Urban Cookhouse in Manchester to expand after £500k first-year turnover
The group, from entrepreneur Tom Coulston, has confirmed it is seeking three new sites to expand its portfolio, which currently comprises just the one 250-capacity, 85-cover, 4,500 sq ft venue on the city’s Princess Street.
Sheffield and Nottingham are top of the list for expansion, Coulston said, as well as other cities in the North West.
The group’s menu serves dishes from brunch to dinner, as well as carry-out and corporate catering, including options such as ‘Urban Legend’ burgers, ‘Freddy’s ribs’, wings, dogs and ‘disco’ fries. The restaurant, which served its 10,000th burger last month, also has a late license until 2am from Thursday to Saturday and serves a range of New York-inspired cocktails.
Coulston – who also runs the catering company Violet Hospitality ‒ said that the group had also made significant changes to the concept since opening, in a bid to widen its appeal to more people, including office workers, students, and revellers from the city’s nearby gay village.
He said: “Urban Cookhouse’s location means we tap into different markets throughout the day which is one of the reasons for our success. It’s been a fantastic first year and I’m delighted Urban Cookhouse has made its mark on Manchester’s restaurant and bar scene.
“It’s hugely competitive in Manchester’s food and drinks industry right now, but it goes to show that if you have the right concept, the right venue and the right offer, you can be successful.”
The restaurant is planning to mark its one-year anniversary with a week of live music and celebrations, including hosting the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, and DJs such as New York rappers Fast and Frank.
