November is here, and with it comes one of the busiest times in Manchester's food and drink calendar as the city swings into party season.
As restaurants and bars rush to open in time for the lucrative Christmas trade, there are plenty of new places to eat and drink this month.
And that's before you count the festive pop-ups like Bar Hütte and its carol-oke cabins and the Christmas Markets' ice tiki and snow globe bars .
From a Michelin-starred chef's first Manchester restaurant to street food events and natural wine bars, there's a varied bunch of new places to eat and drink this month.
Have a read and get stuck in.
The Bull & Bear, Manchester city centre
Manchester's most talked-about restaurant opening of the year happens this month with the launch of Tom Kerridge's The Bull & Bear.
The celebrity chef has teamed up with Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, who are transforming the city's historic Stock Exchange into a luxury Relais & Châteaux hotel.
Situated under the domed ceiling of the building's former trading floor, the restaurant will serve a menu of refined British classics such as chicken kiev with cauliflower cheese, and crispy pig's head with celeriac rémoulade and spiced date sauce.
Kerridge has three Michelin stars to his name: two at his Marlow pub The Hand & Flowers, and another at The Coach nearby.
4 Norfolk Street, Manchester, M2 1DW | stockexchangehotel.co.uk | Opens November 15
Isca, Levenshulme
Two leading figures in Greater Manchester's food and drink scene have joined forces to open a new neighbourhood wine bar and deli in Levenshulme.
After losing out on an original site in a former off-licence in the area, Isobel Jenkins (of supper club Season's Eatings) and Caroline Dubois (sommelier at Stockport's Where The Light Gets In) are now renovating a former office unit.
Isca will be opening on a stretch of Stockport Road that's close to Levenshulme train station and just a few doors down from Station Hop.
The new site will act as both a natural wine bar and a casual deli-style restaurant with a mostly vegetarian menu.
824 Stockport Road, Levenshulme, M19 3BS | instagram.com/iscawine | Due to open mid-November
The Edinburgh Castle, Ancoats
An old, derelict pub in Ancoats is about to be relaunched by the team behind the Northern Quarter's Cottonopolis.
One of the few public houses to stay standing as the area's been rapidly redeveloped, the Edinburgh Castle will operate as a proper boozer on the ground floor with a restaurant - The Cutting Room - upstairs.
The 52-cover restaurant will have a menu that's been described as a 'complete departure' from the Japanese-influenced food served at Cottonopolis.
Co-owner Nick Muir said earlier this year: “The Edinburgh Castle pub has been popular and serving locals for centuries so we’ve got big boots to fill.
"We truly believe that our plans will ensure we’re giving the area, our neighbours and visitors what they want – a quality place to eat and drink, exuding Northern grit, a stylish twist and exceptional standards.”
The exact opening date and menus haven't been confirmed yet, but we'll be sure to share the latest as we hear it.
17 Blossom Street, Ancoats, M4 5AN | instagram.com/ec_ancoats | Opening date TBC
Beatnikz Republic Taproom, Manchester city centre
Craft brewery Beatnikz Republic is re-opening its Red Bank taproom.
The operation first opened beneath the railway arches in 2017 but later closed its taproom to open a dedicated bar in the Northern Quarter.
Now, after two expansions, the taproom is reopening again with a number of beers on tap, fresh from the source (and all vegan).
It'll be open from noon until 9pm every Saturday, accepting card and contactless payments only.
Unit 15 Red Bank Court, Manchester, M4 4HF | beatnikzrepublic.com | Reopens Saturday November 2
GRUB, Manchester city centre
Street food fair GRUB is on the move again after coming to the end of its summer residency at Mayfield.
The popular weekly event is taking over The Red Bank Project, a newly-opened temporary arts space close to the Green Quarter.
A rotating line up of the north's best street food traders will pitch up in an outside yard, warmed by a fire pit in winter.
The venue will also feature two separate bar areas - one with 22 lines of craft beer - as well as a dedicated kids' play room and a flexible events space hosting activities ranging from yoga to art workshops.
The GRUB team have stressed it'll have a few 'rough edges' for the first few weeks, when work will be ongoing to turn it from a pop-up to a permanent venue.
It will eventually provide a year-round home for GRUB, which has spent the past two summers at Mayfield Gatehouse and winters at Fairfield Social Club, both near Piccadilly station.
GRUB Food Fair will run every Friday (4pm to 10pm) and Saturday (noon to 10pm) at The Red Bank Project, starting from November 1.
The popular Plant Powered Sundays will also be back every Sunday (noon to 6pm) with a 100% vegan food offering.
Both events are free, family- and dog-friendly, and no tickets are required.
50 Red Bank, Manchester, M4 4HF | grubmcr.com | Opens November 1
Kiosk, Manchester city centre
Manchester Arndale's short-lived prosecco bar has been given a new lease of life as a coffee shop from the owner of the city's coolest corner shops.
Mital Morar, who owns Ancoats General Store and Stretford Foodhall, has launched Kiosk in the spot vacated by Fizz! by Frizzenti in the £11m Halle Place food quarter.
Located at the heart of the atrium off Market Street, beneath a striking light display, Kiosk will serve coffee from the Ancoats Coffee Co roastery and beer from Manchester Union Lager, along with locally-made cakes and pastries.
Halle Place, Manchester Arndale, M4 3AQ | kioskmcr.co.uk | Open now
BLVD, Manchester city centre
Spinningfields nightspot Neighbourhood reopens this month, revamped and branded as BLVD.
The site has been taken over by the owners of Manchester nightclubs including Factory and Impossible, who are promising a 'high end drinking and dining concept' offering 'exceptional food and drink' and 'dynamic late-night entertainment'.
By day, it will serve a globally-influenced food menu, available from noon until 10pm, while evenings promise a lively mix of cocktails and nightly entertainment.
The Avenue North, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3JE | blvdmanchester.com | Opens November 14
Be At One, Manchester city centre
Moving from beneath Barton Arcade to a more prominent position on Deansgate, cocktail bar Be At One is taking over the spot that's been home to The Living Room for 20 years.
The chain boasts around 150 cocktails on its menu, from its best-selling pornstar martinis to low- and no-alcohol versions of classics.
Stonegate Pub Company, the group behind the bar, will be turning the site into a Be At One, which it feels 'best fits the location'.
80 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2ER | beatone.co.uk | Opens November 15
Bar Barton, Manchester city centre
Taking over the Barton Arcade basement left empty by Be At One is pop-up party venue Bar Barton.
It's currently open every Friday and Saturday until 3am, and will be open daily for private hire when the Christmas party season gets into full swing.
Owners are promising a line up of the best DJs in town together with drinks deals including two for one cocktails and spirits.
13 Barton Arcade, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2ER | barbarton.co.uk | Open now
Peru Perdu at The Cotton Factory, Manchester city centre
Taking over from departing residents El Camino, South American dining concept Peru Perdu is popping up at the Whitworth Locke hotel's revolving-door-restaurant The Cotton Factory.
Diners can look forward to a menu featuring Uruguayan wet-aged steaks, ceviche and black bean dumplings, washed down with Peruvian pisco sours and wines sourced largely from Chile and Argentina.
Bottomless brunch will be served on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm, with a choice of two courses and free-flowing selected cocktails or sparkling wine for £30, and there'll be roast dinners available on Sundays, with a choice of churrasco beef, la brasa chicken, pork belly or chimichurri cauliflower.
The Cotton Factory, Whitworth Locke Hotel, 74 Princess Street, M1 6JD | peruperdu.com | Open now
Finca at Northern Monk, Manchester city centre
Returning to Manchester after their Spinningfields residency at Artisan last year, Cuban street food slingers FINCA will be popping up at the Northern Monk Refectory this month.
The Liverpool-based operation, which won investment from Living Ventures CEO Jeremy Roberts on the BBC series Million Pound Menu, will take over the kitchen at the Tariff Street craft beer bar from November 5.
Alongside their signature cubano sandwiches, they'll be trying out new Cuban and Latin-influenced dishes - including a number of vegetarian and vegan options - from noon until 9pm, seven days a week.
Northern Monk Refectory MCR, 10 Tariff Street, M1 2FF | fincastreetfood.co.uk | Pop-up opens November 5
Chilli B Thai Street Food at Mackie Mayor, Manchester city centre
Thai restaurant group Chilli Banana is taking over one of the kitchens at Manchester's Mackie Mayor food hall as Baohouse bows out.
Chilli B will serve a regularly changing menu featuring recipes handed down through chef May Wakefield's family and inspired by the street food of Bangkok.
Diners can expect dishes such as goyteow nam (noodle soup), kow man gai (steamed chicken on rice) and kow soi (yellow curry noodles).
Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester, M4 5BU | mackiemayor.co.uk | Open now
El Camino, Urmston
After flipping its last burgers, Urmston restaurant Get Chucked has flipped concepts to reopen as El Camino.
The Mexican brand, which was trialled as a month-long takeover at the site in February, is now back permanently with a menu featuring staples such as tacos, burritos and quesadillas alongside grilled meat and fish dishes.
40 Flixton Road, Urmston, M41 5AA | elcaminomxcn.co | Open now
Astoria, Urmston
Another addition to Urmston's growing food and drink scene is neighbourhood restaurant and bar Astoria
The menu ranges from pasta and risotto dishes to burgers and steaks, with a midweek deal offering two ribeyes and a bottle of wine for £25.
A programme of entertainment includes live music every Thursday to Sunday and quizzes during the week.
32-34 Flixton Road, Urmston, M41 5AA | facebook.com/pg/Astoriabarandrestaurant/ | Open now
Coal and Cotton, Worsley
Boothstown boozer The Greyhound will reopen next month as Coal & Cotton after a £750,000 revamp.
It promises a food menu of British classics 'with a subtle international twist', as well as gin-based afternoon teas and an 'innovative' cocktail menu.
An on-site distillery will produce the bar's own Boothstown Gin, which will form part of an extensive gin list, alongside a range of craft and cask beers.
Families and dogs will be welcome at the venue, which will serve food until 9.30pm and host live music at weekends.
44 Leigh Road, Boothstown, Salford, M28 1LR | coalandcotton.co.uk |Opens November 14
