Manchester has the recipe for success say leisure sector experts

THE leisure sector in Manchester is performing strongly thanks to innovation and is set for more investment and growth, according to an  expert panel.

TheBusinessDesk.com’s Growth Menu breakfast sposored by law firm Kuits, heard that Manchester’s pub, bar and restaurant scene is the most diverse and resilient of any regional city outside London, thanks to a host of factors including the airport, mediacity:uk, a strong conferencing offer; support from the local authority and a strong number of operators devising new concepts.
 
The expert panel at the event at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Free Trade Hall Hotel comprised: Tony Lyons, head of licensing at Kuits; Tim Bacon, founder and MD of Living Ventures; Stephen Miles, general manager of the Radisson and Fiona Kelsey, audit partner at accountancy firm PwC.

Mr Bacon, whose company is behind the Alchemist cocktail bars, the Oast House pubs, the Blackhouse Grills restaurants and a host of other brands including Australasia, spoke about his ambitions for The Restaurant at Manchester House, which he hopes will take the city’s dining offering to “the next level.”

Mr Bacon is working with renown chef Aiden Byrne on the 72-cover restaurant concept, which will be complimented with a 12th floor roof-top cocktail bar, and will open in July.

“We’re certainly going for the star – Aiden will be there cooking at the pass – it’ll be a lot more than just white table-cloths. In this market a venue has to have personality.”

Stephen Miles said: “I am a big believer that Manchester needs a Michelin Star –  it’s about creating the right environment and people will come.”

Tony Lyons praised the approach of operators like Living Ventures, who understand the local market well, and develop concepts that customers want to visit.

He noted such a stance contrasted to the behaviour of some of the national operators, such as Strada and Cafe Rouge, which took space in Manchester’s Spinningfields business district, but have recently closed down.

Asked by a member of the audience which up and coming operators are the “ones to watch”, Mr Lyons said: “I just think you need to look at the Northern Quarter, operators like Marie Carter, Johnnie Hayes and Joel Wilkinson.”

Mr Lyons said developers, such as Allied London at Spinngfields, were starting to think more strategically about how to use their public space as well as buildings to create destinations.

In terms of challenges the sector faces Mr Lyons said some local authorities in areas such as Newcastle and Leeds amongst others are looking to “put the genie back in the bottle” by clamping down hard on operators where there is signigficant anti-social behaviour.

“The authorities are using Morning Restriction Orders, MROs, which means within a given area, if it is deemed problematic, all operators, good and bad will have their licensing hours curbed.”

The panel predicted more deals similar to Tesco’s £50m acquisition of cafe business Giraffe last week.

PwC partner Fiona Kelsey said: “I think we will see more transactions of this nature. For all retailers, including supermarkets, it’s about creating an attractive destination, and Giraffe is that.”

Tim Bacon agreed, adding: “Tesco’s in-store cafes are not inspiring spaces, so I think it is a good fit for them.”

After the launch this year of The Restaurant and also Artisan, a 250-vover pizza concept also at Manchester House, Spinningfields, Mr Bacon said his focus would be on the London market.

“We have done it before successfully with the Living Room and it is very firmly on the agenda for the next phase in our growth plan.”