The North West’s only MasterChef winner, Simon Wood, has today announced that his much anticipated restaurant, Wood, will launch at Manchester’s First Street this summer.
The 4,000 sq ft restaurant will be located on Jack Rosenthal Street on First Street and will join the estate’s growing restaurant and bar offering which now includes The Liquor Store, Gasworks Brewbar, The Indian Tiffin Room, Laundrette, Pizza Express and Starbucks.
Commenting on First Street’s latest letting, Ask Real Estate’s Development Director Leon Guyett on behalf of Estate owner PATRIZIA said: “We are delighted that Simon has chosen First Street as the location to open his first ever restaurant. With his MasterChef pedigree this is a great addition to First Street’s wider food and drink offering and I’m sure Wood will pull in visitors from right across the North West.”
Former Data Manager, Simon (40) started cooking when he could ‘reach the top of an oven’. His passion began when, at eight years old, he won a competition to be anything for a day and he chose to be a chef. Thirty years later Simon’s MasterChef win saw him fulfilling a dream he has had since he was young.
Since 2015 he has worked as executive chef at Oldham Athletic FC and Oldham Event Centre, most recently launching ‘The Boardroom by Simon Wood’.
His areas of passion include fine dining, the art of plating, and teaching. His debut cookbook At Home with Simon Wood – Fine Dining Made Simple launched earlier this year.
Simon comments; “For me Manchester is the best city in the country; it’s friendly, vibrant, busy and has incredible night life complemented by some great restaurants. What’s more its food and drink culture is thriving and we see our restaurant enhancing that already amazing existing offer-ing.
On the choice of location Simon continues; “I was instantly attracted to First Street and see this very much as the next go to place in this exciting city.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to be part of a thriving community which boasts, HOME – the Con-temporary International Arts Centre, bars, a hotel and onsite secure parking, all positioned around a new attractive, high quality public square.
“It’s everything you could need in a brand new high quality neighbourhood and I share the devel-opment’s vision for this as an up and coming destination.
“It is close to many key Manchester venues and has excellent public transport facilities nearby with Oxford Road train station, Deansgate train station and Deansgate/ Castlefield Metrolink station within a few minutes’ walk. Oxford Road train station is due to undergo a huge multi- million-pound redevelopment too and so the location is accessible, modern and inviting.
First Street felt right for me and I am looking forward to being part of this new Manchester community.”
Here is Simon sharing his exciting plans.
Metis advised PATRIZIA and Simon Wood was represented by Crane Reid.