New CGI images have revealed the progress of Gary Neville's £400m St Michael's development, with fresh details on the restaurants, bars, and venues set to open at the Manchester city centre site.
The mixed-use regeneration scheme, off Jackson's Row and Deansgate, is led by Neville and his Relentless Developments company, in partnership with firms including Salboy. It includes the already-open 41-storey No. 1 St Michael's office block and the under-construction 43-storey No. 2 St Michael's tower, which will house the five-star W Hotel and W Residences apartments.
Food and Drink Venues Announced
Details released today (November 5) confirm several food and drink venues for the development. Pasture Restaurant Group, known for its open-fire cooking, will oversee four dining and drinking destinations, including Pasture Manchester, a flagship ground-floor restaurant in the 43-storey tower, and W Lounge, the hotel bar at W Hotel Manchester.
The Sir Ralph Abercromby Pub, one of the city's oldest pubs, will also reopen after being "sensitively restored" as part of the scheme. Pasture has confirmed a fourth venue, Terrace, an outdoor dining spot next to the pub offering a Mediterranean-inspired, all-day menu.
Historic Pub Restoration
First listed as a licensed house in 1780, The Sir Abercromby is thought to be the only remaining pub to have existed during the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, when it served as a makeshift medical bay and a stopping-off point for soldiers. It features a mural commemorating the event.
Neville had once earmarked the pub for demolition, but public outcry led to revised plans in 2017 to incorporate it into the development. He later admitted the plan to knock it down "was a huge mistake". The pub required a "substantial refurbishment", including roof work, window frame revamps, and updates to external door works.
Future of St Michael's
The restoration aims to "enhance" the pub and restore it to its former glory. Neville said: "Our proposals carefully retain and enhance the features that give the pub its character while sensitively integrating it into the wider St Michael's scheme. We're proud the pub has been able to remain open throughout construction and this next phase will secure its future for generations to come."
A glass walkway will connect the 19th-century pub with the W Hotels building. Founded in 2018 by chef-owner Sam Elliott, Pasture has expanded from its original Bristol restaurant to venues across Bristol, Cardiff, and Birmingham.
Elliott commented: "Manchester is a city with a huge personality, a strong independent spirit and a real passion for great food, so bringing Pasture here is incredibly exciting. From our signature open-fire cooking at Pasture Manchester and Mediterranean-inspired all-day dining at Terrace, to the atmosphere of W Lounge and the much-loved character of the Abercromby, we're looking forward to becoming part of the city's dynamic hospitality scene."
The second phase of St Michael's includes 75,000 sq ft of office space, a 162-room W Hotel, and 217 W Residences in the 43-storey tower, a joint venture between Relentless and Salboy. No. 1 St Michael's opened last year with venues including Grind, Circolo Popolare, and Chotto Matte, brought to market through a collaboration between Relentless Developments and KKR.
Neville added: "When we started St Michael's, our ambition was to create a destination in the heart of Manchester that genuinely reflects the energy, confidence and character of the city. Pasture is exactly the kind of operator we want to attract. Sam and his team have built something special, and bringing four distinct concepts into the scheme will add another layer of quality and personality to what we're creating here. The combination of Pasture Manchester, Terrace, the Abercromby and W Lounge will help make St Michael's a place people want to visit, whether they're working here, staying here or enjoying what Manchester has to offer."
