Central Bay

A new, waterfront dining and drinking destination at MediaCity is set to be launched as Central Bay – and will become the first of its kind in Salford and one of the biggest in the region.

Named after the original stretch of dock which was once a thriving loading bay during the industrial revolution, Central Bay will offer 25,000 square feet of exciting food and drink experiences, while sitting at the heart of cultural landmarks such as The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North and Coronation Street’s studios.

And with more than 2,000 square feet of south-facing outside terrace space to enjoy, up to 600 visitors to Central Bay will be able to enjoy unrivalled views of some of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks – including Old Trafford football ground.

The operator behind the British Street Food Awards 2022 – ‘Food Hall of the Year, Cutlery Works’, in Sheffield and The GPO in Liverpool, has been brought on board to run and develop the food hall, set to be known as Kargo, while the street vendor elements of Central Bay will be branded Kargo Mkt – aligning with the area’s rich history.

Blend Family is adept at building new, unique food hall experiences, intricately engineered to become community hubs. With a mix of design and culinary excellence, Blend Family, in partnership with the Quayside MediaCity, will showcase the best in up-and-coming food and drink talent, hand chosen and incubated to bring the best in world food under one roof.

Earmarked for a summer 2023 launch, Central Bay will be one of the biggest independent food and drink operations in the North; it will house four new independent restaurants, 13 kitchens, pop-up events, indie markets, live music performances and recreation space for children, with more announcements set to be made in the coming months.