The old courthouse gets a lick of pastel paint as the Rosa's team prepares for a sold out opening weekend
After what feels like a very long wait, celebrity-favourite London success story Rosa’s Thai Cafe is opening the doors of its Manchester restaurant this weekend. Rosa's is celebrating with 50% off food for diners who visit on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February but with this soft launch weekend already sold out, bookings are only now available from Monday.
Each Rosa’s is different because they always take great care to preserve the character of the buildings they inhabit
Rosa’s Manchester has moved into the space formerly occupied - and long vacated - by The Handmade Burger Co. It shares the Grade II listed building with fellow Londoners-gone-North Hawksmoor and hot new cocktail bar-bershop One Eight Six. The striking building was previously home to the Inland Revenue office and the High Court Registry.
Rosa’s Head of Brand & Marketing Punky Patra-Yanan talked to Confidentials about the plans for the Manchester branch back in January when we visited their flagship London cafe. Each Rosa’s is different because they always take great care to preserve the character of the buildings they inhabit. It's good to see the beautiful original tile work, fireplace and ornate ceiling of the old courthouse retained and celebrated.
The high ceilinged space is light and airy with a sense of the grandness of its former life. This is softened by wooden panelling painted in pastel hues of salmon pink and aloe green. The huge arched windows allow light to flood into the space. Light wooden tables imprinted with colourful Rosa's doily logos, pale parquet flooring and whitewashed brick walls keep things fresh and modern.
Rosa’s founder and executive chef Saiphin Moore (interviewed here) takes great care to develop strong relationships with farmers back in her native Thailand. With this in mind, you can expect high quality, authentic Thai ingredients combined with carefully sourced British produce on the menu. Recipes are inspired by traditional dishes passed down through generations.
All the classics are there for you to tuk-tuk into: green, red and massaman curries, a signature pad Thai, spring and summer rolls, but you’ll also find creative vegan dishes made with jackfruit and banana blossom, punchy salads, oodles of noodles and plenty that celebrate the sticky tamarind that Saiphin tells us is an important export from her native province in northern Thailand.
Rosa's Manchester opens tomorrow with bookings being taken from Monday due to a sold out launch weekend. They are running a competition to win tickets to their launch party next Thursday over on Instagram.
Rosa’s Thai Cafe, The Old Courthouse, 184 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WB
