Chotto Matte to open its first UK restaurant outside of London

Chotto Matte is to open its first UK restaurant outside of London at St Michael's Rooftop, Manchester.

The global Japanese-Peruvian group, which already has sites in Miami and Toronto, is expected to launch in summer 2024 across a 20,000 square foot space that overlooks Manchester's historic Town Hall.

It comes after Chotto Matte annoucned a major expansion drive in September 2021.

Designed by award-winning architect Andy Martin, the venue will feature Chotto Matte's signature sushi counters, tableside torched sushi, robata grills and graffiti-inspired artwork.

The group, founded and owned by Kurt Zdesar, former European director of Nobu and consultant to Alan Yau's launch of Hakkasan, is known for its Nikkei cuisine.

It intends to extend its international portfolio to Doha, San Francisco and Los Angeles by the end of 2022.

The venue in Manchester was secured as part of a deal with development company Relentless, which is overseeing the St Michael's scheme.

The St Michael's project aims to introduce 1,800 jobs, create a new public square in Manchester City Centre, complete the refurbishment of Bootle Street Police Station, which has been abandoned for over eight years, as well as welcome Chotto Matte to Manchester.

Zdesar said: "We are delighted to continue our expansion plans and allow more people to experience the very best of authentic innovative Nikkei cuisine across the UK.

"I am personally very excited to bring Chotto Matte to such an ambitious place. I have been monitoring the city's growth for years but never found the right opportunity until now.

"The city is growing at an exciting pace and timing couldn't be better for Chotto Matte to bring diversity to the local landscape. I see this new opening as an important part of our international expansion plan."