The Cut & Craft

The Cut & Craft opened its first branch in York in 2019, followed by a second in Leeds’ Victoria Quarter – which won the accolade of the city’s best restaurant in 2023 and 2024.

While what they do is far from simple, the ethos certainly is – to create ‘high quality, affordable luxury’. No mean feat, but their Manchester branch aims to deliver both.

Set in the grand surroundings of the Grade II-listed former Manchester and Salford Bank, on Mosley Street, this is an imposing building, no question about it, and more than £3.5 million was spent restoring it to its former glory.

Originally designed by Edward Walters, the visionary architect behind the Free Trade Hall, the setting is fitting for a menu of steaks, fresh seafood dishes, oyster, caviar and champagne, all served under vast chandeliers around a central, beautifully crafted bar.

Downstairs, there’s a cosy ante room, a private dining room sealed with a complex bank vault door, and arguably the most ornate ladies’ powder room in the whole of Manchester.

It’s a stunning piece of work, and despite 40 foot high ceilings, feels buzzy and alive, serving staff weaving around the tables and booths helping to deliver a rarified experience on a par with some of the city’s grandest restaurants.