Stow named Manchester's newcomer of the year on Bridge Street

Stow arrived on Bridge Street in November 2024 with a simple but bold idea: cook everything over fire. Just over a year later, the restaurant and cocktail bar was named Newcomer of the Year at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards 2026, recognised for its confident, produce-driven approach.

The venue is run by Jamie Pickles and Matt Nellany, the owners of Trof in the Northern Quarter. With Stow they set out to create something quite different, a place where the cocktail bar sits at the front and the dining room lies down a corridor beyond.

The kitchen is built around a custom grill made by Firemade in Somerset and fuelled by local wood and charcoal. There is no fryer, and reviewers have noted that there is no oven or hob either. Everything that leaves the pass has been cooked over flame.

The menu is small and changes regularly with the seasons, built around a few meat and fish dishes alongside vegetable-focused sides and snacks. Critics have singled out the coal-cooked beetroot as a highlight, along with fire-cooked monkfish.

Diners at the counter can watch the chefs at work, which adds a sense of theatre to an evening. The drinks list matches the food's character, with an exclusively French wine list, local beers and cocktails that make the front bar a destination in its own right.

Stow has also caught the eye of the Michelin Guide, which lists the restaurant and describes it as a place where cocktails and cooking over fire come together. That attention, together with the Newcomer award, has quickly made it one of the most talked-about tables just off Deansgate.

The award was presented at New Century in January 2026, alongside wins for Skof, Stretford Canteen and Pollen Bakery, putting Stow in fine company in a strong year for the city.

Stow is at 62 Bridge Street. Anyone keen to try the fire-cooked menu or simply drop in for a cocktail can find booking details through the restaurant's listings online.