Manchester location steeped in history reopens as glamorous new steakhouse

Designed by renowned architect Edward Walters, also known for Manchester’s the Free Trade Hall, the building is the last of its kind in the city

Located on the corner of Mosely Street and York Street is the former Manchester and Salford Bank. Just down from St Peter's Square and Manchester Art Gallery, it is one of Manchester's most beautifully designed buildings.

The Victorian masterpiece was built in 1862 as the new headquarters for the bank which had previously been on the corner of Mosley Street and Marble Street. It later homed the Royal Bank of Scotland from 2001 until 2020.

Designed by renowned architect Edward Walters, also known for Manchester’s the Free Trade Hall, the building is the last of its kind in the city, showcasing the grandeur of 19th-century Italian palazzo-style architecture.

Constructed from Yorkshire stone with elegant granite accents, the building’s impressive exterior is matched by its interior. Towering 27-foot-high ceilings, intricate cornicing, and vast arched windows create a rather impressive setting - and one that is now home to an entirely new experience following a £3.5m investment.

On Monday, a stylish new steak and seafood restaurant will finally be opening its doors after years of careful restoration. It will feature the city's 'first' bottomless Champagne steak brunch, plus its own master butcher and rare wine cellar.

The Cut & Craft, which has sites in Leeds and York, will be launching its first Manchester location within the Grade II* listed building, taking over the former banking room.

Described as a 'noble' apartment with towering ceilings and original features, it will house a 150 cover restaurant. Below, where the vault is located, sits a number of other subterranean dining experiences including snug meeting spaces, private dining and a dedicated Champagne room.

Speaking previously about the new Manchester site, The Cut & Craft co-founder Oscar Akgul said: “Manchester is soon to have The Cut & Craft and in all honesty we simply cannot wait.

“Our new restaurant will be filled with elegant yet timeless style settings giving you the ultimate luxury at accessible prices."

After housing the Royal Bank of Scotland, property company Bruntwood took it on, and renamed the building 'Bond' to celebrate the property's roots and city's banking history. With the help and consultation of Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture, the old banking room and adjoining rooms have now been sensitively restored too.

Take a right on entering the building and head into vast space, and the first thing you'll notice is the stunning destination bar.

The 360-degree concept crafted with rare Brazilian blue labradorite marble, and lit up by a showstopping chandelier above, will serve premium cocktails, sparkling wine, Champagne, wines and beers.

Its flanked by a canopy of olive trees, plush, electric blue sofas and seating, and art deco lighting fixtures - but carefully employed so to not detract from the building's original features.

Beyond its striking design, the site also holds fascinating secrets, including a rumoured underground tunnel once linking its vaults to a sister bank across Mosley Street. While much of this hidden passage has been sealed, the intrigue of its past adds to the building’s rich story.

A vault door is still visible to guests who venture downstairs to private dining room, named The Edward Walters Suite, in a nod to the building's designer.

On the way, behind lock and key, guests will also spot a fine wine and Champagne room stocking everything from Dom Perignon and Laurent-Perrier Rose NV to Louis Roederer Cristal and Cattier Armand de Brignac Brut.

Leading on from the 'Gossip Lounge', guests will also arrive at the toilets, where all the stops have been been pulled out to create a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the main restaurant space upstairs.

For those dining in the space, the menu features farm-fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The Cut & Craft's in-house master butcher offers premium cuts, including our signature flat iron steaks - seared, tender, and full of flavour.

Before the main event, diners can pick from an assortment of starters including foraged wild mushrooms with black truffle and smoked leek sauce (£13); beef fillet tartare with shallot, mustard dressing, breaded yolk and toasted sourdough (£15); and seared king scallops (£19).

It's followed by a variety of premium steaks including cuts such as the 250g fillet (£38.50), 300g ribeye (£31) and 300g rump (£27) as well as flat iron (£16), sirloin (£31), T-bone (£49) and Chateaubriand (£88).

Sauces (£4) include peppercorn, blue cheese, chimichurri, béarnaise and bone marrow gravy, while sides, starting from £5.50 include skin-on fries, chunky chips, truffle fries, macaroni cheese, charred Hispi cabbage and garlic bread, amongst others.

Signature plates like Cajun monkfish (£27), British lamb rump (£28) and The Cut & Craft burger (£20) also feature alongside salads and nibbles.

Menus also include brunch, Sunday roast and dessert, while drinks include its Crafted Tales cocktails which are unique to each of the restaurant's locations.

For Manchester, The Architect has been created. Encompassing Casamigos Blanco Tequila, St Germain, Mint and Prosecco, it is inspired by Edward Walters, The architect of the building.

There will also be gin and classic cocktails, sparkling wines, Champagne, spirits, a selection of craft, draught and bottled beer, plus mocktails, soft and more. The Manchester site will also feature a luxury cocktail trolley service featuring Old Fashioned, Martini, Tequila Negroni and Classic Champagne concoctions from £45 up to £125.

Commenting on the Manchester debut for the band, Georgina Pellant, Marketing Manager said: "As a Northern brand, they've had such exponential growth over the last few years. It's a young business and only opened their first branch in 2019.

"Manchester seemed like that natural next step for the owners. As they're from the North they wanted to open in a big city and Manchester feels like the capital of the North.

"What we're all about is accessible luxury, so it's luxury for every day. You can come here for a three-course meal for under £30, but you can also spend £250 on a plate of caviar if you want to.

"A lot of this though is about experience and discovering different spaces within the restaurant. So on your way to the toilets, it's finding the Champagne cellar, which we will open up for tastings, and then there's VIP bottle storage too and Gossip Room.

"This has been three years in the making for the owners, so it's been a long time coming, and naturally with heritage sites there's been more challenges that a standard build so we've had to work creatively to make sure we're respecting the heritage and history of the space."

The Cut & Craft opens on Monday, 28 April. 38-42 Mosley St, Manchester M2 3AZ.

The first bottomless Moët & Chandon Champagne brunch will take place on Sunday, 4 May.

Tickets are priced at £90 and include 90 minutes of bottomless Moet & Chandon Champagne, a meal with choices including steak and seafood, live entertainment, DJ and dancers. Those who’d prefer just drinks can also book a drinks-only table for £7.