Queensberry Real Estate, which is re-developing the grade II listed building and plans to transform it into one of the ‘UK’s best dining facilities’, said that interest in the units has been 'high'.
The 12 restaurant operators confirmed for the Corn Exchange include Eclectic Grill, Wahaca, Vapiano, The Cosy Club, Cabana, Pho, Bar and Kitchen Banyan, Byron, Salvi’s Deli, Tampopo, Pizza Express and Zizzi Ristorante. The first restaurants are expected to open in June 2015 when the building work has been completed.
Stuart Harris from Queensberry Real Estates said: “We’ve got a great line up of local, regional, and national restaurant operators who will offer a broad range of casual dining options designed to suit the huge footfall the area attracts both in the day and evening.
“Interest has been fantastic and we are now in discussions with operators for the final few units.”
Firsts for Manchester
A number of the restaurants due to open in the Corn Exchange will be firsts for Manchester. One of these is Eclectic Grill, a new concept from the Individual Restaurants Company, which also runs Piccolino and the Zinc Bar & Grill.
Mexican street food restaurant Wahaca and casual Italian restaurant Vapiano will open their first sites outside London in the Corn Exchange.
UK and US managing director of Vapiano Phil Sermon said: “We have had many guests who visit us in London requesting that we open in Manchester, which makes it even more exciting to be opening in one of our favourite cities and in such a fantastic development.”
Other firsts for Manchester include casual dining and drinking lounge, The Cosy Club, Brasilian barbecue restaurant Cabana, Vietnamese street food restaurant Pho, Bar and Kitchen Banyan and burger restaurant Byron.
Salvi’s Deli and Tampopo are currently trading as pop-ups in Manchester’s Exchange Square, but will join the development when it opens.