It’s been hailed as a chance to try a place you’ve may not have eaten at yet
10:55, 07 Jan 2026Updated 14:32, 09 Jan 2026
Higher Ground in Manchester is amongst the venues opening their doors up with special offers over the next month(Image: Instagram: @highergroundmcr)
A host of Manchester restaurants are taking part in a brand new January list from the creators of a culinary bible which recognises the best of the best in the food industry.
First published in 1952, The Good Food Guide has set a precedent in the food and drink scene by recognising the restaurants and chefs who are setting the bar when it comes to innovation and great dishes. In the 2025 guide, it was Merlin Labron-Johnson’s Osip in Somerset which claimed the coveted title of Restaurant of the Year but Manchester also fared extremely well thanks to a Best New Restaurant win by Tom Barnes’ Skof.
Last summer, the creators of the guide also unveiled a list of the 100 Best Local Restaurants for 2025 with a number of Greater Manchester eateries included, like Lupo Caffe Italiano, in Prestwich, which was named Best Local Restaurant in the North West. Other spots including Cibus, in Levenshulme, Stetford Canteen and The Sparrows, also made it into the top 100 of that list.
The Good Food Guide has today unveiled a new Restaurant Month list which gives some of its previously-esteemed venues a chance to bask in what is traditionally a quiet start of the year for the industry. Taking place for the first time ever, the new list features more than 350 venues across the country who have created special offers or a set menu to entice diners throughout January.
Sexy Fish Manchester will be offering two courses for £25 this January(Image: )
In addition to the huge list of restaurants, bars, cafes, and pubs already running special offers throughout the month, this one has been described as specifically intending to build on the Guide’s mission to champion the best of British hospitality. It includes the likes of Higher Ground, Nell’s Pizza, Hispi and Sexy Fish.
Adam Hyman, owner of The Good Food Guide and founder of CODE Hospitality, said: “January is a notoriously tough time for hospitality. I’ve always thought it is one of the best times to treat yourself to a meal out and a glass or two of something delicious. The aim of Restaurant Month is to encourage the British public to venture out for a meal at the beginning of year and perhaps try a place that they may not have eaten at or treat themselves to a special meal somewhere that may have been out of their budget.”
We’ve rounded up the list of Greater Manchester venues which will be taking part in the Good Food Guide’s first ever Restaurant Month, from January 13 to February 13.
A Tavola
Situated in New Mills (technically Derbyshire, but with a Stockport postcode), this quaint little restaurant has been described as ‘a little slice of Sicily in the High Peak’. It is the third restaurant under the watchful eye of award-winning chef Alessio Muccio.
From January 20 (until the end of Restaurant Month on February 13), guests can enjoy two courses for £24 or three for £28. It’s available for dinner (4pm to 6pm) between Tuesday and Thursday, and for lunch (1pm to 4pm) on Fridays. Maximum party size eight. Info here.
Albion Rd, New Mills, High Peak, SK22 3EY.
A Tavola in New Mills(Image: A Tavola)
Bar Shrimp
From the same team behind the likes of Higher Ground and Flawd, this city centre cocktail and seafood bar has created a bit of a buzz in town since opening a few months ago. The menu features the likes of a fried clam salad, British bluefin tuna crudo, caviar, and hand-dived scallop tartare. There’s also ham croquettes, beef burgers and other non-fishy things.
Start with sophistication with 50% off oysters when you visit for lunch or dinner between Wednesday and Friday. Bookings can be made here.
7 New York St, Manchester M1 4JB.
Higher Ground
Speaking of Higher Ground, the British bistro and bar is also getting in on the Restaurant Month action. Opened by Industry veterans Daniel Craig Martin, Joseph Otway and Richard Cossins, the venue celebrates ‘regenerative farming and local produce’, with around 90% of the ingredients included in its menu sourced from the trio’s Cinderwood farm in Nantwich.
There’s 25% off the set sharing menu between Wednesday and Friday. This is valid for lunch or dinner. Bookings here.
Faulkner House, New York St, Manchester, M1 4DY.
Hispi
Didsbury haunt Hispi, which first opened in 2016, has built up a firm reputation for its ‘humble bistro food’. We’re talking winter root vegetable soup with roasted chestnuts, a spicy Nduja rigatoni pasta and a roasted king oyster mushroom served with caramalised autumn squash and hazlenut cream. Cosy, comfort food at its finest.
Enjoy two courses for £15. The offer is valid from Monday to Thursday and is eligible for lunch and dinner until 6.30pm. The maximum party size is eight. Bookings here. www.hispi.net
1C School Ln, Didsbury, M20 6RD.
Hispi, on School Lane in Didsbury, is led by acclaimed chef Gary Usher(Image: MEN Media)
Isca
Located over in Levenshulme, wine bar Isca is equally as popular for its food. Using seasonal produce from local farms and growers, the menu is as varied as its wine selection with the likes of grilled brassicas with Slipcote cheese and oyster mushrooms, and a Cavolo nero with celeriac and ricotta gratin.
Enjoy a snack, a large plate and dessert for £26. Deal is valid from Wednesday to Friday, with a maximum party size of four people. Info here.
1032 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WX.
Nell’s Pizza
It’s already a firm favourite for pizzas, but Nell’s have upped the ante with a 50% off offer on whole pizzas. It’s running every day, all day at all of their venues but it will only be valid throughout January. Valid from Sunday to Thursday, the offer is at all their sites including The Beagle in Chorlton, Kampus in the city centre, Common in the Northern Quarter, and their spots in Altrincham and MediaCity too.
Some of their popular flavours right now include the the Barbie & ‘Ken (Smoked Lancs, Smokey maple BBQ sauce, peppers, chillis and BBQ chicken) and the brilliantly named Ndu Y’Olive Me? (Now That I Can Dance) featuring vodka sauce, Nduja, and green olives.
Visit the website for closest location to you.
Sexy Fish
Over in Deansgate, you can bask in a glamourous Baroque-inspired setting as you enjoy a host of Japanese-inspired sushi, sashimi, and meats cooked on a Robata grill.
For their January Month offerings, guests can enjoy two courses for £25. The offer is available every day for lunch and dinner, with a maximum party size of six people. More info here.
1 The Avenue, Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3AP.