Big Mamma to open first site in the north of England

Big Mamma Group has announced that it is set to open a new Circolo Popolare in Manchester, its first site in the north of England.

The new 280-cover space will be set within a new development, St Michael’s, off the thoroughfare of Manchester’s Deansgate.

The venue will be led by Campanian-born head chef Alfonso Esposito, who has been with Big Mamma for two years.

He will be crafting a brand-new menu exclusively for Manchester, featuring the company’s largest-ever selection of produce, sourced directly from over 170 small Italian artisans, alongside new, never-before-seen dishes.

Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux, co-founders, said: “Our 10-year Big Mamma adventure has continued to surprise and challenge us, and we couldn’t think of a better restaurant that encapsulates everything we strive for than the joyful and atmospheric Circolo Popolare, in the vibrant community-driven city of Manchester.

“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 we spent 3 years personally sourcing to another major European city.”

This new site follows the openings of Gloria in Milan, Barracuda in Brussels, and most recently, a new site in Barcelona. Big Mamma was the first hospitality group to receive B-Corp certification in 2018.

The development of St Michael’s is being driven by Relentless Developments, a property development company led by Anthony Kilbride and former Manchester United defender and current Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

Its projects to-date include Hotel Football in Old Trafford and the Stock Exchange Hotel in the city centre.