Northern Restaurant and Bar show unveils stellar debate line-up

Chefs Simon Rogan, Michael Caines and James Martin are among a stellar line-up set to appear at this year's Northern Restaurant and Bar show.

Joining them at Manchester Central on 18 and 19 March will be Tim Bacon, co-founder of Living Ventures; Marcello DiStefano, managing director of San Carlo Group; and Beau Myers, the brains behind Beautiful Drinks.

Highlights of the two-day event include 50 tastings, talks and live demos, and a Chairman's Reserve-sponsored cocktail competition with a top prize of a trip to St Lucia. New to 2014 is the NRB Debate, supported by Pro Manchester.

More than 225 exhibitors will be at the event, now in its 14th year, showing a range of food and drink, and technology products as well as hospitality services.

Thom Hetherington, managing director of Northern Restaurant & Bar, said: "The show is 15% bigger this year, but the levels of interest have gone through the roof and we predict a sell-out.

"The hospitality industry in the North has gone from strength to strength and our show reflects the confidence, ambition and aspiration amongst the leading operators."

Tickets for the show are available free from the Northern Restaurant & Bar website.

Tickets for the debate are £50 including VAT and are on sale from 31 January 2014 online here.

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