Inside Foodwell – Salford’s new healthy food, cocktail and wellness bar

It’s the city’s newest place to get a range of healthy food, superfood cocktails and even throw in a yoga session while you’re at it.

And just take a look at the stylish fit-out of Foodwell – the latest addition to New Bailey’s burgeoning developments on the Manchester-Salford border off Bridge Street.

The huge new venue combines a grab-and-go deli, a 120-cover restaurant, 30ft cocktail bar and a bright and airy study that will be used for daily yoga sessions as well as available for work seminars.

We headed down to the soft launch this week to test out a yoga class, before tucking in to tasters from the full vegan menu created by chef Matthew Nutter who left The Allotment earlier this year, as well as a raft of health-led options meat and vegetarian options on a small and large plates menu.

Fans of Nutter’s veg culinary masterpieces will be delighted to hear his signature cauliflower wings are on the “Plannt” vegan menu as well as spiced black bean and lentil chilli nachos and courgette scallops.

On the main menu expect to find nourish bowls filled with superfoods, where you can add optional proteins, as well as Foodwell’s take on steak and chips, coconut-coated chicken katsu and seabass and prawn curry.

There’s a full drinks list that aims to keeps mind, body and soul at its core – but with alcohol.  So that means lots of cold pressed juice cocktails, vegan wines and organic prosecco.

The venue is the brainchild of Christian Coates, who famously ran celebhaunt bar The Cocoa Rooms in the city over a decade ago.

The idea for Foodwell came from his own experiences in the hospitality industry, and his aims for a more balanced lifestyle these days now he’s a dad-of-two with another on the way.

“I ran a nightclub and restaurant and it was incredibly detrimental to my health,” says Christian, “drinking a lot, eating the wrong things, late nights.

“But there are beautiful things in hospitality so it’s about picking all the best bits and putting them together.”

Open seven days a week, FoodWell will transform from somewhere to grab breakfast and coffees or take a morning yoga class, through to a lunch spot and co-working space during the day; a vibrant bar and restaurant at night, and a go-to brunch venue at the weekend with string quartets and DJs.

Foodwell opens to the public from Friday, March 1st.

Suite 2, Ground Floor, One New Bailey, New Bailey St, Salford M3 5JL