New in Food: Bundobust, Wreckfish, Maray & more

Manchester gets its own load of okra fries as Bundobust finally opens, mixology maestro Manachain Monaghan sets his sights on Leeds, Liverpool favourites Maray and Mowgli launch new sites and Sticky Walnut's Gary Usher unveils his latest plans

Feature by Jess Hardiman | 20 Dec 2016

If you're anything like us, you'll sometimes feel overwhelmed by the number of new restaurant and bar openings in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. To help you conquer this feeling – and hopefully give you some new ideas for Sunday brunch – we're going to be rounding up the best new openings across the region every month, from craft beer bars to coffee places, to street food pop-ups and fancy restaurants. Opening a new food and drink venue in Leeds, Liverpool or Manchester? Let us know – send the details to jess@theskinny.co.uk.

Indian street food and Monk cocktails in Leeds

The Cat's Pyjamas

Headingley Indian street food and craft beer joint The Cat’s Pyjamas now has a new restaurant in Eastgate, rolling out their Railway Potato Curry, Keralan Prawn Moilee, Paneer Tacos, Goan Chicken Cafreal and much more to the city centre, complete with 16 craft beer taps, continental bottled beers and mango lassis. Open now, Eastgate.

Monk

Mixologist Manachain Monaghan, owner of Monk cocktail bar in nearby Buxton, has set his sights on Leeds for his next boozer, having had plans approved for a Grade II listed building on South Parade. We’re yet to know if this will be another Monk or an entirely new project, but judging from the standard established by the drinks of his first venue, whatever happens we reckon we might just be in for a treat. Opens 2017, South Parade.

Chida Cantina

Leeds-based bartender Robert Jump branches out into the world of Central America with a forthcoming new bar and restaurant Chida Cantina – ‘Chida’ being slang in Mexican for something cool – where it’ll be a double hitter of tequila and tacos. Due to open in Feb.

More from Maray and the Sticky Walnut stable in Liverpool

[Maray Bold Street]

Maray

It’s no surprise, really, that the folk behind Ropewalks’ seasonal small plate oasis Maray are having to head out into the suburbs to cope with the demand of their bijou Bold Street restaurant. That’s the great news for the people of Allerton, who can brace themselves for more of those shareable dishes and fresh flavours that the place has become famous for. Opens early 2017,

Allerton Road
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Wreckfish

With his crowdfunded third restaurant Hispi settling in nicely to the Manchester suburbs, it seems Gary Usher – of Sticky Walnut and Burnt Truffle repute – is at it again, making his first foray into a city centre with Wreckfish. Set for an empty site in Liverpool’s Ropewalks district, for this one Usher will begin with a series of pop-up events in the venue to test the waters, before turning back to his loving crowds to help fund the venture. We kinda think it's worth backing for their signature braised featherblade alone, TBH. Opens February, Seel and Slater Street.

[Yard and Coop]

Yard and Coop

Manchester chicken hotspot Yard and Coop has now also taken on Liverpool with a new joint in Liverpool ONE. Given that fried chicken competition in the city is already fairly stiff, they'll have their work cut out to impress – which they're aiming to do with artwork from local artists, chicken coop-style seating areas and, erm, a huge tree at the entrance, all bringing a novel touch to the 6,425 sq.ft. space, which is set across the ground floor and basement levels. Open now, Wall Street.

Mowgli

Liverpool’s very own success story Mowgli continues to make the motherland proud with its second hometown restaurant, following up the recent Manchester launch with a new venue in the busy Commercial District. Housed within a former Manchester and Liverpool District Bank dating back to the 1860s, the Water Street branch boasts grand detailing and lofty ceilings, giving a regal setting to the well-loved menu of home-style Indian tiffin dishes. Open now,

Water Street
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Okra fries and Jack Daniels slushies in Manchester

[Bundobust, photo: Ben Bentley]

Bundobust

We’re beyond stoked that Bundobust, Leeds’ fabled craft beer and Indian street food gaff now has its very own Manchester site in a prime basement spot in Piccadilly Gardens. It benefits from a reputation that’s very much preceded it – thanks not only to the frenetic wave of word of mouth from across the Pennines, but also to countless portions of okra fries at Indy Man Beer Con – and thankfully it seems the buzz continues to feel more than justified.

That’s thanks to the same winning combo of great craft beer and flavour-packed, Gujarati-inspired vegetarian small plates (we love the vada pav, tarka dhal, paneer and mushroom tikka, okra fries, egg bhurji and, of course, that buttery flatbread), all housed in a vast space, well lit for a unit below street level thanks to a beauty of a skylight. Open now, Piccadilly Gardens.

West Corner

Following the success of nautical-themed bar Hold Fast, housed in the basement of their Newton Street building, Hatters Hostel group are also launching a new diner in the former Koffee Pot site on Stevenson Square, as part of their extensive refurbishment for their Hilton Chambers branch. The New York-inspired all-day deli, diner and cocktail bar has ex-Hawksmoor chef Romin Farahini at the helm, sourcing produce from local suppliers such as Barbakan Bakery, Out of the Blue and The Butcher’s Quarter round the corner on Tib Street. Open now, Hilton Street.

Jimmy's

The latest move from One Night Only bandmates (and brothers) George and Jimmy Craig, Jimmy’s is a new Northern Quarter rock bar and live music venue. Bravely filling the shoes of the dearly-departed Roadhouse as Newton Street’s subterranean gig hole, here it’s all about red neon signs, cult music memorabilia, American Pabst Blue Ribbon lager, Jack and Coke slushies and Tim Burgess’ Tim Peaks coffee. At a time when the Northern Quarter is fast becoming saturated by cocktail bars and brunch spots, Jimmy’s looks like the laid-back, scuzzy social den that the neighbourhood’s actually been lacking for some time now. Open now, Newton Street.

Seven Bro7hers

It’s been some time coming, but local craft brewery Seven Bro7ers are finally up and running with their own beer house on Ancoats’ Cutting Room Square. The 200-capacity space has 16 draught and keg beers, and is ideally located in an area that’s been on the up for some time now, with sourdough pizza haven Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza just round the corner, among others. Open now,

Blossom Street
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