Greater Manchester is celebrated for its rich history and architectural splendour, and few buildings in the region are as breath-taking as Rochdale Town Hall. With its ornate designs, historians often compare it to the grandeur of the Palace of Westminster, and it’s certainly one of the finest buildings of its kind in Europe.
After launching as a pop-up, the much-anticipated Martlet Kitchen restaurant began its soft launch on 2 September, offering a Café Luxe day-time menu from Monday to Friday, 10am–4pm. Guests can enjoy traditional northern dishes like Jackson’s Rag Pudding, Bacon Chop with Bury Black Pudding and Denshaw Egg as well as classic brunches including steak and eggs and eggs benedict with smokehouse salmon. Traditional afternoon tea is also available, making it a perfect venue for casual lunches or celebrations.
Starting from 27 September, the restaurant will extend its offerings, transforming on weekends into a fine dining destination on Friday and Saturday evenings. The exquisite evening menu curated by executive chef Darren Parkinson includes standout dishes such as Mackerel & Whitby Crab with pickled cucumber, Granny Smith apple, sorrel, and sourdough croutons, North Sea Halibut with Masala-spiced pumpkin, saag aloo, tandoori onions, and purple sprouting broccoli and the ‘RTH’ Fillet Rossini ‘featuring Lee Horsley beef fillet, truffle, duck liver pâté, wild mushrooms, rosti potato, and wilted spring onions.
The dessert menu features an Apple Tart with honey and Grandpa Green’s vanilla ice cream, and a White Chocolate & Marshmallow Parfait with dried raspberries.
Darren, who heads the talented team at The Martlet Kitchen, grew up locally in Heywood and trained at Hopwood Hall College before launching a successful career in restaurants across the UK and northern France. He has earned multiple AA rosettes and accolades throughout his career and worked at restaurants such as Shibden Mill and the Fleece.
Darren and his team have crafted menus that highlight the best local and seasonal produce, ensuring dishes remain fresh, vibrant, and ever-evolving. The Martlet’s menus also benefit from the expertise of renowned chef Tristan Welch, who has worked at some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants, including Le Gavroche and L’Arpège, and has appeared on the BBC’s Great British Menu.
Chef Darren Parkinson said: “It’s an honour to lead the team at this incredible, historic venue. We’ve been able to push the boundaries with our fine dining evenings while also crafting an accessible weekday menu for casual dining and celebrations. We’ve placed local produce and regional recipes at the heart of what we do, putting both the restaurant and Rochdale on the map for culinary excellence.”
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and cooperation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This new restaurant will be a fantastic addition to the newly restored Rochdale Town Hall. The combination of exquisite food and the stunning surroundings that only the town hall can offer will bring a unique dining experience to the area which will be hard to beat.”
The Martlet Kitchen can be found on the ground floor at Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale OL16 1AZ For booking, visit rochdaletownhall.co.uk/
