Manchester’s The Sparrows awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand

A Manchester restaurant is just one of 20 in the UK and Ireland to have been awarded a prestigious Bib Gourmand in the latest Michelin Guide 2023.

The Spärrows in Red Bank in the Green Quarter has been given the nod by the guide’s leading restaurant critics, ahead of the Michelin star awards being announced on Monday 27 March. The Bib Gourmand award recognises eateries which offer ‘stand out, quality’ cooking but also ‘good value’ according to Michelin - with its recipients generally significantly more ‘affordable’ than those with the top award, the Michelin star. The Spärrows, which opened in February 2019, is the only restaurant in the North West to have made the cut in the current round of Bib awards.

It follows a previous accolade which saw the eatery added to the overall Michelin Guide. The Spärrows specialises in offering delicious Central European ‘comfort food’, including pasta and spatzle, traditional German noodle-like pasta, which starts from £8 a dish. They also offer Russian and Polish-style dumplings and cheeseboards, and a large selection of wines and beers. The restaurant itself has a simple, pared-back interior with brick walls and a patio area, nestled below the railway arches.

They said: “Ever so proud to be among some fabulous UK restaurants chosen by Michelin Guide inspectors as favourites of 2023. Surely this wouldn’t be possible without our amazing guests, who kept Spärrows hard working team on their toes since February 2019. Without linen table cloths, flower garnishes or fancy decor, it feels truly fantastic to be appreciated for our contribution to comfort cooking, service and to represent some superb artisan makers from Central Europe.”

Currently Manchester has one Michelin-starred restaurant, Mana in Ancoats, where dinner and lunch menus start from £95 a head and bookings open months in advance. There are 17 restaurants in Manchester featured in the overall 2023 Michelin Guide.

Full list of Michelin Bib Gourmand 2023 restaurants in the UK and Ireland

Aldridge Lodge, Duncannon

Andria, Dartmouth

Bancone, London

Bao, London

Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath

Berenjak, London

Blaise Inn, Bristol - New

Bonnie Badger, Gullane

BOX-E, Bristol

Brasserie Zédel, London

Broad Chare, Newcastle upon Tyne

Brutto, London

Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay

Burnt Orange, Brighton

Celentano's, Glasgow

Charlton Arms, Ludlow

Chart House, Dingle

Cin Cin, Brighton and Hove

COR, Bristol - New

Cornish Arms, Tavistock

Courthouse, Carrickmacross

Cush, Ballycotton

Dastaan, Ewell

Deanes at Queens, Belfast

Duncombe Arms, Ellastone

Éan, Galway

EDŌ, Belfast - New

El Gato Negro, Manchester

Emilia, Ashburton - New

Everett's, Waterford

Evernight, London - New

Farang, London

Flint House, Brighton - New

Fox & Hounds, Hunsdon

Galvin Green Man, Howe Street

Goldie, Cork

Gunpowder Spitalfields, London

Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market

Hām, London - New

Hare & Hounds, Aberthin

Haveli, Ponteland

Hereford Road, London

Hitchen's Barn, Oakham

Hope & Anchor, South Ferriby

Hoppers, London

Ibérico World Tapas, Nottingham

Imad's Syrian Kitchen, London

José, London

Ka Pao, Glasgow

Kai, Galway

Kateh, London

Kilberry Inn, Kilberry

Kiln, London

Kricket, London

Kudu, London

Kushi-Ya, Nottingham - New

Legare, London

manteca, London

Mark Jordan at the Beach, Beaumont

Marmo, Bristol - New

Monadh Kitchen, Glasgow

Noble, Holywood

Noto, Edinburgh

Ox and Finch, Glasgow

Padella, London

pahli hill, London

Palomar, London

Paradise, London

Pichet, Dublin

Plaquemine Lock, London

Plaza Khao Gaeng, London - New

Popolo, London

Prashad, Drighlington

Primeur, London

Provender, London

Provender, Melrose

Pulpo Negro, New Alresford

Queen of Cups, Glastonbury - New

Richmond, Dublin

Rick Stein's Café, Padstow

Root, Bristol

Root Wells, Wells - New

Saint Francis Provisions, Kinsale - New

Sardine Factory, Looe

Sargasso, Margate

Sculthorpe Mill, Sculthorpe

Sha-Roe Bistro, Clonegall

Six Bells, Witham on the Hill - New

Skosh, York

Smokestak, London

Spitalfields, Dublin

St. JOHN Bread and Wine, London

Stag & Hounds, Burrough on the Hill

Table Forty One, Gorey

The Anchor, Ripley

The Barbary, London

The Chequers, Bath - New

The Galley, Topsham - New

The Green, Sherborne

The Inn at Welland, Welland

The Pelican, London - New

The Royal, St Leonards on Sea

The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh

The Spärrows, Manchester - New

The Square at Porthleven, Porthleven

Three Oaks, Gerrards Cross

Thyme, Athlone

Trullo, London

Twelve, Thornton

Uno Mas, Dublin

Upstairs (at Trinity), London

Volpe Nera, Blackrock

Waterman, Belfast - New

Westerns Laundry, London

Wine & Brine, Moira

Yr Hen Printworks, Cardigan - New