Manchester ups its fine-dining focus

By Carol Emmas, Emily Kearns

Published: 20 August, 2013

Manchester is to add to its developing fine-dining ethos with a new venture from celebrity chef James Martin and an announcement from Allied London that the Spinningfields area is to become a bespoke high-end dining, leisure and cultural destination.

James Martin Manchester will be housed in the Manchester235 casino in Deansgate, and is set to open in September with a menu of modern British cuisine of locally sourced produce that aims to be big on flavour and "uncontrived in its simplicity". It will replace Manchester235's Linen restaurant.

Open 24 hours, seven days a week, Manchester235 Casino features lavish décor, a contemporary restaurant, cocktail bar, luxurious multi-use private event suite, poker lounge and a multitude of gaming facilities including poker, blackjack and roulette.

The latest confirmed restaurant opening in Spinningfields is the Avenue, which aims to bring a new and unique dining concept to the city - which, according to Allied London, still lags behind other international areas in the provision of high-end dining options.

It will hold a prime position taking the place of the Brooks Brothers unit, which Allied London has taken back in order to realise its vision.

Michael Ingall, chief executive of Allied London, said: "With the creation of high-quality, original and unique urban eating and dining areas, we genuinely believe that we can evolve Spinningfields into a must-visit destination for visitors and tourists alike. The Avenue offers real potential to help us achieve this while improving the eating and dining links across Spinningfields. We hope this will be the first of several new offerings."

Martin said: "Over the past few months, there has been a definitive shift in Manchester's restaurant scene and I can't wait to be able to add James Martin Manchester to the mix. I've always been keen to have a restaurant presence in the city and my relationship with Caesars Entertainment UK gives me the perfect platform to do this."

Printer friendly version