Popular London restaurant confirms St Michael’s opening
Italian eatery Circolo Popolare will occupy 11,400 sq ft at Relentless and KKR’s £400m Manchester development.
It has been known since last year that French firm Big Mamma Group, which owns the Circolo Popolare, had agreed a deal to occupy one of the three food and beverage units at No1 St Michael’s.
However, the group, which also operates Gloria Trattoria, Ave Mario, Jacuzzi, and Carlotta, refused to confirm the brand at that time.
Now, Big Mamma has confirmed that Circolo Popolare, whose only other venue is in London’s Rathbone Place, will lead the group’s first foray North.
Ranked in the top 25% of restaurants in London on TripAdvisor, Circolo Populare becomes the second restaurant to take space at St Michael’s, joining Peruvian Japanese fusion outfit Chotto Matte.
The restaurant will provide 280 covers across two floors and will open this June. Meanwhile, construction of the 41-storey tower element of the scheme – which features W branded residences and hotel rooms – is ongoing.
Gary Neville, director at Relentless Developments, said: “Big Mamma Group is the latest in our line-up of iconic, global brands that recognise the huge potential of St Michael’s and the influence it’s going to have on Manchester and the world.
“This is a really exciting restaurant group already making waves in cities including Paris, Monaco and Milan so St Michael’s is the perfect place to play host to their first restaurant in the North. I’m looking forward to welcoming the team and seeing the impact they have on our city’s impressive food and drink scene.”
Big Mamma has 27 restaurants across Europe.
Big Mamma co-founders Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux added: “Our 10-year Big Mamma adventure has continued to surprise and challenge us, and we couldn’t think of a better restaurant that encapsulates everything we strive for than the joyful and atmospheric Circolo Popolare, in the vibrant community-driven city of Manchester.
“Having visited Manchester multiple times to find this unique spot, we have both been bowled over by the sheer plethora of hospitality talent within the city. We are hugely excited to be even a small part of this, and to bring our superb Italian products we spent three years personally sourcing to another major European city.”
Metis Real Estate acted on behalf of the developer. Kuits Solicitors provided legal advice.
It should do well, Manchester loves this sort of thing
By Anonymous
Paris, Benidorm, Manchester…
By Alfredo
Looking at the menu, I’m surprised it is in London’s top 25%. I have a feeling this will come and then go a bit like a Botanist restaurant.
By Drew
Agree with your comment ‘By Drew’. Once you’ve visited one of these restaurants you’ve visited them all. Although will be loved hugely by the instagram/TikTok generation – probably why its top 25% and why it will no doubt do well initially in Manchester.
By Annonymous