A new restaurant boasting Michelin star credentials is set to open on the edge of Chinatown. Higher Ground, which started out as a pop-up, will be one of the most eagerly awaited restaurants to hit the city when it opens next year.
It will be run by the team behind Flawd, the wine shop and restaurant in New Islington. The spot received a rave review from the Sunday Times critic Marina O’Loughlin over the weekend, who called its cooking ‘glorious’.
The new space, which is owned by developers Bruntwood, will be on the corner of New York Street and Faulkner Street, and is looking at a February/March opening next year. It will be launched by founders Richard Cossins, Daniel Craig Martin and chef Joe Otway.
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Between them, they have worked for world class chefs including the multi-Michelin-starred Simon Rogan as well as the three-starred Noma in Copenhagen, which has been named the best restaurant in the world. However, despite the Michelin-star pedigree, Flawd has become known for the team producing its food with barely any kitchen equipment - little more than a panini press and a pressure cooker.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Cossins said: “We’ll be able to stretch our legs now that we have a proper kitchen. We just want the ingredients to speak. And that’s where Flawd has helped us, because we literally can’t do too much to the ingredients.
“It’ll really open up our options. And we should hit the beginning of spring, produce-wise, so it’ll be super exciting to get off the ground. We’re also really excited to grow the team too, which is one of the most exciting things. We can’t wait.”
The food will be a mix of a la carte items, and a larger sharing menu, which will comprise five or six courses and be priced around £45 per head. Meanwhile, what’s coming out of the kitchen will be determined by what’s coming out of the ground at Cinderwood, their own market garden in Nantwich, Cheshire, which will provide its vegetables.
The space will be able to seat 50 people, with an open kitchen area, meaning that the front-of-house will mix with what’s going on in the kitchen. It will be open four days a week, for dinner on Wednesday and Thursday, and both lunchtime and dinner on Friday and Saturday.
Higher Ground started as a temporary restaurant in the ‘bungalow’ building at what is now Kampus, opposite Canal Street. However, that first foray was curtailed by the first lockdown in 2020.
It then made brief appearances as a pop-up at the likes of the Ducie Street Warehouse and then Mackie Mayor. The three founders then launched Flawd, their wine bar and restaurant, this time last year, showcasing produce from Cinderwood.
“It’s all come a little bit back to front, with Cinderwood coming first, then Flawd and now Higher Ground,” Cossins added.
Charlotte Wild, Head of Retail and Leisure at Bruntwood, said: "We're thrilled to be welcoming Higher Ground [to the] city centre.
“Richard and his team have built a solid reputation for providing extraordinary food and drink experiences all over the world as well as via their popup incarnations in Manchester, and we're delighted that they have found a permanent home for their concept at Faulkner House. Their exceptional expertise and commitment to seasonal produce will bring very something special to this part of the city."
You can get updates by following Higher Ground on Instagram.
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