Hit Italian restaurant to make Manchester debut at Gary Neville's St Michael's development

The restaurant group behind some of London's most Instagram-worthy dining spots have applied for a license with Manchester City Council at Gary Neville's £400m St Michael's development.

The French-based Big Mamma group operates a number of Italian-led restaurant brands including Circolo Popolare, Gloria Trattoria, Ave Mario, Jacuzzi, and Carlotta. The new restaurant and bar would mark the restaurant group's debut in Manchester - and it's first UK site outside London.

It's larger-than-life Italian dining concepts have become known for their showstopping interiors and experiential menus, which includes dishes like carbonara served in a giant wheel of cheese. In March, a spokesperson for the brand confirmed that the operator had been looking at a number of sites in the city.

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As part of the application for an Italian restaurant and bar at the St Michael's development, the restaurant group is seeking to occupy part of the ground and first floors. A spokesperson for the the development has said, if approved it will be located at No.1 St Michaels situated on Jackson's Row on the site of the former Bootle Street police station.

Big Mamma group has applied for permission to serve alcohol until 3am between Monday and Saturday, and until 1am on Sunday. The application is spans live and recorded music, while opening hours would be 8am-3.30am most days, and until 1.30am on Sunday.

French entrepreneurs Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux founded the brand back in 2013, opening East Mamma in Paris in 2015. Since then, they've gone on to open more than 20 restaurants in Europe spanning 10 cities including London, Paris, Milan and Madrid.

Big Mamma had their first UK hit with Gloria, a 70s-inspired, Capri-styled restaurant in the middle of Shoreditch. It was followed up by Circolo Popolare in 2019, styled as a 'sunny Sicilian trattoria' in the heart of Fitzrovia.

It's here that diners can sample carbonara served in a pecorino wheel, Neapolitan pizzas and 'scandalous' desserts including caramelised, chocolate covered profiterole.

After opening of Gloria and Circolo Popolare they moved onto Ave Mario in Covent Garden. It's largest restaurant to date, the restaurant boasts almost 300 covers spread over three spaces and two large terraces.

The £400m St Michael’s development launched in July 2023, with construction now gathering pace to transform a 'pivotal yet underused' area of the city. It is currently being overseen by Gary Neville’s building company Relentless and when complete, will also encompass a 41-storey tower that will be home to W Hotel and Residences.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the St Michael's building, Peruvian-Japanese restaurant, Chotto Matte, will take over the 20,000 sq ft space. Last month, the first images of the space were revealed, showing terrace seating, a fire pit, and views across the city.

Owners have said that the restaurant will feature Chotto Matte’s signature design elements such as an open sushi counter, robata grill, table-side torched sushi, lava stone features, and graffiti-inspired artwork.