WOW. What a year eh? We don't know about you but all these new restaurants openings have us begging for mercy. Though, from the rebirth of the Mackie Mayor to the arrival of chef Michael So'Hair and Adam Reid's rejig of The French, there's still plenty to look forward to in 2017... and plenty to leave behind.
Below you'll find sage words from food writers, industry insiders and even financial folk on the way things are shaping up next year.
DEANNA THOMAS | Critic and actual chef
"Restaurant closures are a bit like celebrity marriages. Despite not having much to do with them directly, I used to get upset each time Kate Winslet, for example, matrimonially crashed and burned. Inevitably I became more resistant to the emotional rollercoaster and so it is, reluctantly, with restaurants.
"There seems to be no sign of the unbelievable amount of openings and closings in 2016 slowing down as restaurant groups expand outside the capital, attracted by Manchester’s growing economy. I hope diners support those with a more original angle suited to our city over generic accountant-led menus. I’m looking forward to seeing how Adam Reid’s brave urban ambition for The French at The Midland pans out after Rogan’s departure, but I suspect the dust needs more time to settle on the modern incarnation of this rusty icon. I’m also looking forward to the first non-London outpost of Soho’s Randall & Aubin opening on Bridge Street early next year as I think Manchester might finally be able to sustain a good fish restaurant.
"I’m not going to name the venues I think might be shutting up shop this year as it’s painful for all, but any glitzy, gimmicky or edgy venue pinning its revenue on Friday and Saturday nights or occasional celebrity patronage is going to struggle against the growing number of more accommodating and accessible mid-range venues." @deannathomas
Randall & Aubin is opening in the former Rankin Styles store on Bridge Street
KIERAN LAWTON | Restaurant investor (Palatine Private Equity)
"Next year is all about Michael So’Hair. The imminent opening of his restaurant at Urbis is but the start of his invasion of Manchester and I can’t wait. It’s about time someone recognised Manchester’s need for space age Asian cuisine in a football museum.
"There are strong rumours of other big name chefs looking to enter the Manchester scene from that there London, which would be a great draw, but I’d love to see more high quality local chefs take the plunge and do a Simon Shaw – take note, Stosie Madi at Parkers Arms. It will be fascinating to see Adam Reid put his own take on things at The French as well after Mr Rogan finally got the hump about Michelin.
"More mainstream operators may find it difficult – 2017 will be a tough year for chains and independents alike, and there will undoubtedly be casualties. Despite the tougher conditions, there will be shiny new openings (eg D&D, Drake & Morgan) so those that are already here need to remain fleet of foot. In that area of the city, the likes of Hawksmoor, Gusto, Iberica, Alchemist and San Carlo are established, quality concepts with a strong enough reputation with locals to maintain their prominence. Similarly, innovative independents with a quality offering (Rudy’s Pizza, Tariff & Dale) will continue to be well supported. However, I suspect some of the less distinctive chains (eg. some in the Corn Exchange) will find it difficult when the rent frees expire.
"What else will happen in 2017? Breakfast. On the go or for the first meeting of the day, Manchester will finally start to really embrace breakfast."
NEIL SOWERBY | Critic, oenophile, explorer
"Our ManCon editor, a much younger man with his gut-swelling guzzling/swilling life in front of him, admits exhaustion at the onrush of opportunities afforded our cool city. With three zillion openings still in the pipeline, could 2017 be the Burn Out Years? Closures of the good guys? When truffles and Puligny Montrachet are priced out of the ordinary bloke’s pocket by the demon Brexit? When, flummoxed by the sudden glut of ramen bars, copper beer tanks, vegan delis, sleek London all-day dining interlopers and the dreaded restaurants with a view, I yearn for a simple parmo or poutine served in a mock shack by a hirsute guy losing his skinny jeans, who insists I take a £7 schooner of Weird n’ Wild’s Fartleberry Saison? Well probably not.
"In the coming year I hope the un-Curtained Michael So'Hair delivers iconoclastic food at Urbis and Stock and the admirable Adam Reid fights his post-Rogan (and Magrane) corner in The French. Above all, I wish that Stockport’s Where The Light Gets In prospers, along with the clutch of new wave brewers in Piccadilly’s dank archways; the Mackie Mayor project sprinkles some Altrincham Market magic on the wobbling NQ; and Manchester’s indie food scene catches up with Leeds and Bristol." @AntonEgoManc
WTLGI launched in Stockport in November
DAVID BLAKE | Confidential editor
What I’m really looking forward to in 2017 is more craft brews, more street food and more seabass. I hope to see more Skandi fit-outs, more Czech copper beer tanks and more press releases containing the word ‘twist’. I’d like to hear more about kimchi, more about cat/dog/wildebeest cafes and more about bastard Michelin inspectors. I’d like to see the city’s dearth of patatas bravas addressed, more venture capitalist-backed chains swallow grand Manchester buildings, and more pubs of history and character demolished and replaced by ugly Chinese-funded PRS towers. I also look forward to seeing proper pint glasses abolished in favour of pointless schooners, missing more reservations whilst sat in a jam on Trinity Way, and paying an extra three quid for a burrata because my fucking dad voted OUT.
Elsewhere, it’ll be interesting to see what chef David Gale can do in Whitefield, how the Bangers & Bacon collective do with BEASTro in Spinningfields, what's done with the failed Quill site on King Street. I also hope to see chef Michael So'Hair throw Gordo out of all his new restaurants, as promised.
Oh, and I’m particularly looking forward to watching Giggsy shark about in a dark corner of Gary Neville’s new nightclub. @David8Blake
THOM HETHERINGTON | Northern Restaurant Bar CEO and Man In The Know
“So what am I looking forward to in 2017? Well with a rock star profile and no less than three wildly ambitious restaurants in the offing it is indeed impossible to ignore the impact that Mr O'Hare will have on the Mancunian dining scene next year. I defy anyone who has eaten at his Leeds restaurant not to be chomping at the bit to eat at (names omitted due to stringent word count).
"Otherwise what I am most looking forward to in 2017 is, ironically, enjoying what arrived in a late flurry in 2016. We got classicism with Hispi, Gary Usher’s bistro par excellence; more chef-patron led places with Sam Buckley’s Where The Light Gets In and Adam Reid’s ‘own name’ menu at The French; not to mention Bundobust and Shoryu Ramen taking root in Piccadilly Gardens. We are obsessed with the next and the new, but why rush when there is still so much to enjoy in the present?
"In terms of new new I’m still hanging on for Altrincham Market to confirm their final plans in 2017, whilst the operators moving into London Road Fire Station should also begin to crystalise. And surely, finally, this has to be the year that I get to eat David’s Gale’s cooking again!? And with Robert Owen-Brown’s menu in Feast, and Mary Ellen-McTague in high demand, maybe 2017 will be the year that we have all three patron saints of Mancunian gastronomy back at the stoves?” @ThomHetheringto
The folk behind the roaring Alty Market have got their hands on Manchester's Mackie Mayor
RUTH ALLAN | Restaurant critic
"I am looking forward to trying all three Manchester restaurants under development by Michael So’Hair. He may be something of an acquired taste in print, but there’s no denying he’s got balls in the kitchen: this is a guy who served me what looked like a bag of drugs as a starter at the Man Beneath The Barnet and I’m still musing over the flavours, two years later. I’m also looking forward to reaching some of 2016’s hot tickets - Sugo, Where the Light Gets In and Porta. I doubt the Zetter (at London Road) or Soho House (at OGS) will open in 2017, but I’m glad they’re coming. I’ve also heard rumours that Steven Burgess of Camp & Furnace and catering company Rhubarb and Custard, is opening his own place in Manchester in 2017. This will be a treat from Mark Ronson’s chef of choice. There are a couple of things I’d like to see too: a modern Chinese restaurant and more South American cooking. I loved a recent dish from Peruvian Michelin star, Lima. Fingers crossed, eh." @ruthallan
ROGER WARD | Owner of the Chop Houses
"I'm looking forward to a year without roadworks. And well might you wonder what that has to do with food. Particularly as Manchester hurtles towards its bold new public transport-led future with millions drawn to the chain outlets you can find on every aspiring high street. This is a city that prides itself on its originality. On leading not following. Yet we have to look to Fukuoka in Japan to see how quickly city centre roadworks can be completed. A huge sinkhole filled in two days. A city that cares for the people who live and work there. A mayor who said sorry. I'm sure that would have been much appreciated. Inspired by that, I'd love to see more local businesses popping up. More chances for our visitors to experience something that only Manchester can offer. More opportunities for local producers. And local talent. It's important to think global and act local at one and the same time if we want to keep our identity. Prediction: a star at The Midland."
Chef Adam Reid plans to reinvent The French
GORDO | Confidential publisher and bon vivant
"What is Gordo looking forward to in 2017? More Zizzi’s please! Bollocks to encouraging young entrepreneurial chef/proprietors to Manchester, let's ensure they are kept in the suburbs by rocketing rents, greedy robber-baron landlords and their poodles, Napoleon and Squealer (AKA Leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, and his trusty fellow cyclist, Cllr. Kate Chappell). Napoleon and Squealer are taking the piss mind you; if you have a spare two hours a day to travel in-and-out of Manchester from Hulme, you can still find a parking space, even though you will, by the time they have rinsed you for parking fees, have no money to spend in the shops or restaurants. You can though keep yourself busy dodging beggars and pissed up women whilst negotiating roadworks. In the meantime, restaurateurs, lets get that music EVEN LOUDER! After all, 7% of diners LOVE IT that way! Fuck the other 93% who hate it. Burgers, now, we haven’t had our fill of those yet (that’s enough now Gordo, you’re fired - Ed.)" @GordoManchester
LUCY TOMLINSON | Food writer and qualified philosopher
"In 2017, there will be a meeting in the middle ground between the sinners (dirty food that gives you the meat sweats) and saints (wellness, clean-eating types). Vegan and vegetarian restaurants will do quietly well, so I’m looking forward to trying out Allotment, while fish and chicken will take over from red meat – see the new Randall & Aubin proposed for Bridge Street.
"I also think that, financially speaking, there will be slight application of the brakes. Brexit will have an effect on the cost of food and the premium casual line that has so mushroomed recently will feel the burn most. Not that we will see a massive downturn in the restaurant scene but more that 2016 will be remembered as the peak of the new opening frenzy - it's consolidation rather than growth from now on. Crowdfunding will start being less of an option as people hang on to their pennies but the Real Junk Food Project deserves to be the exception as it looks to make its pay-as-you-feel food recycling project a permanent fixture. Here’s hoping they get sorted."
Allotment has received rave reviews in Stockport
JONATHAN SCHOFIELD | Confidential editor-at-large (largely in the boozer)
"I never want to see a sharing platter in a bar again with their soggy leaves, cheap hams, dried pitta bread and flavourless, dead, cold hummus. Oh and please cocktail bars put one member of staff on beer and wine duty to speed things up. I’m British, if I want a drink I want it quick. The barbarian I am means I can’t start a conversation in a pub or bar unless the booze is in front of me. As for food, a cracking Vietnamese in the city centre rather than the fringes would be welcome. But above all I want a good neighbourhood restaurant or good food pub with reasonable prices and high quality in all the suburbs of the city not just the more affluent. Dreams I know, decent incomes are the mother of good food inventions in Britain, but it would be sweet to spread the love.
"I have to pick somewhere? Oh alright, er, how about that new Five Guys in the Arndale?" @JonathSchofield
DAN DAVIES | Property agent and co-founder of Metis
"The last couple of years have been pretty hectic, with so many operators opening within the city, and on the whole adding to Manchesters depth and vibrancy. It's been interesting to see the success (or not) of some of the operators who have opened recently. It would appear that those operators who have really taken time to understand the dynamics of the city and adjusted their offerings accordingly have done really well - great examples being El Gato Negro and Indian Tiffin Room. In short, quality will always shine through.
"2017 will see things settle down somewhat as operators take stock after such a heavy opening schedule. However, we are enthused by the level of interest still being shown in the city - not just London names, but great regional operators too. Things to look out for in 2017? Without doubt, the three new food offerings from Michael So'Hair. Should be fascinating!"
Chef Michael So'Hair's new restaurant has opened on the top floor of Urbis
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