Masterchef winner to open his first restaurant in Manchester

Masterchef winner Simon Wood is opening his first restaurant this week.

Wood, who hails from Chadderton, Oldham, and won Masterchef in 2015, is putting the finishing touches to his eponymous restaurant on First Street in Manchester which stages its official opening tomorrow (Thursday August 31).

Aiming to be among Manchester’s very best, the spacious restaurant has an open kitchen and a private dining room at mezzanine level where Wood will serve up a menu of bold British flavours with head chef and the former owner of Grenache, Mike Jennings.

He said he was going for ‘affordable fine dining’ and to add to Manchester’s higher end dining scene – which has still not managed to claim that elusive Michelin star.

Wood isn’t fussed about stars though – and is more focussed on establishing his restaurant and a destination for Manchester diners. It will initially open five days a week instead of seven, to keep his team ‘fresh and motivated’.

Wood said he’s look all over the city for the right spot before eventually plumping for the burgeoning area of First Street, which also counts The Liquor Store, Gasworks Brew Bar and Indian Tiffin Room among the food and drink tenants, as well as arts hub HOME.