New Century announce second batch of food traders ahead of reopening

Ahead of their big reopening on Fri 26 Aug, New Century have revealed three more food traders that will be taking up residency in the venue’s ground floor kitchens.

Completing the lineup will be Zumuku Sushi. Chef Benjie completed two years of training in Japan, before moving to the UK to live and work. In 2018 he took the plunge with his wife Flora and long-term friend Hyacinth to set up the first Zumuku takeaway in Wilmslow. Following the success of their first site, Zumuku now have venues across the UK, with New Century becoming home to the seventh Zumuku site and the first in Manchester City Centre. Diners can expect authentic, fresh sushi as well as other Japanese favourites.

Classically trained chef Tom Lowe also joins with Tallow — inspired by the great steakhouses of the UK and Europe and Tom’s passion for well-bred, native beef. Using only sustainably sourced, 28-day dry-aged beef from local butchers, Tallow will provide the highest quality steaks, burgers and sides.

Northern Quarter favourites PLY will complete the core New Century lineup with their elevated pizza concept, Wild by Ply. Collaborating exclusively with Wildfarmed, chef Carl Fraenki-Retti has developed his recipe using their biodynamic flour to create a 24-hour slow-proved dough, which forms the basis of a vibrant menu of pizzas with a range of seasonal toppings. Each pizza will be wood-fired in a custom-built pizza oven at the helm of New Century’s ground floor, with all the dough made daily on the premises and hand-stretched.

In total, six independent traders are now set to take up residence. The previous announcements included chef Adam Reid, the chef patron at prestigious Manchester restaurant The French (The Midland). The two-time Great British Menu winner will launch The Butty Shop, a new concept he hopes will bring the great British butty back to life, with classic Northern flavours built on memories of childhood visits to the bakery forming its foundations.

Asian plant-based favourites, Banh Vi, will be slinging their immensely popular Vietnamese and Thai-inspired creations that have been a hit across the city for some years now, and 2021 British Street Food ‘People’s Choice’ winners, BaoBros23, who will bring their spectacular bao buns to Manchester for the first time.

Alongside all the incredible bites, will be a healthy selection of local beers, wines, cocktails, artisan coffees, teas and juices.

Now going by the slightly shortened title of New Century, the £10m transformation will also see the space used as a creative college in Manchester’s NOMA neighbourhood—just between Victoria Station and Shudehill.

The jaw-dropping Grade II listed building aims to become a new social hub spread over three floors, each with a focus on nurturing talent, developing skills and creating new opportunities.

Once home to a legendary dance hall the building was a white-collar conference centre by day, but hosted the world’s biggest acts by night, including the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Tina Turner in the 60s/70s.

New Century looks to continue that legacy, restoring stunning features like the original sprung dancefloor, disco ceiling and wood-panelled wall to create a wildly unique new live culture venue in the city.