Confidential buys bigger trousers as the relentless rumble of new restaurants goes on in triplicate
BOTH Grand Pacific by Living Ventures and new Mediterranean & Middle Eastern restaurant, Suri, will open on King Street next month, while The New World Pub Company (NWTC) have announced that they will open their twelfth branch of The Botanist in Didsbury Village in the first week of April.
After a thorough refurbishment of the grade II listed Reform Club at 81 King Street (pictured), Grand Pacific is to be a colonial-style bar incorporating a 120 cover restaurant. It will also feature a twenty five seat Long Bar, inspired by Raffles Hotel Singapore. The 3000 square foot space aims to recreate the 'golden age of high society'.
As we reported here, Living Ventures founder Tim Bacon, who sadly passed away last April, didn’t hesitate to seize the opportunity to secure the venue after its former incarnation, Room, closed in 2015. As per Bacon’s wishes, interior designer Michelle Derbyshire has created a tranquil, classic atmosphere merging the tropical influences of the Pacific Ocean with old world grandeur.
All day informal dining from lunchtime through to the evening will blend exotic flavours with traditional English dishes. Example dishes that have been confirmed by the kitchen team so far include prawn and mussel laksa, lamb massaman curry and Indonesian Gado Gado salad with peanut dressing. Classic Sunday lunches, meanwhile, will see roast beef carved at the table accompanied by live music from the Grand Pacific Palm Court Group.
As per the colonial theme, high tea will be an indulgent affair filled with exotic sweet delights from far-away places, specially blended fragrant teas and Champagne cocktails. Grand Pacific will be open to the public from midday on Friday 17 March.
At the other end of King Street, brand new restaurant Suri will open fully to the public on Friday 10 March, further boosting the once ailing retail street’s food and booze resurgence.
Located in the former Quill site, this modern restaurant and bar will serve a mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food across two highly-stylised floors.
The concept has been developed by Andrea George, a former commercial property director turned restaurateur, and backed by Leeds-based entrepreneur James Coubrough and Terence Langley, co-founder of Fazenda restaurants.
Meanwhile, award-winning pub and restaurant chain The Botanist will launch on Didsbury’s School Lane on Monday 3 April, in former Wetherspoons pub The Milson Rhodes.
Themed around all things horticultural, visitors to the 4500 square foot space can expect the usual mix of live music, botanical cocktails, curated gins, beers and ales alongside food from the deli, rotisserie and BBQ.
Incoming general manager Danny Leach is keen for residents and visitors to Didsbury to pop by and take a look at the old boozer’s ‘stunning transformation’. He said: “We will be open for coffees through to cocktails with live music and our much-loved food menu from 3 April, so come in and say hello. Without giving too much away our neighbours should keep an eye out for a special something over the next few weeks.”
With well established venues in Manchester City Centre, Knutsford and Chester, the Didsbury branch will be the brand's fourth in the North West, and follows Graphite Capital's £50m acquisition of the group in June 2016.
