Steak and gin dining concept launching soon

Glasgow’s Alston Bar & Beef will launch its second UK venue in Manchester this year following a £2m investment.

The restaurant and bar will be in Manchester’s Corn Exchange and bosses are saying they will bring the highest quality steaks in the UK to the city, alongside a selection of the world’s finest gins.

The 160-cover venue, which will contain an additional private dining area, is set to open its doors soon, following an extensive fit-out of the 6,500sq ft basement space.

This will be the first English venue for its Scottish counterpart Alston Bar and Beef in Glasgow and represents a major investment by owners Glendola Leisure.

It will build on the success of the original venue, which claims a reputation for offering the highest quality steak and the biggest selection of gins in the city, while incorporating highlights of Manchester’s food and drink heritage and culture.

When open, Alston Bar & Beef will be the first venue in Manchester to offer Tweed Valley steak on its menu. The beef is selected from the top one per cent of Scottish beef and dry hung for 35 days, for optimum flavour.

The chosen cut of beef will be seasoned and cooked in a high spec Montague oven which can reach a temperature of 600 degrees; sealing in the flavour.

At the bar, an initial selection of 58 gins from all over the world will be available, several of which are distilled here in Manchester, including Manchester Three Rivers and Manchester Gin.

A selection of bespoke gin-infusions, created in-house will also be on offer. Each will be created, using a blend of botanicals, many of which will be foraged from the Manchester area, and created via a cold-compound process.

Alex Salussolia, managing director, Glendola Leisure, said: “Having seen such success in Glasgow, we’re confident that Alston Bar & Beef will make the perfect addition to the Manchester food and drink scene when we open our doors this Autumn.

“We have big plans to transform the space at the Corn Exchange into a welcoming environment that will provide the perfect back drop for people to come and enjoy the best gin and steak on offer in Manchester.”

Interior design and architecture practice Jestico + Whiles have been appointed as designers of the new venue. The practice was also responsible for the design of the original Alston Bar & Beef in Glasgow.

The design will draw upon the heritage of the Corn Exchange location and the culture of the city of Manchester, as well as reflect elements of the original Alston Bar & Beef venue in Glasgow.

Guests will enter the venue via a feature staircase and will be greeted by the bespoke stylish bar centred around the extensive gin offering.

The restaurant space, will draw the eye to a 10m wide mural feature wall which has been specially commissioned by Manchester-based street-artist Tank Petrol. The space is completed by a high spec show kitchen and private dining room catering for up to 12 guests.

James Dilley, head of interior design and hospitality at Jestico +Whiles, said: “It’s great to be working with Glendola Leisure once again on another exciting venue and in a new location following the success of Alston Bar & Beef Glasgow.

“Our design for the Manchester venue draw upon the history of the Corn Exchange together with the wider context of the city to create a unique space featuring a dramatic interior environment and distinctive ambiance.”

Riki Bennet, general manager, Alston Bar & Beef Manchester, concluded: “Whether it is our stunning venue, the top one per cent of Scottish Beef we will have on offer, or our huge range of bespoke gin-infusions and gin-based cocktails, Alston Bar & Beef will offer something for everyone and it is great to be one step closer to our official launch.”

Sketch of how Alston Bar Kitchen will look inside