WELL that was quick. Just two weeks after Confidential announced the closure of Walkden restaurant, Grenache, comes the news that its chef patron, Mike Jennings, has got a new job.
Mike was actually going to be the original Head Chef of Neighbourhood
Jennings – who took control of Grenache in 2014 from its previous owner Huss Abbass, but struggled to balance the books eight miles out the city – has been recruited by East Coast Concepts owner James Hitchen to head-up the kitchens of Neighbourhood in Spinningfields (main image), following its £1m refurb next month.
The group, which also operates Victor’s in Hale, will begin the refurbishment following the Bank Holiday weekend, and plan to reopen on Friday 3 June.
Chef Mike Jennings has crabs“We’re ripping everything out,” says Hitchen. “The bar, the restaurant, the lot.
“When we first opened in 2013 we really pushed the boundaries in Manchester, but the city has evolved, Spinningfields has evolved and our customers have evolved – so too must Neighbourhood.”
So does Hitchen intend for the Spinningfields celeb haunt to become a more serious food-lead operation? The appointment of Jennings - a former pupil of Gary Rhodes, Nigel Haworth and Shaun Rankin, who bagged two AA Rosettes and a Good Food Guide ‘Best Restaurant’ award at Grenache – would certainly suggest so.
“I completely love and embrace the current Neighbourhood concept, and so do all of our customers,” says Hitchen. “Don’t get me wrong, the bar is great, but this is about improving our food offering across the board.
“We’re going for a brasserie style atmosphere with European and new American cuisines - our food will remain without pomp or fuss. I’m a firm believer that at Neighbourhood there should be something for everybody, between £14 and £40, whether that’s some great smoked salmon, a burger, seabass or a good piece of Wagyu.”
“Mike was actually going to be the original Head Chef of Neighbourhood, before the opportunity at Grenache came along," Hitchen continues. “Some of the current team will be moving on to launch the new Neighbourhood in Liverpool, but Mike shall retain a very strong team around him here.”
Neighbourhood Manchester will relaunch on Friday 3 July, while Neighbourhood Liverpool will open on Castle Street in October. Hitchen also voiced plans to open a second Victor’s in the suburbs of Manchester within the next year.
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