Circolo Popolare, one of London’s most celebrated restaurants, is set to open its second UK location in Manchester later this year.
Known for its striking wisteria-covered ceiling, walls adorned with hundreds of bottles, and intimate booths, the Fitzrovia-based eatery has been hailed as ‘London’s prettiest restaurant’ and has gained widespread popularity on TikTok.
The restaurant, operated by the Big Mamma Group, is famous for its signature gooey carbonara, served straight from a giant wheel of pecorino. Its arrival in Manchester will mark the group’s latest expansion, adding to its portfolio of maximalist and Instagram-worthy dining spots across Europe, including Barcelona, Milan, and Brussels.
A Taste of Italy in the Heart of Manchester
Circolo Popolare’s Manchester location will be part of the St Michael’s development in Deansgate, with an expected opening in June 2025.
Designed to transport guests to an alfresco festa on the Island of Sardinia, the new venue will span two floors. The downstairs space will feature a vibrant, overgrown courtyard-inspired setting, while the upstairs area will offer a more intimate ambiance with cosy alcoves and an open kitchen.
The kitchen will be helmed by Head Chef Alfonso Esposito, a Campanian-born chef who has been with the Big Mamma Group for two years. He is curating an exclusive menu featuring never-before-seen dishes, utilizing the group’s largest-ever selection of premium Italian ingredients, sourced from over 170 small Italian artisans.
What to Expect on the Menu
If Circolo Popolare’s London offerings are any indication, guests can anticipate fresh handmade pasta, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, and extravagant desserts – including their famous towering lemon meringue pie.
The Big Mamma Group, which also operates Gloria, Carlotta, Ave Mario, and Jacuzzi in London, as well as La Bellezza in Birmingham, was recently recognized as one of the world’s top artisan pizza chains.
Excitement from the Big Mamma Group
Co-founders Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux expressed their enthusiasm for the Manchester launch, stating:
“Having visited Manchester multiple times to find this unique spot, we have both been bowled over by the sheer plethora of hospitality talent within the city. We are hugely excited to be even a small part of this, and to bring our superb Italian products—sourced over three years—to another major European city.”
With its highly anticipated opening, Circolo Popolare Manchester is set to become a new hotspot, blending Italian culinary excellence with the city’s vibrant food scene.
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