First look: Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat opens in Manchester

Gordon Ramsay has opened his Asian-inspired Lucky Cat restaurant in Manchester city centre today (1 June).

It is the first major opening for the chef in Manchester and comes four years after the first Lucky Cat launched in London’s Mayfair in 2019.

The original opening sparked accusations of cultural appropriation over its claim to be an “authentic Asian Eating House”, which Ramsay denied.

Lucky Cat Manchester has opened at 100 King Street in the Grade II-listed art deco former Midland Bank building, which housed a Jamie’s Italian restaurant until 2019.

The restaurant spans three storeys and features a private dining room situated in the underground bank vault.

Russell Sage Studio has overseen the interior design, which pay homage to the building’s history and take inspiration from 1930’s Tokyo jazz bars and “Shanghai drinking dens”.

The menu ranges from Asian-inspired small plates to Robata-grilled dishes, sushi, and sashimi, all created in an open kitchen.

Larger main dishes include Korean-spiced black cod with gochujang and daikon (£39); Wagyu sirloin steak with mushroom and wasabi (£90); and roasted lobster with yuzu beurre blanc and furikaka (£43 for half and £86 for whole).

The opening is part of a wider expansion push for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, which is planning further openings in the UK and overseas after turnover tripled to £78.9m last year.

The group runs 36 UK restaurants including three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London as well as casual dining brands Bread Street Kitchen and Street Burger.

It also trades from 14 licensed locations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.