Manchester Corn Exchange to be next Million Pound Menu location

Manchester's Corn Exchange has been revealed as the new filming location for the second series of BBC Two's Million Pound Menu.

The series, hosted by Fred Sirieix, general manager at Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows in London, sees would-be restaurateurs attempt to secure major investments from high-profile industry players in order to launch their brands to market.

The first series of the BBC show was filmed at two pop-up units in Spinningfields and this year producers have made the decision to remain in the city of Manchester but with a fresh location.

Corn Exchange is a dining and leisure destination in the city centre, home to 13 different restaurant brands, a luxury aparthotel and an escape room. Filming will begin in the centre in October, with the series airing in 2019.

Liam Mooney, general manager at Corn Exchange Manchester, said: "Manchester is renowned for its varied and vibrant food scene, making it the perfect home for Million Pound Menu, which champions start up restaurants and businesses."

One of the highest-profile winners of the first series was chef Ruth Hansom and Emily Lambert's British fine dining concept Epoch, with restaurateur Atul Kochhar committing to invest in the project. The concept is understood to be still under development, although Hansom joined the Luton Hoo hotel as head chef of the property's fine dining Wernher restaurant earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Cuban street-food brand Finca recently did a summer residency at the city's Artisan Kitchen & Bar after securing investment from Living Ventures' co-founder Jeremy Roberts.

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