A huge new £1 million street food venue is set to open in Manchester this year

A brand new street food venue and taproom is set to open in Manchester city centre this spring.

The new £1 million venue is giving us something to look forward to during this bleak and dreary January in lockdown, and the first selection of vendors have now been confirmed.

Society Manchester is hoping to throw open its doors in spring, if restrictions allow it, and will boast a 350-capacity food and entertainment destination when complete.

Society Manchester

The concept was created by the founders of Assembly Underground over the Pennines  in Leeds, and will be housed on the former Pitcher and Piano site at Barbirolli Square.

Located near Bridgewater Hall, the massive 8,073 sq ft space has laid empty for nearly a decade, but will burst back to life with space for five independently-owned kitchens, a craft beer taproom, and cocktail bar.

And Manchester favourite Elnecot has confirmed it will be branching out from its Ancoats site to join Society, where it will be taking over a unit for its new stone-baked pizza concept – Dokes Pizzeria.

Joining them will be Manzoku Street Food, serving up pan-Asian treats, epic burger joint Slap & Pickle, and the Falafel Guys with falafel -obviously – and shawarma.

If you’re thirsty you’ll be able to grab a craft beer from Vocation, with the Hebden Bridge-based brewery opening a taproom on-site, as well as cocktails from the aforementioned cocktail bar.

Society will feature resident DJs and special guests, as well as curated daily playlists, as it launches with a busy line-up of entertainment – there’ll also be live music events, food and drink collabs and local chef takeovers. 

The project – spearheaded by Nick Gregory and Richard Sweet, who are both established names in the street food industry – will open from 10am every day.

Society Manchester

Nick, the director and co-founder of Society, said about the opening: “We’re very excited to finally open the doors to this iconic venue and look forward to welcoming guests throughout the day, evenings and weekends at Society.

“We’ve got an incredible line up that will showcase local food superstars as well as our 2021 events programme that will be dedicated to highlighting independent artists from Manchester’s thriving music scene.

“It’s so important to us to create a destination that showcases the very best of Manchester and Society will be just that.”

Society is set to open this spring at 100 Barbirolli Square – if the coronavirus restrictions at the time allow it.