11 Manchester restaurant openings to look forward to in 2024 as Cottonopolis closes to make way for new venue

Just a few days into the new year and another Manchester restaurant has announced it will be closing its doors. 

Cottonopolis in the Northern Quarter has been serving up Japanese food and cocktails for eight years, having opened in 2015 to much success. However, the owners, who also own the Edinburgh Castle gastro pub in Ancoats, have revealed that while the popular restaurant and bar will be closing as we know it, it will be reopening early this year as a new, yet-to-be-announced food and drink venue. 

And it’s not the only Manchester restaurant facing a rebrand. Sud Pasta, previously known as Sugo, closed all four Manchester locations in December before later announcing that it was rebranding again as Rigatoni’s, a new ‘pasta concept’ restaurant. So while we miss the longstanding favourites, there are plenty of new openings in Manchester to get excited about. 

New Manchester restaurants for 2024

Skof

A new high-end restaurant from the group behind Michelin-starred L’Enclume in the Lake District. This will be the first solo project from chef Tom Barnes. It will be located in the NOMA neighbourhood in the city centre. 

Shipyard

New year, new food hall – a concept Greater Manchester can’t seem to get enough. This one will be located at Spinningfields overlooking the River Irwell. It is part of the ambitious Enterprise City development. 

Medlock Canteen

This new restaurant, from the team behind Madre at Kampus and Liverpool’s Belzan, will be located in Manchester’s tallest neighbourhood, Deansgate Square. It will be serving up food inspired by American diners and Parisian bistros. 

Gino D’Acampo

This opening is another rebrand for Gino, whose team already runs the First Street Bar and Kitchen, soon to become the new Italian restaurant by the TV chef. 

Flat Iron

Meat lovers will be pleased to know that Flat Iron, the popular steak chain with restaurants all over London and one in Leeds and Cambridge, is coming to Manchester in 2024. It will be located at 200-204 Deansgate. 

Royal Nawaab

The Indian restaurant will be taking over one of the most striking buildings in Greater Manchester, the Stockport Pyramid. The massive new venue will include a 350-seat dining space with a buffet area as well as private VIP rooms on the ground floor; a large banquet hall with space for up to 700 people, along with a bar area and a bride’s room for wedding events in the first floor; and two more banquet halls, seating 150 and 300 guests on the second.

Ottoman Bar and Grill

The Chorley-based Turkish restaurant will be opening a second restaurant in Greater Manchester at Affinity Living Riverside in Salford. 

Fairfield Social Club

Located in the Red Bank area of Manchester, near Angel Meadows, this will be a new multi-use, street food and drink space from the team behind GRUB. It is due to open on Friday 1 March. 

Soho House

This will be a new private members’ club, which has locations around the world, and it will be located inside the former Granada Studios building off Quay Street. It will include an exclusive members’ gym, steam room and sauna, fine dining restaurant and bar and a dazzling rooftop pool, complete with pool bar. Membership applications are now open, starting at £1,800. 

Maya

A new addition to the Gay Village, this new restaurant will be opening at 40 Chorlton Street. Maya will be a brasserie style venue from the same team behind Mayfair’s Isabel. 

The team behind the recently closed Levanter and the Kampus wine bar Beeswing are teaming up to create a new Spanish tapas restaurant.