Footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have opened Tender at the Stock Exchange hotel in Manchester, a restaurant helmed by two Michelin-starred chef Niall Keating. Olivia Palamountain reports
Manchester’s Stock Exchange hotel, owned by former United footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, welcomes Tender on June 5, a restaurant led by two-Michelin star chef, Niall Keating.
Located in the Edwardian hotel’s heritage dining room, Tender will offer everything from weekday brasserie lunches and à la carte dinners to indulgent afternoon teas and Sunday roasts.
The restaurant kitchen will also service in-room dining, a lounge menu and private events, both in the main restaurant and in “the Bank”, a private dining room hosting up to 12 guests.
Speaking exclusively to Globetrender about the collaboration, Gary Neville says: “Tender is a true partnership; it’s not just a chef’s name with someone else doing the cooking – Niall’s going to be living in Manchester, working in the restaurant. Authenticity and commitment are two really important factors if you want to succeed in this city. You have to be here with a strong narrative about why you’re here – and Niall’s got that.”
Niall Keating, now aged 33, earned two Michelin stars before the age of 30, making him one of the UK’s youngest two-time Michelin star chefs. His culinary journey began at the Dining Room at Whatley Manor hotel, where he earned his first star in 2018 and a second in 2019.
Keating’s commitment to sustainability also earned him a prestigious Green Star from Michelin in January 2021.
In the four years since it opened, the five-star Stock Exchange Hotel has cemented a position as one of Manchester’s top hotel’s. An homage to the rich history of the impressive Grade II Listed former Stock Exchange building, all the original marble, brass and woodwork has been carefully restored to breathe new life into one of the city’s most historically symbolic institutions.
“Due to the calibre of the hotel, Tender is always going to be a destination restaurant,” Keating tells Globetrender. “But we need to be able to cater for everyone who’s travelling to Manchester and accommodate every guest that’s spending good money here to be looked after.”
The “versatile and accessible” menu at Tender will feature dishes such as dressed Cornish lobster roll with toasted buttermilk loaf and jalapeño pickle; pot roast cauliflower with yeast emulsion, toasted almonds, pomegranate and citrus; and raw Orkney scallop with bergamot, green almond and yuzu dressing, and marigold.
Further highlights include chimichurri tagliatelle with pine nut, black truffle and crispy kale, as well as aged pork chop with charred hispi cabbage, balsamic, apricot and walnut.
For dessert, diners can indulge in the salted caramel pecan and banana tart with banana ice cream or the jam-cinnaroll with crème anglaise.
Will Keating be aiming for Michelin stars with this debut? “My main goal for Tender is to have a busy, thriving restaurant that we can be proud of. I want to look over the pass and see emotion in the restaurant, that people are enjoying themselves, that they want to come back day in, day out – and not just for a special occasion… That means more than a Michelin star to me.”
Gary Neville adds: “We will also shortly be announcing a series of events and live music experiences, including a weekly music plan, within Tender, that will really bring the venue to life.”