First look: the brand new all-day cafe bar and workspace inside Manchester Central

Opening this month (July 2024), Junction is a brand-new cafe bar, restaurant and social workspace situated in the heart of Manchester.

Built under the iconic arch of Manchester Central, one of the UK’s largest and most versatile event venues, Junction will welcome workers, tourists and families alike as a place to eat, drink, meet or relax.

A place to game-plan the day with great coffee in the morning, catch up on emails at lunch, make connections with new contacts, and meet friends over cocktails and locally sourced small plates in the evening. A place for everyone, all day, every day.

Situated at the front of Manchester Central, Junction, opening this month, will be a first for the Petersfield area of the city, combining a modern, small-plate menu and evening cocktail offering, with a unique, daytime social workspace and cafe.

Junction has been a hotly-anticipated opening for Manchester and will be open to the public as well as delegates attending events at the iconic city centre venue.

With industrial curved architecture reflecting the history of the former railway station, it will provide a relaxing, modern space for professionals, tourists and business leaders to meet, greet, wine and dine.

Last month the venue announced several key hires to their kitchen team, with Liam Raynor, formerly of The Lowry in Salford Quays joining as Head Chef.

Its sustainable, first-class menus will include the Rare Bred Pork Schnitzel with Cacklebean Egg as an indulgent evening meal, while visitors can also enjoy cocktails including a refreshing Rhubarb and Pomegranate Spritz and Truffle Martini.

Lori Hoinkes, Chief Executive at Manchester Central, said, “We are very excited about the opening of Junction. This will be an amazing offering not only for the city’s hospitality sector but for the people who live and work here.

“We want to launch a space where guests feel comfortable grabbing a coffee on the go, meeting colleagues over brunch or simply winding down in the afternoon over a fresh glass of wine while looking out onto Petersfield and watching the city go by.

“I am especially looking forward to meeting everyone personally – we want this space to be part of the fabric of the city, and the place to go whether you are a working professional, a tourist visiting this wonderful city or a delegate coming to an event in the wider venue. This truly will be a modern place for everyone.”

To find out more, visit their website