Drake & Morgan is to open a second bar and restaurant in Manchester this summer—the Anthropologist at the One St Peter’s Square development. The 6,000 square feet site will have 185 covers and will be open all day, seven days a week. Managing director Jillian Maclean said: “I’m delighted to be launching our second site in Manchester on the back of the Refinery in Spinningfields. Manchester is a modern and vibrant city that Drake & Morgan loves being a part of, and we are confident that the Anthologist will provide the city with a refreshingly independent bar that comes with a few new exciting additions.”
Oakman Inns has opened the Cherry Tree, a new pub and restaurant on the Market Place in Olney. It is Oakman’s second opening in the last month, and its 21st venue in all. The Cherry Tree incorporates a 100-cover dining area, semi-private room, terrace area and upstairs bar. CEO Peter Borg-Neal said: “Olney was one of the towns listed in our original business plan and I am delighted that we have made it here at long last. Having purchased the freehold for £1.5m and invested £2m in developing The Cherry Tree, this is a substantial investment and we are optimistic that the people of Olney will be delighted as well.”
Marston’s will open the White Hart pub and restaurant in Godstone in Surrey in early May. The pub, previously operated as a Beefeater, will be run under Marston’s Revere Pub Company division.
Japanese ramen concept Kanada-Ya has opened a third restaurant in London—on Upper Street in Islington. The brand already operates in Covent Garden and Piccadilly.
Brighton-based pizza concept Fatto a Mano is opening a third restaurant on Kensington Gardens in the North Laine area of Brighton in April. It joins sites on London Road in Brighton and Church Road in Hove.
SSP this week opens its first Bottega Prosecco Bar at Birmingham airport. More airport sites are due to open under the partnership with Italian brand Bottega. There are ten more Bottega bars around the world. SSP UK and Ireland CEO Simon Smith said: “We are delighted to be working with Bottega, which is a wonderful premium brand and a great addition to our portfolio. This is definitely prosecco’s time, and this new bar is completely on trend. We are certain that it will be a fantastic addition for all our customers at Birmingham Airport.”
Tapas bar concept Barrafina is opening a restaurant at the Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross. Owners Sam and James Hart will also launch a second branch of Mexican taqueria El Pastor at the Yard, along with a new bar concept called the Drop. Barrafina already operates on Dean Street, Adelaide Street and Drury Lane in central London, while El Pastor operates in London Bridge.
Liverpool Catalan restaurant, bar and deli Lunya is to open a second location in the city in the summer, at Albert Dock. The venue, called Lunyalita, will cover around 3,000 square feet and will be a pared down version of the Lunya concept. Lunya moved to Liverpool One last year, and also operates a restaurant in Manchester.
Patisserie Valerie has moved to a larger site at centre:mk in Milton Keynes. It has taken on a 2,650 square feet unit on Deer Walk, with space for 60 covers.
Cocktail bar concept Little Nan opens a third site on Warren Street on Monday (2 April). The concept already operates in Catford and Deptford, and has been running a pop-up with Stag & Bow in Forest Hill.
JD Wetherspoon has confirmed a pub opening in Midsomer Norton in Somerset. It plans to launch it in September.
Vegan burger restaurant The Vurger Co has officially launched on Richmix Square in Shoreditch. It follows an oversubscribed crowdfunding campaign last summer.
A charity coffee shop concept called Big Moose Coffee Co is to open on Frederick Street at St David’s in Cardiff. The 1,550 square feet café has been set up by a charity that supports homeless people in the city and was funded by a Kickstarter campaign. It will employ people who have been affected by homelessness
Butcombe Brewery, part of the Liberation Group, has reopened the Castle Inn near Lulworth Cove in Dorset after a major refurbishment.
