Exhibition, a new venue of eclectic independent food, innovative drinks and boundary-pushing entertainment, has revealed the line up of three award-winning kitchens that are set to join the space when it opens this November.
Prestwich favourite Osma will bring a new relaxed edge to their famous Scandinavian concept, Caroline Martins of the Sao Paulo Project with bistro version of her Brazilian-British fusion cuisine, and Ramsbottom restaurant, Baratxuri will be offering a menu of Basque fire cookery.
Exhibition is a new 6,000sqft concept comprising two bars along with the three award-winning independent kitchens. Seven dedicated areas will see a new local artist exhibiting their work every season. The venue is opening in St George’s House on Museum Street, just off Peter Street and is being launched by the family behind Peter Street’s Haunt, a coffee shop and aperitivo bar.
Nestled within the Grade II listed building, which was previously the site of the Museum of Natural History back in 1909, the interiors have been stripped back to reveal the original industrial shell. Steeped in rich history, the building sits on the site of the 1817 Peterloo Massacre and is the very place where the body of Hannah Beswick (the Manchester Mummy) was found.
Levelling up from the traditional food hall concept, the dining space in Exhibition will be home to Osma, Sao Paulo Bistro and Baratxuri, who will serve innovative seasonal menus with a refined flair. From small plates to big sharers, the venue promises an exquisite dining experience, with global inspiration and local heart.
It will be the first city centre venue for the team behind Osma, the Prestwich-based restaurant which scored a mention in the Michelin Guide within its first year. It’s Scandi-inspired menu will have a more relaxed edge, and all dishes will use local ingredients. During the day, Osma will serve open sandwiches with fillings such as cured Scottish salmon, golden beetroot, spinach & mustard, or rump of beef with onion jam, rocket and Parmesan, alongside fresh salads and hearty soups.
In the evening, there will be a selection of luxurious small plates such as Avruga caviar pots with toasted brioche, a sashimi plate served with caper and shallot sauce, whole lobster with herb butter or a dish of roasted and pickled beetroots with raspberry and rose.
Osma chef, Danielle Heron, said: “We are honoured and grateful to be given the opportunity to bring OSMA to the city centre, in an incredible space with such talented people. What we find the most thrilling about Exhibition is how it combines great food and drinks with exciting art and music, all under one roof. We’re looking forward to meeting more of the people of Manchester, so pop in and say ‘hallo’.”
Caroline Martins, Great British Menu chef and MFDF Chef of the Year nominee, commented: “From the first time I heard about Exhibition, I knew it was going to be a special, one-of-a-kind venue. While Manchester is already an incredible culinary destination, Exhibition is set to level-up the dining options in the centre of the city and become a real hotspot for anyone looking for delicious food with plenty of high-quality drinks options in a stunning setting. Exhibition will be hard to beat for fans of fine food in Manchester.”
Chef Caroline will be launching the Sao Paulo Bistro, a more relaxed spin on her Brazilian-British fusion fine-dining residency at Blossom Street Social Ancoats. Local suppliers will also be at the heart of this menu including Platt Fields Market Garden, Dormouse Chocolates, Northern Cure, The Flat Baker and much more. Menu highlights include hand-dived scallops with creamy cassava sauce, Sao Paulo steak sandwich made with Lancashire ribeye and Garstang blue sauce, and a showstopper chocolate dessert using liquid nitrogen.
Specialist fire cookery restaurant, Baratxuri, is the third to join the line-up, already a well-loved favourite in Ramsbottom. Baratxuri will be introducing its classic Basque dishes of big cuts of meat and whole fish to the Manchester city centre space with Asado (bigger dishes for sharing) such as its famed Capricho Oro’ Txuleton – a 1kg bone-in rib steak, and Raciones (smaller plates); featuring dishes such as Boquerones, Jamon Iberico de Bellota. The team will also boast an extensive range of Pintxos served daily at lunchtime.
Joe Botham, owner of Baratxuri, commented: “We’re so excited to be involved with Exhibition! This venue is shaping up to be a ‘must visit’ and we are humbled and extremely proud to be cooking alongside such incredible kitchens. I honestly believe that Exhibition will rival the great market kitchens of Bilbao and Madrid and bring to Manchester a proper grown-up, casual yet really high-quality dining experience.”
General Manager Gethin Jones will oversee both bars in the 400-capacity venue. Award-winning Gethin is a stalwart in the Manchester hospitality scene, having previously worked as a drinks’ consultant, and previously managed the likes of Ducie Street Warehouse, Cottonopolis and Edinburgh Castle Pub.
The innovative new drinks program at the venue’s cocktail bar will promote a new spirit each season. The first iteration for Autumn will focus on brandy, a spirit category defined as being distilled from fermented fruit, with beautiful drinks created with everything from Cognac and Calvados, to Pisco and Eaux De Vie.
The main bar will be the first in the city to offer Manchester Union straight from the tanks, alongside a rotation of Manchester breweries such as Sureshot, Cloudwater and Pomona. In addition, Exhibition’s wine list will complement the wonderful food partners, with the majority of products minimal intervention, approachable styles, with a high-quality Verdejo on draught.
After dark, Exhibition will transform into a late night bar with DJs, live singers and instrumentalists. Expect an eclectic mix of genres and both local and international DJs, every Wednesday-Sunday.
For more information and to have the chance to attend the grand opening in November, please sign up to the mailing list via: EXHIBITION MCR.
Follow them on Instagram: @exhibition.mcr
