Enjoy a proper south-east Asian feast at opulent gem Vermilion

Opulent Thai and Indian dining complex Vermilion is, without doubt, a destination venue. Located in East Manchester, just ten minutes drive from the city centre and a stone’s throw from the Etihad Stadium, it is something of a hidden gem.

The palatially lavish restaurant and cinnabar has just celebrated its tenth anniversary at the huge site on Hulme Hall Lane, first conceptualised in response to a now-forgotten plan to build a super-casino at Eastlands.

A full entertainment and hospitality complex spread over 6 spaces and 3 floors, the glittering £5m establishment has entertained plenty of famous faces and played host to many a swanky event over the past decade.

Filled with sumptuous antique treasures collected from around the world by its owners, the grandiose restaurant, bar and events space offers more than just a lavish dining experience.

Earlier this year the group added another string to their bow after receiving an overwhelming number of requests to hire the restaurant, with a new dedicated banqueting hall perfect for weddings and large events.

With parent companies Seamark and Ibco – the country’s lead importer and processor of shrimp just next door – Vermillion guarantees the best selection of seafood. The a la carte menu makes the most of this with a thorough selection on offer, marinated in Indian spices and grilled to perfection in their clay ovens by the restaurant’s highly-experienced chefs.

With Christmas nearly upon us, we popped in to try their sharing-style Masti festive menu. Priced at £29.50 per head, you can enjoy a mix of 10 Indian and Thai-style dishes to share with your group. With festive decor and crackers surrounding us, we couldn’t help but feel merry as we were seated.

We started with a platter of tasty nibbles perfect for sharing over a drink: a mix of prawn torpedos, lamb seekh kebabs, crunchy vegetable samosas and tandoori murgh tikka: chicken breast marinated with cream, cheese, yoghurt, herbs and spices. Beautifully moist as a result of its clay oven cooking, this was our favourite of the starters.

A palate-cleansing mango and champagne sorbet appeared before we were presented with the main event: curry on curry on curry. Big bowls of festive cheer arrived in the form of Turkey cashew, tawa vegetable, dum ka gosth and karahi fish, plus steaming basmati rice and fresh naans.

For us, there were two standouts: the popular North Indian Karahi sliced fish dish flavoured with fresh ginger and coriander, and the creamy Persian-influenced Dum ka Gosth, made with slow cooked lamb, caramelised onions and yoghurt.

With a mix of flavours and spices on offer, there is definitely something to suit every taste on this menu, making it ideal for group sharing.

Finishing on a sweet note, we enjoyed a sweet warm chocolate brownie served with vanilla ice cream and strawberries for dessert.

Fancy a change from a roast? Then get yourself down to Vermillion this Christmas for an alternative festive feast.

Lord N St, Hulme Hall Ln, Manchester M40 8AD