Freight Island to reopen for outdoor drinking and dining next month

If you’re counting down the days until you can eat and drink outside, you’ll be glad to know that Escape to Freight Island will be reopening its safe and social outdoor area, Platform 15, next month.

The opening of Escape to Freight Island, located at Depot Mayfield, was been one of last summer’s great success stories.

The venue is now set to reopen from Monday 12th April.

Hospitality venues can reopen from 12th April, for outdoor service only, providing the government’s four tests are met.

Platform 15 is a seated and socially distanced outdoor area.

As before, there will be an orderly, staggered arrival system, with 2m of distance between groups at all times.

You order everything you want to eat and drink via their app or QR code.

All food and drink will be delivered to and collected from designated areas on each table, minimising all customer and staff interaction.

The outdoor area will welcome back its much-loved traders on reopening, including Ramsbottom’s Baratxuri who offer food from their wood-fired ‘Asador’ grill, roasting large cuts of meat and whole fish.

They’ll be joined by Belzan Pasta Kitchen, top tacos from Madre, and Mi+Pho, the award-winning family run restaurant which will offer authentic Vietnamese dishes.

Also back are Voodoo Rays, who offer NY style pizza available by the slice or as a whole whopping 22″ pizza, and burgers from Patty Queen.

When it comes to sweet treats, vegan doughnuts from Krum will be joined by Sundae, Escape to Freight Island’s brand new in-house ice cream brand.

Then in May, Kantina Weekender will showcase the culinary talent at Escape to Freight Island, while introducing some of the UK’s most prestigious chefs, cocktail makers, brewers and local restaurant heroes into the space for the first time.

Mary-Ellen McTague, from Creameries in Chorlton will pair with Great North Pies; Gary Usher from Elite Bistros will partner with Forever Changes; Tast of King Street and Baratxuri will join grill forces, and Pippy Eats with Mi+Pho for noodle heaven.

The line-up also includes Stosie Madi from Parkers Arms and Simon Martin from Manchester’s first Michelin starred restaurant in 41 years, Mana.

Platform 15 will open from Monday 12th April 2021. It will be open seven days a week, Monday to Friday from 4pm to 12am; Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 12am. Priority access to bookings are now open to those who signed up. General bookings will go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday 2nd March at 9am, from escapetofreightisland.com/bookings.