Arc Inspirations, the leading and fast-growing bar operator of a clutch of leading brands including Manahatta, Banyan Bar & Kitchen and The Box, has announced a brace of Manchester openings this autumn.
The group will unveil its first Manahatta site in Deansgate, Manchester, shortly before launching its second Banyan Bar & Kitchen site in the city, at Spinningfields.
The move, which will take its burgeoning portfolio of bars to 18, is indicative of the company’s strong performance in what other operators have described as a challenging market and, moreover, its commitment to investing in its brands and growing its bar portfolio as it targets new markets.
Manahatta, which takes its name from the original name for Manhattan, will open this autumn following a significant £1.8m investment to transform a 230-cover basement site in Deansgate into its iconic glamourous ‘downtown chic’ concept. It will be the brand’s first site to open across the Pennines, joining two thriving Manahatta sites located in Leeds.
When it opens its doors, the New York-style premium bar-restaurant concept will offer brunch, lunch and an evening American-style menu, alongside a vast array of cocktails crafted by Arc Inspiration’s bar development manager, Mark Austin, and the award-winning team from the American bar in the Savoy hotel.
The new Banyan Bar & Kitchen site is due to open in October, joining the brand’s existing Manchester site in Exchange Square, taking its overall portfolio to eight.
Arc Inspirations CEO, Martin Wolstencroft said, “Our passion is creating an eco-system of bars that all provide something different for the local community. We’ve honed our craft over the past two decades and developed a portfolio of brands that do just that – they work cohesively together in close proximity without cannibalising custom from one other. We believe this is truly unique.
“Our focus now is growing the estate in a sustainable and organic fashion. After a lot of deliberation and research we identified Manchester as a fantastic demographic fit for the next two openings and we’re confident they will trade very well when we open the doors.”