The exciting announcements for new openings set for this year just keep coming.
Common & Co – the independent bar and restaurant group behind Common Bar, The Beagle in Chorlton and Nell’s Pizza – has announced the opening of two new venues for this summer.
A new pub called Cornerstone and a Nell’s Pizza shop will open at Kampus; the new £250m ‘garden neighbourhood’ which is being developed by developers Capital&Centric and HBD.
Founded by husband and wife team Jonny and Charlotte Heyes, Common & Co is the first operator to join Kampus, having run Northern Quarter bar Common for the last 15 years.
Cornerstone is their latest concept which is being described as a ‘traditional boozer reimagined for the 21st century’.
Next door, Nell’s will be cook up their absolutely massive (and delicious) 22 inch New York style pizzas. Like at Common and The Beagle where they are currently served, the pizzas will be availale by the slice or as a whole pie.
Jonny Heyes, Common & Co said:
“Kampus represents to me a development with a sense of purpose, it kind of knows what it’s about, what it’s for. Lots of developments end up being a bunch of buildings searching for a reason to be, furiously post-rationalising.
“We got the impression that the vision for Kampus would be something we, as an independent operator could get on board with. It will be a thoughtfully curated selection of independent businesses as part of a neighbourhood ecosystem, which is nice. All it was lacking was a pub (and a pizza shop).”
Located between Piccadilly station and the Gay Village, Kampus will be a mix of residential apartments, retail space and food and drink operators. The neighbourhood has taken over Grade II listed warehouses and canal shipping buildings constructed in the 1860s, as well as a 1960s tower block and former MMU campus building.
Set to open in July, there will also be plenty of outdoor seating next to the Kampus garden, overlooking the canal.
Adam Higgins, co-founder at Capital & Centric said:
“Kampus is all about the lush green garden and having the best independent food and drink operators in amongst it. Cornerstone will be at the heart of the Kampus community, just like the local pub should be. And if you fancy a bite to eat, you can walk right through to Nell’s to grab a slice of pizza to have with your pint
“More now so than ever, we really wanted to work with independent Manchester businesses and help them recover from what’s been a pretty crap year. Common were one of the first bars in the Northern Quarter and have become a Manchester institution. They’re going to be setting the tone for what we’re creating at Kampus: independent, laid back and for everyone. And the timing couldn’t be better as people start coming back into the city and life gets back to normal.”
Cornerstone and Nell’s Pizza are set to open at Kampus in July. For updates, visit the Cornerstone Instagram page here: instagram.com/cornerstonemcr.
To stay up to date with the Kampus neighbourhood, visit their website: kampus-mcr.co.uk.
