Living Ventures tucks in to expansion plans

LIVING Ventures, the pub and bar operator, has revealed further investment is on the menu for Manchester.

The Cheshire company, which now has sites in Leeds, Liverpool and London, is to extend its open a new venue on King Street in the city centre, add a cinema room to its Artisan casual dining restaurant and bar in Spinningfields and also expand one of its two Alchemist cocktail bars.

King Street, which is already home to Jamie’s Italian, Rosso and the soon-to-open Hotel Gotham, will be the venue for a Grand Pacific pan-Asian cocktail bar, which will open in first floor space at 81 King Street recently vacated by Room restaurant.

Living Ventures has already tested the Grand Pacific concept at Spinningfields, where it is linked to the Australasia restaurant.

Chief executive Tim Bacon explained:  “I have admired this space for many years and have fond memories of it as Reform in the 90s.  It’s history is fascinating and having been a hospitality establishment for nearly 145 years, we aim to successfully continue the tradition.

” To me this is a perfect layout for Grand Pacific.  The existing venue has proved really popular and exceeded our expectations so I have been waiting for an appropriate site to expand this brand.  It will be a sensitive and complimentary upgrade, as I’m keen not to lose any of the character which oozes through this space.”

At Artisan, work has now begun on a cafe bar situated on the ground floor of the existing restaurant and bar in Spinningfields.  Set to open towards the end of March, with seating both inside and out.

Later this year, Artisan will open a cinema room, which will be used for private screenings and product launches by corporate customers. It will be able to seat up to 30 people and thanks to a deal with Curzon Cinemas, will be showing current releases and popular classics.

Finally, the Alchemist at Spinningfields is to be given a major extension doubling the restaurant capacity both inside and out.  It will close from  March 7 for six weeks and be open in time for light nights and alfresco bites.   It is expanding into space previously occupied by retailer All Saints.