Healy to launch 1761 and Lily’s in city centre

Victoria Lounge

Phil Healy, a former hotelier and operator of the Victoria Lounge in Glossop, is set to open his first city centre restaurant in Manchester in a £1m investment.

The new two-floor venue will open on the former Avalanche site on the corner of Booth Street and Tib Lane after a major refurbishment.

The property deal was brokered by Tim Martin at leisure property specialists Fleurets, having marketed the free of tie lease.

The ground floor will be occupied by 1761, a 130-cover restaurant offering modern British food, from corned beef hash to cockles as well as oysters. Inspired by Manchester’s industrial past, the date and site’s name, 1761, marks the inception of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester.

The site will also host Lily’s Bar in the basement, named after Lilly Bollinger, the champagne entrepreneur. Furthermore, the room will be surrounded by a 18,000-litre fish tank with stingray.

Healy said: “I wanted to create something that is truly of this city. For me the whole concept of 1761 is something that has come from Manchester, in Manchester, for Manchester. It’s not cheesy or themed but about creating a real feeling of pride and warmth for this city. Or of course people can just come to see the fishes!”

His team will include general manager Emma Greathead, who has worked most recently for Beautiful Drinks (Almost Famous/ Home Sweet Home) as well as head chef Oliver Walker and bar manager Jon Kloman.

1761 will open to the public on Monday, November 13.

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