Culture Perplexed

It may not come as much as a surprise to some, however the hidden away (and badly marketed) restaurant BISTROTHEQUE, inside the CULTUREPLEX complex at Piccadilly, has already retreated back to its native London, after just five months.

Whilst its London pedigree may have seen some Manchester restaurant reviewers swoon over the "uncomplicated" bistro dishes perhaps a little too enthusiastically (presumably in search of advertising revenue), our two recent visits - to an empty venue on both occasions - only produced 3 Star reviews.

The food was certainly not in the same league as many less celebrated, and far cheaper, local operators. The service, whilst friendly, also did not warrant the 12.5% "discretionary" service charge - something London exports seem to try and impose on us Mancunians.

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It is not the first example of a London operator to misjudge the riches to be had in Manchester, with the likes of L'entrecote, Burger & Lobster, and Cabana amongst the most high profile failures, perhaps attracted by the success of 20 Stories, Hawksmoor and The Ivy.

Native Hotels, who run the 166 hotel apartment in the Ducie Street Warehouse, formerly known as The Place, have now taken over control of the downstairs restaurant and bar offering, renaming it Restaurant at CULTUREPLEX but continuing the same bistro menu.

BLOK fitness studios, in the same building, will still be ran by a separate independent  operator, however, in taking over the ground floor multi-purpose space, with its "Mini Cini" cinema, Klatch coffee counter, wine bar and Bistroteque restaurant, Native have gone back to square one with their multi-operator concept.

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