Opening nears for St Michael’s high-end rooftop eatery

Chotto Matte became the first tenant to agree a lease at the Manchester development back in 2022. The 502-cover restaurant will launch in October more than a year later than planned.

Offering up a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines, the restaurant will occupy 20,000 sq ft at the Manchester development. The restaurant signed up to take space at No 1 St Michael’s three years ago and at that time had targeted a summer 2024 opening.

Chotto Matte Manchester will operate from the rooftop at No 1 St Michael’s, the first phase of the £200m mixed-use development being delivered by Relentless and US investor KKR.

The restaurant will feature a 348-capacity roof terrace, open sushi and robata counters, and two large private dining rooms.

The chain, which specialises in Nikkei cuisine, was founded and is owned by Kurt Zdesar, former European director for Nobu and consultant to Alan Yau for the launch of Hakassan.

“Manchester is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities with a booming hospitality scene making it a perfect place for Chotto Matte’s next site,” Zdesar said.

“Working closely with Gary Neville and Relentless Developments, I knew the St Michael’s site was exactly what we were looking for as soon as I saw the plans. What Gary has created is vibrant, bold and sophisticated, everything we are as a brand.

“St Michael’s will be one of the most sought-after locations in the city and we are so proud to be part of this development alongside Gary and his team.”

Chotto Matte restaurants can currently be found in London, Toronto, Riyadh, and Miami. The company’s Manchester branch had been due to open in the summer of 2024.

Gary Neville, director of Relentless Developments, said: “Opening our doors at No.1 St Michael’s after more than 15 years of planning and development is a really proud moment for us.

“Chotto Matte is a global brand with a wealth of experience and exactly the kind of occupier we wanted for our stunning top floor and roof terrace. I’ve really enjoyed working alongside Kurt and look forward to welcoming him and his team to Manchester ahead of the launch later this year.”