Sexy Fish: Manchester Spinningfields branch of exclusive restaurant set to open in old Armani store

It will be the first UK branch of Sexy Fish to open outside of London, where it can command over £100 a dish and £160 for a bottle of wine and has a celebrity fanbase.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Oct 2021, 11:55 BST
Will sashimi be on the menu at Sexy Fish in Manchester? Credit: ShutterstockWill sashimi be on the menu at Sexy Fish in Manchester? Credit: Shutterstock
Will sashimi be on the menu at Sexy Fish in Manchester? Credit: Shutterstock

A new branch of London’s Sexy Fish restaurant has been given a licence to open in Manchester’s former Armani store.

The new restaurant, from the group behind the famous upmarket Ivy chain of restaurants, will be opening in Spinningfields next to John Rylands Library.

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Armani closed its 15,000 sq ft Spinningfields Square store in August. 

The former Armani store in Spinningfields is to be taken over by Sexy Fish Manchester Credit: MEN/ LDRSThe former Armani store in Spinningfields is to be taken over by Sexy Fish Manchester Credit: MEN/ LDRS
The former Armani store in Spinningfields is to be taken over by Sexy Fish Manchester Credit: MEN/ LDRS

Sexy Fish is part of Caprice holdings, who also own The Ivy, which opened an enormous three-storey restaurant in Spinningfields back in 2019.

Sexy Fish’s Mayfair location opened in 2015 and is decorated with artwork by Turner Prize-winning Damien Hirst.

Its menu features ‘Sexy fruit de mer’, sashimi and Japanese wagyu beef fetching £106 per serving and bottles of Merlot wine priced at £160.

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It has become a celeb-magnet regardless, visited by the likes of Katy Perry, Noel Gallagher and Lindsay Lohan.

Noel Gallagher is a fan of Sexy Fish in London Credit: ShutterstockNoel Gallagher is a fan of Sexy Fish in London Credit: Shutterstock
Noel Gallagher is a fan of Sexy Fish in London Credit: Shutterstock

Its new Manchester location will consist of a ground and mezzanine floor, with the ground floor including a customer seating area, kitchen and two external seating areas.

The mezzanine floor includes a further customer area, toilets, and back of house areas.

The restaurant has been granted a licence to open from 8am to 2.30am from Sunday to Wednesday, and until 3.30am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

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An unidentified neighbouring business had objected to the license proposal stating it would cause ‘considerable nuisance to the business and its clientèle’.

However the legal representative on behalf of Caprice Holdings, Guy Lardenburgh, told a licensing hearing that following negotiations the objections had been resolved.

“It is the gateway to Spinningfields where the Armani Emporium used to be, it’s a landmark spot,” he said.

“This would be the first outside London except the one in Miami.

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“It’s essentially a restaurant with quite late hours but a good deal of thought has been given to the operation.”

The new venue will be able to open subject to 26 conditions which will be agreed between Caprice Holdings and the council.

These include serving ‘substantial food’ at all times during the permitted hours, and limiting the outdoor smoking area to a maximum of 20 people.

Related topics:London

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