Let's start with a caveat - this new late-night venue isn’t so much as a food hall, as a multi-kitchen restaurant designed to be a go-to destination for high-end food and drink. Opening next weekend on the site of Manchester’s old natural history museum, it comprises three award-winning independent kitchens, two bars and an exhibition space.
The spot in the historic St George’s House on Museum Street has been conceived by the people behind Haunt coffee shop and bar on neighbouring Peter Street, and promises to deliver some of the best food and drink in Manchester. Last month, the venue announced Sao Paulo Bistro, Baratxuri and Osma would be three food operators taking a spot at the St George’s House building.
The building itself, which is situated between Peter Street and Albert Square, is Grade-II listed, and sits on the site of the 1817 Peterloo Massacre, and is also where the ‘Manchester Mummy’, the preserved body of Hannah Beswick, was originally exhibited from 1828 onwards. As you walk into Exhibition you’ll spot a few nods to the famous artefact including the venue's logo and a large neon installation lighting up the bar area.
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First up, Prestwich favourite Osma, who will be bringing their famous Scandinavian concept to proceedings. Diners can expect dishes like cured salmon open sandwiches, beef fillet tataki and a whole baked lobster. They’re joined by top chef Caroline Martins of the Sao Paolo Project, who will be opening her brand new take on Brazilian-British dining.
Plates here will span hand-dived scallops, Brazilian beef croquettes and celeriac and leek veloute. She’ll also be serving up some delicious Brazilian cheese breads baked by Ancoats favourites the Flat Baker. And last, but not least, Ramsbottom’s Basque-fired restaurant Baratxuri, who will be serving up delicacies including Tortilla de Bilbao, smoked cod and their Txuleton steaks.
As well as the multi-kitchen restaurant in the daytime, by nightfall, Exhibition will transform into a late night entertainment destination. The first of its two bars will offer a variety of local beers including Cloudwater, Pomona and MCR Union Lager - the latter is available from in-venue tanks for the first time. Its wines, meanwhile, will have a heavy focus on minimal intervention varieties, and be complemented by Verdejo on draught.
Gethin Jones, general manager said: “We are all very excited to see Exhibition’s doors open next Friday. Our bars have been a labour of love for the team, so I am particularly looking forward to seeing both of them come to life - complimenting the incredible kitchens we have onsite.
“Our seasonal bar will bring a fresh approach to our drinks list, with many of the cocktail elements being handcrafted right here on site. We’ve been spending a lot of time with our incredible new team getting ready to welcome everyone, and I can’t wait to see the place packed out.”
Its seasonal bar will feature an ever-changing ‘spirit of the season’ starting off with brandy and a selection of long drinks created with everything from Cognac and Calvados to Pisco and Eaux De Vie. After dark, the venue will come alive with DJs, live singers and instrumentalists. DJ and local scene hero Matt Ward of Piccadilly Records will be curating the musical output, which will span local and international DJS and MCs.
And in a nod to the venue’s namesake, there will be a number of spots around the venue for local artists to showcase their work, with a new artist being hand picked each season. This autumn, Manchester’s Mark Jermyn, better known as Moderate Realism, will bring his multicoloured works to the walls of Exhibition.
Also commenting on the opening, Sam Wheatley, operations manager added: “We’ve been working on Exhibition for such a long time now to make sure the offering is just right, and we can’t wait to welcome the public. We’ve worked hard to ensure there is the right mix of quality food, drink and entertainment, and it’s going to be great to see the venue transform from a multi-kitchen restaurant to late night bar as the entertainment and DJs begin”
Exhibition opens on Saturday, November 11 and bookings are open now.
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