A new destination has officially launched today in East Manchester. Medlock Square is a pioneering hospitality-led entertainment district, anchored by a purpose-built hotel and an entirely new line-up of restaurants, bars, cultural experiences, retail, leisure, and live entertainment.
More than a collection of individual venues, Medlock Square has been designed as a destination in its own right and bringing together hospitality, food, culture, entertainment, retail, and leisure to give people reasons to visit throughout the day and across the year.
At the heart of Medlock Square is The Medlock, a Radisson Blu Hotel—a global brand flagship. As the largest hotel serving the Etihad Campus and Co-op Live, it serves as the primary gateway for experiencing the new East Manchester.
The £300m development marks a significant new chapter in East Manchester’s continued investment and transformation overseen by City Football Group since 2008. Developed as a 365-day destination, Medlock Square forms part of the wider evolution of the Etihad Campus into one of the city’s leading hubs for visitors and residents alike.
The scale of the development will have a significant impact beyond Medlock Square itself. It is expected to generate £35.8 million in off-site visitor expenditure in Manchester each year, contributing directly to the city economy, while supporting 12,300 jobs across Greater Manchester.
The destination sits within an extraordinary events ecosystem: long-term visitor projections put annual footfall across the wider Etihad Campus, including Co-op Live, at more than 5.3 million. Alongside its year-round offer, the destination will benefit from major surrounding events, including upcoming NBA and BRITs events at Co-op Live, a packed summer concert season at the Etihad Stadium, and five UEFA EURO 2028 matches—including England’s opening match.
THE MEDLOCK, A RADISSON BLU HOTEL – open now
The first chapter of Medlock Square began with the opening of The Medlock, a Radisson Blu Hotel. With 401 bedrooms, the hotel is one of the largest new hospitality arrivals in Manchester. The hotel’s design merges Manchester’s industrial heritage with modern biophilic elements, drawing inspiration from the historic gasworks, waterways, and green spaces that once defined the area.
Across the hotel’s rooms, local touches sit alongside considered design: GRIND coffee machines, bespoke artwork by Manchester artists, signature Vimto bonbons, and Medlock mattresses created in partnership with Silentnight. Deluxe rooms and suites also feature yoga mats and virtual in-room trainers.
The crown jewel is the two-storey Penthouse Suite, designed for high-profile stays, private dinners, and VIP celebrations. Featuring two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, generous living and entertaining spaces, floor-to-ceiling city views, and a private rooftop garden overlooking Co-op Live, the suite can be configured with a third bedroom and includes an adjacent private room for hosted dining or a private chef experience. The hotel also features a 24-hour Technogym fitness centre with virtual personal training options.
THREE RIVERS BRASSERIE AND BAR – open now
Set within The Medlock hotel, Three Rivers is a sophisticated all-day dining experience focused on British produce and warm, polished service. Brasserie classics—such as prawn cocktail with shredded iceberg and confit tomato, alongside an impeccably sourced Hereford steak selection—sit alongside local specialities like Lancashire hotpot and Manchester tart (reimagined as a silken panna cotta).
With the beverage programme overseen by Medlock Square’s Head of Bars, award-winning cocktail creative Cressida Lawlor, and a kitchen under the direction of Development Chef and MasterChef winner Dan Merriman, Three Rivers Brasserie brings together exceptional local talent.
BLEND – open now
A café by day and wine bar by night, Blend anchors Medlock Square into the local community. Hosting everyone from early-morning runners arriving from the city centre via the canalside path to pre-gig wine lovers, Blend serves speciality coffee from GRIND and artisanal pastries by day, transitioning into an intimate evening bar serving curated wines and craft beers. With its own dedicated entrance and internal access from The Medlock, Blend welcomes both hotel guests and the wider Manchester community.
LITTLE BEAST – open now
Next to The Medlock, Little Beast brings another distinctive culinary experience to Medlock Square. Led by 2024 MasterChef The Professionals winner Dan Merriman, Little Beast is a tribute to Britain’s agricultural heritage. Rooted in the phases of the moon, its menu evolves with the seasons, celebrating British produce and the changing landscape of the country’s farms and fields.
ZADIE’S – officially opening from September 24th
Zadie’s will take centre stage as the flagship restaurant and bar at Medlock Square, sitting high above the destination with panoramic views stretching towards the South Pennines through vast windows. The restaurant combines deep, luxurious banquette seating with a central bar, while its menu takes inspiration from the Japanese tradition of Itameshi, bringing together umami-rich Japanese ingredients and flavours with Italian techniques and presentation. Led by Chef Paolo Bianchi, whose career includes Zuma, Alain Ducasse, Lucky Cat and Les Grandes Alpes Courchevel 1850, the menu balances luxury with discovery, alongside a drinks list developed by award-winning Head of Bars Cressida Lawlor. Nightly entertainment will add to the atmosphere, establishing Zadie’s as a new dining and social destination within Medlock Square.
BRICKWORKS
Brickworks will bring a vibrant, bustling food hall to Medlock Square, bringing together some of the best independent food brands from across Manchester under one roof. Five kitchens will serve up their own well-loved dishes, alongside two bars pouring local craft beers, Midori Sour Slushies and classic cocktails. With 248 covers, Brickworks will bring the energy of Manchester’s independent food scene to Medlock Square.
ROOFWALK ADVENTURE AT ETIHAD STADIUM
For those looking for an adrenaline rush, the rooftop adventure at Etihad Stadium offers three high-octane challenges: the Skywalk, taking visitors 100ft above the ground across the stadium’s sky bridge; the Zip, sending thrill-seekers flying across the pitch at speeds of up to 50mph; and the Drop, a controlled 100ft abseil down the face of the stadium. Together, the experiences offer 360-degree views across Manchester and a new perspective on the city.
MANCHESTER CITY MUSEUM & CITY STORE
Adding culture and immersive entertainment to the destination, the new Manchester City Museum Experience spans more than 1,700 square metres across ten spaces. Developed in conjunction with RAA, the world’s leading developer of museum and narrative environments, the museum brings Manchester City’s story to life through immersive technology, interactive experiences, and authentic memorabilia.
Alongside the museum, Manchester City will open a new three-storey flagship City Store, developed in partnership with PUMA. The store will offer an expanded merchandise range, exclusive stadium products, and an enhanced personalisation experience.
CULTURE & PROGRAMMING
Beyond its permanent venues and attractions, Medlock Square will offer a changing programme of cultural, creative, and community-led experiences throughout the year, reflecting the energy and spirit of the city.
Danny Wilson, Managing Director Operations, Matchday and Medlock Square: “Medlock Square is an incredibly exciting next chapter in the continued transformation of the Etihad Campus and East Manchester. Our ambition has always been to create a destination that goes beyond individual events, bringing together hospitality, entertainment, culture, food, retail, and leisure to give people reasons to visit throughout the year. The scale of investment reflects our continued commitment to investing in both the city of Manchester and its people, ensuring that our local community benefits through jobs, training, and local supplier opportunities.”
Laura Montana, Director of Restaurants at Medlock Restaurants: “Food and drink is a central component of the Medlock Square experience. We’ve created a collection of distinct concepts that together form a comprehensive offer for Manchester. From casual coffee to destination dining and the market hall, there is something for every occasion, time of day, and audience.”
From thrill-seeking adventures at Etihad Stadium and destination restaurants to culture, retail, live programming and the world-class events calendar at Co-op Live, Medlock Square is creating a unique Manchester destination with reasons to visit year-round. As continued investment transforms a significant part of East Manchester, Medlock Square represents the evolution with a scale and breadth designed to appeal to local communities, visitors from across the UK and international audiences.
For more information, visit MedlockSquare.com.
