Much-loved pizzeria to open new Manchester site with huge bar and outside terrace

A popular Manchester pizzeria spot known for its huge pizzas is set to expand its footprint in the region. Nell's Pizza is set to open a fifth branch in south Manchester this autumn.

The pizza connoisseurs are well known for their 14-inch and 22-inch pizzas, cooked New York-style. The brand was established by the founders of Common bar in the Northern Quarter and The Beagle in Chorlton.

Also loved for their cocktails and ice-cream sandwiches, there latest site will be located in Altrincham. The restaurant will feature a huge bar and outside area at the Stamford Quarter’s Foundation building in the town.

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Announcing the new location, founder Jonny Heyes said: "We’ve been hoping to open a Nell’s in Altrincham for years. We love the town, it’s so vibrant, it almost feels like coming on holiday when you head over here - we can’t wait to be part of it."

Owners say art and music play a big part in Nell’s identity at the new site and will feature work by multi-media artist Tara Colette. At weekends, diners will be able to enjoy local and emerging talent filling the place with tunes from underneath the disco ball.

Foundation is a new workspace and leisure destination in the heart of Altrincham town centre. It is part of a wider transformational plan to revitalise the high street through a joint venture between Bruntwood and Trafford Council.

Commenting on the announcement, James Tootle, Head of Retail and Leisure at Bruntwood, said: “We’re delighted that Nell’s will be joining the Foundation community. It’s a brilliant, independent brand that will cement the Stamford Quarter’s next chapter as a destination for dining and leisure as well as shopping.

"It’s an important step forward in our vision for revitalising the high street with the workspace now complete at Foundation and it’s exciting to announce the arrival of the exciting operators that will complete the offering.”

Nell’s Pizza, inspired by the thin, crisp crusts and high-quality toppings of New York’s iconic pizza culture, launched in lockdown at the owner's bars, Common in the Northern Quarter and Chorlton family favourite, The Beagle.

The brand's flagship site at the Kampus neighbourhood near Manchester Piccadilly opened in 2022 . Common co-founders Jonny and Charlotte Heyes were one of the first operators to join the £250m garden neighbourhood close to Piccadilly train station.

Not only loved by locals, Nell's has also attracted some famous faces to its branches including comedian Dara Ó Briain and popstar Lewis Capaldi. Pizzas include the OG Cheese with house tomato sauce and mozzarella, finished with EVOO and parmesan, and 'Magic Number', topped with mozzarella blend, vodka sauce, salsa verde and buffalo ricotta cream.

Adding new menu items earlier this year, the menu now also features calzoneta filled with cheesy marmite and baked until crisp on the outside and stringy in the middle; a fresh iceberg wedge salad with ricotta salata; and their ice cream sandwiches, recently immortalised by local artist Dave Bailey.

In April, owners confirmed plans for a new city centre site too. Nell's Pizza will soon takeover the former Croma site near the town hall.

No date has yet been set for the opening of the new city centre site, but the team said at the time that they are 'excited' to be opening in a different area of the city centre, and diners can expect 'delicious' New-York style slices and original cocktails.

Croma was forced to shut its city centre flagship restaurant in the wake of the pandemic. The Manchester pizza institution announced its closure in January 2022 after celebrating its 21st anniversary in November 2021.

Nell’s Altrincham will open in September 2024.