Northern Restaurant and Bar | Nacho Manzano

The line up of chefs in attendance at this year's Northern Restaurant and Bar have been announced with Spanish chef Nacho Manzano joining Kenny Atkinson, Michael O’Hare, Simon Shaw and Michael Wignall.

Northern Restaurant & Bar 2015 is the largest hospitality trade show outside London and will return to Manchester Central on the 17th and 18th March. Nancho Manzano has three Michelin stars across Casa Marcial in the Asturian mountains and La Salgar in Gijón and also appears on Spanish Masterchef; he is also Executive Chef of Iberica which will shortly open its first Northern site in Manchester. Also confirmed to appear are Kenny Atkinson, who has recently established House of Tides in Newcastle to critical acclaim; Noma trained Michael O’Hare, whose Leeds restaurant The Man Behind The Curtain is producing sensational modernist cuisine; Simon Shaw, who is in the process of moving the outstanding and long-established El Gato Negro Tapas to Manchester; and Michael Wignall, who as well as holding two Michelin stars and 5 AA rosettes for The Latymer is overseeing the cuisine at the new Hotel Football. More star names are due to be confirmed this month with Thom Hetherington, CEO of Northern Restaurant & Bar, saying: “The North has always punched above its weight in terms of food and drink, but this seems to have been the year that the rest of the world has woken up to its strength and potential.”

“Northern operators are thriving, and big names are rushing to embrace the region. Our job is to make sure Northern Restaurant & Bar reflects this surge of commercial and creative vibrancy.” Of course with an exhibition that is 15% bigger this year, including over 250 exhibitions and more than 50 tastings, talks and demos, Northern Restaurant and Bar is about much more than just chef demos. All of the usual features and programmes will be refreshed and enhanced, from the Spirit Room and Drinks Live to Market Kitchen and a new Craft Beer Quarter, as well as our strongest ever NRB Top 50 Awards, in association with Kuits, and a name of global resonance to headline the second NRB Debate. Northern Restaurant and Bar once again forms the hub of Northern Hospitality Week (NHW), five days of class-leading industry debates and special one-off business events. Northern Hospitality Week includes industry charity dinners such as Action Against Hunger’s Too Many Critics, a host of industry association meetings and visitor discounts and special offers in bars and restaurants.

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