James Martin Manchester

Housed in the Manchester235 casino – though set apart from the gaming floor on its own mezzanine level – James Martin’s Manchester restaurant serves up modern British cuisine in the industrial-chic surroundings of the Great Northern Warehouse.

The seasonally changing menus give top billing to ingredients from renowned UK butchers, fishmongers, game dealers, farmers and cheese makers, and the tasting menu on our visit started promisingly with warm bread served with loads of butter, extra salt and a bowl of hot, hearty beef dripping to dip.

Wye Valley spears come with creamy melted Baron Bigod cheese, like an English Brie, alongside pickled pink Roscoff onion, spicy nasturtium, aromatic dill oil and crunchy malt crumbs that have been through the fryer. XO mackerel is served with smoked crunchy gem lettuce, the smoky flavours from the Josper grill enhanced by coal oil. There’s lightness, though, thanks to chunks of sharp pomelo and citrusy ponzu sauce.

Slow cooked duck egg oozes its golden yolk into grilled grelot onions, meaty hen of the woods mushrooms, watercress velouté and the tiniest new season Jersey Royal potatoes. Plump pink rump of Lake District Herdwick lamb comes with creamy lamb sweetbreads and rosti potatoes cooked in the lamb fat. Wild garlic and ribbons of fermented turnip cut through the fattiness.

Puddings include a banoffee soufflé, light as a feather, with intensely flavoured roast banana ice cream and a sticky-sweet caramelised white chocolate sauce.

Overall, this is a great bet for strong, seasonal cooking in comfortable surroundings.

James Martin, Manchester, is located on a mezzanine floor within Manchester235 Casino. Serving award-winning, classic British cuisine, James Martin Manchester is a warm and inviting restaurant, set in the famously converted Great Northern warehouse which enjoys plenty of character and charm.

The menu is seasonal and varied, open daily from 5pm serving a tasting menu crafted using many of the UK’s top meat, fish and cheese suppliers. There is also an afternoon tea menu, plus Sunday lunch.

You will find dishes on the main menu such as salt aged ribeye steak, served with dripping chips and malt glazed Roscoff onion. Choose between a selection of sauces such as peppercorn, chimichurri or bone marrow and black truffle. Lighter dishes include hake served with tempura lobster, herb gnocchi and shellfish cream, and an Indian spiced cauliflower served with red lentil dahl, coriander mousse and potato flatbread.

There are plenty of tempting looking sides on offer including barbeque jersey royals, peas with smoked pancetta and braised carrots in a tarragon butter.

When it comes to desserts perhaps you’ll go for the hot sticky toffee pudding served with toffee sauce and salted caramel ice cream, or the white chocolate and whiskey croissant butter pudding served with whiskey ice cream and honeycomb.

There is also a cheese option, plus home made bon bons, and after dinner coffee.

If you’re looking to book afternoon tea it is served on a Saturday between 12.30 and 3pm. The menu includes James Martin’s original scone recipe, home-made jam, and a selection of pastries and breads made by the talented kitchen team. Tea is locally sourced, and carefully selected to complement the character of the afternoon tea. You may also wish to add a glass of champagne to your afternoon tea, or to choose the bottomless prosecco option.