 20 Stories which will be taking bookings for meals and afternoon teas from Saturday 4 July. Like many restaurants, 20 Stories will be running a limited menu for the next few weeks and their team have made menus available to view digitally from your smartphone or device. To book your table, follow the button below.
Italian eatery Piccolino will be reopening its Greater Manchester & Cheshire East restaurants on Saturday July 4, in addition to Piccolino Chester – with tables now available to book online. Adapting to the necessary changes, restaurants will now feature alfresco dining spaces inspired by Italy’s piazzas to provide a more authentic dining experience – perfect for lazy summer evenings.
Six By Nico will be welcoming customers from Monday 13 July with an updated version of one of its most popular menus, The Chippie. Unfamiliar with this place? Six By Nico is a conceptual dining experience featuring a selection of small plates based on a menu theme that changes every six weeks. The Chippie 2.0 promises innovative takes on a real guilty pleasure, including chips and cheese with parmesan espuma & crisp, curry oil, brandade croquette, vinegar powder and brown sauce and a luxurious deep fried Mars bar for dessert. Tempted? Book your table via the button below.
Starting from July 10, Bombay comfort food hub Dishoom will be accepting guests once more as part of their phased reopening. Usually walk-in service only, this popular restaurant will be taking daytime and evening bookings for parties of up to six people throughout July, with additional booking slots being available for August in the coming weeks. Follow the booking button below to secure your table.
Contemporary Indian tea bar and grill Zouk, located just off of Oxford Road on Chester Street, opened back up on Saturday 4 July as lockdown restrictions officially eased. They’re making sure to follow government guidelines for safe reopening, which means you need to book online ahead of your visit. Zouk has set up a decontamination chamber at the entrance to ensure no viruses, bacteria or any other pathogens enter the restaurant. There’s also an app with which to order your food during your visit, limiting table contact between customers and staff. With inside and outside seating areas to choose from – and such careful safety measures in place – if you’ve been missing Zouk’s trademark authentic Indian cuisine and welcoming atmosphere make sure to book in and support one of Manchester’s finest local treasures. Or, if you’re still hesitant about stepping back into the world, Zouk are still offering home delivery and collection on the Deliveroo app.
Contemporary tapas restaurant El Gato Negro has reopened after lockdown, serving lunch and dinner from Thursday – Sunday every week. Located on King Street, the restaurant specialises in modern Spanish cuisine, along with cocktails, wine and beer. With extended opening hours – food is served until 10pm on Thursdays, midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9pm on Sundays – those seeking an authentic European late-night dining experience need look no further. El Gato’s sister restaurant Canto, at Cutting Room Square, will reopen on Thursday 16 July, and is also offering a new take-out and collection service for those hesitant to plunge right back in to dining out. Both restaurants are offering their Three for £15 menu for those interested in a taste of each restaurant’s signature dishes. Social distancing and safety measures are in place at both restaurants, and guests are encouraged to find out more about what measures are in place and book online ahead of their meal.
Refuge by Volta, located right by Oxford Road Station, has announced their reopening date following lockdown. The restaurant will open on Wednesday 5 August, with safety measures in place and two carefully crafted new menus on offer. The Refuge Experience, a brand new menu, is designed for sharing, and is perfect for four to six people. Costing £180 for the table, the menu features Tamarind-glazed chicken wings, salt cod croquettes and beetroot pakora, along with loads of other special dishes. The second of the two menus, Back to the Refuge, is a sharer menu for two, and you can get a selection of Voltini classics including two starters and seven mains and sides for just £20 per person. Refuge resident DJs will soundtrack the reopening and bookings can be made both for the restaurant itself and for the Winter Garden and Public bar – walk-up guests are accepted but folks are encouraged to book to avoid disappointment. More information on booking and new opening hours can be found on their website.
- Words:
- Simon Bland
- Published on:
- Sat 1 Aug 2020
Located in Whitworth Locke, Peruvian-inspired ceviche restaurant Peru Perdu will be taking bookings from Saturday 4 July, serving up dishes like their signature Uraguayan wet aged steaks and delicious small and large plates to hungry customers. Places are limited, so follow the booking button below to check availability.