The ones to watch at NRB 2022

Northern Restaurant & Bar kicks off the year with a dose of fresh new products, discussions and chef demonstrations

 

Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) 2022 will be the first major hospitality show of the year, providing a blast of momentum for the industry and bringing together operators and suppliers, promoting ideas and inspiration, and representing and leading the sector in the north.

 

Michelin stars

 

This year three new Northern restaurants gained Michelin stars, and two of those chefs, Cal Byerley from Pine, in Northumberland, and Nathan Cornwell from the Barn at Moor Hall in Lancashire, will be cooking in their first industry appearances since the awards were announced. Also in the theatre will be some of the region’s biggest names, well known from both their award-winning restaurants and their TV appearances, Lisa Goodwin-Allen from Northcote, Lancashire, and Tommy Banks from the Black Swan at Oldstead in North Yorkshire.

 

Elsewhere in the line up are Paul Leonard from the Michelin-starred Forest Side in Cumbria, and Alex Nietosvuori from the Michelin-starred Hjem in Northumbria – bringing the number of Michelin starred chefs to seven – as well as Ellis Barrie of Lerpwl and Great British Menu fame, and Nina Matsunaga from the award-winning Black Bull gastropub in Sedburgh. Exose Grant, who excelled on Masterchef The Professionals 2019, and has recently taken over the kitchen at BLVD, Manchester, completes the line up along with Alysia Vasey, better known as The Yorkshire Forager and regular on James Martin Saturday Kitchen.

 

 

Thom Hetherington, CEO of NRB, said, “This year we had an unprecedented breadth and depth of cheffing talent to choose from, following an incredible year of culinary acclaim and success for the North. The region has claimed the first three star restaurant outside of the South East in the entire 49 year history of the UK Michelin Guide, and this comes after a year when the National Restaurant Awards have declared four of the top five UK restaurants are in the North, and the Top 50 Gastropubs list put four of the top five gastropubs in the North.”

 

“All of this success, which is replicated across the region’s bars, pubs, hotels and cafes, has been achieved in the teeth of the pandemic, but I honestly think the hospitality industry in the region is only getting started, and will undoubtably hit greater heights from here. It feels like a tipping point has been reached, where hospitality talent is choosing to stay or move North, and the audiences are lapping it up,” continued Thom. “We’re so proud of how the leading lights of the industry have come together for NRB; it is the perfect time to celebrate these achievements, and to help shape the sector for the next twelve months. Levelling up may not have happened across the board, but it’s certainly happening in terms of gastronomy!”

 

Bruntwood NRB Debate

 

This year NRB chief executive Thom Hetherington will be in conversation with Nick Jones, founder of Soho House. Like many, Jones was drawn to hospitality at an early age, but has gone on to become a true titan of the industry with a number of successful operations in London, and Soho House & Co spanning the world. The NRB Debate provides a rare opportunity to hear his thoughts on both the art and the business of hospitality, and on his first northern club, launching later this year in Manchester. Tickets are £50 plus VAT, with a 20% discount if you use code CATERER. Book tickets online at

 

nrbdebate.co.uk

 

Kuits NRB Top Fifty

 

Don’t miss the announcement of the Kuits NRB Top Fifty 2022 power list, as well as the presentation of the special achievement awards.

 

Drinks Live

 

Two days of tutored tastings and guided samplings from some of the top names in the spirits world, including Tanqueray, Talisker and Luxardo.

 

Grape & Grain

 

Wine, beer and cider tastings led by industry experts and operators. Topics include 10-minute tastings and in-depth explorations in upcoming areas such as natural wine and low-alcohol beer.

 

Market Kitchen Stage

 

Cooking demonstrations to inspire your next menu from stars of the street food scene and up-and-coming chefs with a niche concept.

 

Exhibitors

 

NRB has more than 300 exhibitors, including Stephensons, LWC Drinks, Vimto Out of Home, James Robertshaw, Hopwells, Asahi UK, Halewood International, FIS Global, Rational, Diageo, Unox, Coca-Cola European Partners, Tevalis, Artis, Franklin & Sons, Andy Thornton, Bleep UK, Illy Caffè, Churchill and Flipdish.

 

Where and when

 

Northern Restaurant & Bar is only open to people working within the hospitality industry. You may be asked to provide proof of employment when you arrive.

 

When

 

10am-5pm, 15-16 March 2022

 

Where

 

Manchester Central Convention Complex, Petersfield, Manchester M2 3GX

 

Book your free trade-only ticket at www.northernrestaurantandbar.co.uk/thecaterer

 

New products in focus

 

Palm Plate

 

 

Palm Plates are fallen palm leaves, simply pressed into shape and offering a sturdy and practical plate suitable for a huge variety of hot, wet and oily foods. They are commercially compostable where accepted.

 

Stand: D48

 

www.rawpac.co.uk

 

Mr Yum

 

 

Mr Yum is a global mobile ordering, payments and growth platform used by hospitality and entertainment venues. It can be integrated with 100+ of the top POS, marketing and finance providers.

 

Stand: D28

 

www.mryum.com

 

Seatable

 

 

A range of bespoke banquette seating available to meet operators’ requirements, ranging from diamond deep-buttoned back to fluted back or simply plain.

 

Stand: B45

 

www.seatableuk.com

 

MindBoost

 

 

MindBoost offers a selection of Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety courses, teaching delegates about food safety and hygiene in the workplace as well as improving their knowledge on food contamination and hygiene, improving the quality of a product and service for the hospitality industry.

 

Stand: B86

 

mindboostlearning.com

 

Mitchell & Cooper

 

 

Whether you’re a beginner or well on your way to becoming an expert, the KitchenAid appliances are inspired, designed and developed in partnership with professional chefs. The range of products encompass technologies and materials that deliver professional results. Available on the Mitchell & Cooper stand.

 

Stand: D78

 

www.mitchellcooper.co.uk

 

Hutech Robotics

 

 

BellaBot, the smart delivery robot, can work in many places and scenarios, delivering food and drinks in a range of businesses.

 

Stand: C51

 

www.hutechrobotics.com

 

Worker Bee Tea & Coffee

 

 

Worker Bee Tea & Coffee also offers a hot chocolate with 33% cocoa content, a luxurious, rich and creamy drink that can be made with cows’ milk, alternative milks or water.

 

Stand: M10

 

workerbeemcr.co.uk

 

Mattonelle Margherita, Casa Ceramica

 

With Mattonelle Margherita, Mutina has worked with artist Nathalie Du Pasquier to create Casa Ceramica. The collection is characterised by a dual concept: a simple, minimalist style, evident in the plain-coloured elements, coupled with a creative approach, characterised by a large variety of graphics. Forty-one patterns have been designed by hand, available in two sizes.

 

Stand: E12

 

casaceramica.co.uk

 

@nrbmanchester