Beautiful burgers and cracking cocktails are back as Great Northern Warehouse starts to reopen

Some of the Great Northern Warehouse’s resident restaurants, bars and entertainment venues are starting to reopen this weekend, with more joining them throughout July.

Saturday 4th July will see the reopening of Almost Famous, Lion’s Den, Impossible, and All Star Lanes – though for drinking, dining and karaoke rather than bowling for the time being.

Booking is essential at all venues, and safety measures will be in place across the site including one way systems and cashless payments for many brands.

Almost Famous founder Beau Myers is offering a stripped back menu at GNW: “Having been cooking burgers at home during lockdown – stripping it back to basics with awesome meat, amazing brioche, melty cheese, creamy smacky sauces, simple builds and the best quality ingredients, cooked perfect and juicy every time, I’ve been remembering what Almost Famous was all about,” he says.

The new pared back menu includes the Phoenix 2.0 – a double cheeseburger with JD maple smoked streaky bacon, shoestring onions, Frazzles, fresh chillies, bacon mayo, redneck bbq and bacon ketchup.

From 4th July, the All Star Lanes terrace will be decked out with a bar and plenty of seating, which means you’ll be able to enjoy an ice-cold beer on tap or cocktail outside, as well as an all-day dining menu of American classics.

Polish eatery Platzki and Thai restaurant Siam Smiles will be opening on a takeaway basis, while Alex’s Bakery and Holy Grain will continue to offer delivery and takeout options for their fantastic cakes and sensational sourdough.

The Odeon Cinema returns on 16th July, and then Spanish restaurant Evuna follows on 24th July but is offering a new dine out service in the interim period from 3rd July.

The Great Northern’s other food and entertainment brands, including Dormouse Chocolate and Whistle Punks, will announce their reopening plans shortly – although chocoholics can still enjoy Dormouse’s creations via its online shop.

Ahead of this weekend, which also sees the return of Makers Market on Sunday 5th July, the site has painted patterned markers around its amphitheatre to help families enjoy the giant sandpit while safely maintaining social distancing.

The markers, set at two metre intervals, feature flora and fauna including the red rose of Lancashire in their design. Painted in a variety of colours, several use rainbow designs to celebrate both Pride month and the work of the NHS during the Covid-19 crisis.

“We look forward to welcoming Manchester locals to the site as lockdown begins to ease and as our fantastic range of resident brands begin to reopen for business,” says centre director Mark Schofield.

“Everyone here as pulled together to make sure the site is a safe space in which to relax, wine, dine and enjoy some much-needed leisure time.

“We’ll be monitoring government guidelines around social distancing and other safety measures closely to ensure we’re implementing the latest advice and are excited to see the Great Northern come to life once more as each of our residents reopens over the coming weeks.”

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