The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this September

This will be the third outlet for Popeyes, the US chain beloved by Beyonce and Jay-Z and boasting its famous ‘shatter crunch’ chicken sandwiches. They arrive at the Arndale, and not before time, frankly.

The man behind homage to indulgence OnlyScrans have branched out into the world of hospitality. Goat in Nantwich is a sports bar with personality, serving craft beers and suitably outrageous ‘scrans’. We like it a lot.

From the people behind Kung Fu Noodle, the Kung Fu Burger hatch on Shaftesbury Avenue in London has become a viral hit, with queues of food bloggers regularly forming for its tongguan roujiamo sandwiches. Instead of a roll, hoagie, bun or barm, they’re served in something between a roti and an Indian paratha, with chopped meats and intense seasonings generously stuffed inside. They’ve been rated among the best sarnies in the capital, so we’re mad keen to check them out. They’ll be found next door to the Circus pub on Portland Street.

Ancoats favourite The Flat Baker are expanding their offering, much to the loyal customers who queue around the corner every morning. They’re keeping the hatch – thank goodness – but they’ll now have a cafe space to serve brunches, coffees and even host small functions. Expect a warm and welcoming space kitted out in their distinctive sunny and floral style.

Found on the corner of Peter Street and Deansgate in a 150-year-old listed building, The Bear has arrived with no fanfare whatsoever. Just opened the doors and started serving pints. Nice move. It’s a comfy spot, just right for the (sadly) lengthening evenings.

The latest addition to the Northern Quarter’s cafe scene is set to open this month, and the whole approach is bombastically Mancunian. Morning Glory (get it?) is food creator Zack Hipps’ ‘love letter to Manchester’. Expect bees, brews and bagels. There’ll be baked goods from local bakers, grab-and-go butties and the pièce-de-résistance, the reinvented Manchester Tart, a much-overlooked local delicacy. 

Popping up in the spot formerly occupied by the old Freemount (before it became the new Freemount on the site of the old Dry Bar), the Mother of Invention is another sturdy boozer to add to the Northern Quarter crawl roll call.

With one stylish spot in Heaton Moor, the Mediterranean-inflected Mouro coffee bar comes to another suburb – Altrincham. On the Oxford Road stretch of independent businesses (which sometimes has its limelight stolen by the Market Quarter, unfortunately) you’ll be able to enjoy coffees, daily bakes and focaccia sandwiches in the chicest-of-chic surroundings. The ‘design-led’ space also includes their own coffee roastery, for all your single origin and blended desires, as well as carefully sourced matcha and chai. A must-visit next time you visit the town. 

After opening their first site on Great Ancoats Street, this excellent tapas joint will be branching out (though not too far). Marian Diaz and Jose Nunez will be bringing their Madrid-inspired flavours to High Street in the Northern Quarter. Their roving ‘El Tableo’ menu features the likes of patatas bravas, red wine meatballs, a selection of pintxos including marinated pork with mojo picon, steak with salsa verde, variations of croquetas ‘daily’ and the hugely popular gambas al ajillo. Welcome to the NQ

This New York-style pizza place serves 22-inch pizza – which are as comically oversized as you’re imagining – by the slice or by the pie. But there’s no way you didn’t already know that. Crafted from locally-sourced British ingredients with a touch of NYC inspiration, their domination continues with a new site out at Media City.

Monton has a new eatery, and it’s a casual but vibrant ‘Pantasia’ , a nod to their continent-spanning Asian menu. From bao buns to chow mein, Cantonese style roasts to Thai green curry, there’s a little bit of what you fancy, plus some creative bites to pique your curiosity too. There’s also a cocktail menu influenced by Asian flavours with mocktail options too. A neon-filled, high-energy place perfect for indecisive pals.

You know it as the opulent dining room on Spring Gardens known for it’s pan-Asian menu and glitzy events. Grand Pacific have had a bit of a change of identity of late, and as of later this month you can enjoy their new menu of modern British cooking, in that distinctly un-modern space. Nodding back to the building’s heritage, there’ll be oysters, steak tartare and lemon sole, as well as comforting favourites like scotch eggs and confit duck bon bons. From 8 to 21 September, you can sample the new à la carte menu at half the price. Just make sure you book online and enter the code GRAND50 to enjoy the offer.