Little Beast

Little Beast brings a produce-led approach to Medlock Square at Etihad Campus, combining small plates, British ingredients and a menu shaped by the changing seasons. The 105-cover restaurant places quality produce at the centre of everything, with dishes designed to evolve throughout the year rather than settle into a fixed formula.

The kitchen is shaped by Director of Restaurants Laura Montana alongside MasterChef: The Professionals winner Daniel Merriman, with Head Chef Iain Thomas – formerly of The Pearl in Prestwich – overseeing the day-to-day operation. The approach is thoughtful without becoming overly formal, taking familiar ingredients and giving them plenty of character. Roasted carrots arrive with garlic yoghurt, dukkah and chervil, while cured trout pastrami is paired with crème fraîche, sea buckthorn and honey jam. Elsewhere, cheese on toast is given a serious upgrade with brioche, red onion jam and a cheese custard, made with Mrs Kirkham’s legendary Tasty Lancashire.

Larger plates push things further. Cod loin comes with curry sauce, squash fondant, kaffir lime and pickled cucumber, while chicken ballotine is matched with a mushroom purée, roasted maitake and truffle sauce. There’s also a sizeable bone-in dairy cow sirloin built for sharing, finished with sherry glaze and rich black onion butter. Desserts stay on the playful side, including a chocolate s’more-inspired creation and affogato cheesecake ice cream made with Grind coffee.

The room itself has been developed with Manchester-based WANT Studio, whose team has worked across some of the city’s most recognisable hospitality spaces. from Tangerine to Dahlia. Local artists and makers feature throughout, bringing in textiles, sculptural pieces and handcrafted details that keep the interior feeling individual rather than over-designed.

Open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday, Little Beast adds a relaxed but considered place to eat around Etihad Campus, with seasonality running through both the food and the wider identity.