Openings

Top o' the world, ma

The Le Mont restaurant is to open in Manchester city centre in mid-July, at the top of the new £30m Urbis science museum. There will be a 45-seat restaurant and bar on the fifth floor, and a 30-seat dining room on the top floor will be available for private events. Executive chef is Robert Kisby of the Charles Hallé restaurant at Bridgewater Hall.

Travelodge triple

The third Travelodge in Liverpool opens next month. Owner Compass invested £5m in the 105-bedroom hotel, which took a year to build. The hotel will employ 18 staff, and is the 225th Travelodge in the British Isles.

Bug gets beefed up

Bug, a 90-seat restaurant, opened yesterday (19 June) in the crypt of St Matthew's Church in Brixton, London. New head chef Chris Manning has introduced meat dishes to the former Bah Humbug vegetarian restaurant. A 20-seat private dining room and 60-seat lounge bar have also been added.

Another round

O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bar opened in Northampton yesterday (19 June). Franchisees Malachy and Dawn Miller, who employ eight full- and part-time staff, plan to open another two shops in Northampton within two years.

Slowly does it

Cru opens in Hoxton, London, in late July. With the 90-seat restaurant and bar, there will be a small delicatessen and a 22-seat private dining room. Chef Eamon Fullalove will specialise in slow roasts and stews, but the menu will represent all main wine-growing countries.