Restaurant steps back to 70s for anniversary
IT was back to the 1970s for one of Manchester’s most famous restaurants as the Yang Sing started celebrations for its 40th anniversary year. Restaurant boss Harry Yeung MBE hosted a special 1977 banquet at the Chinatown institution, with guests getting into the spirit with afros, flares and very, very bold fashions as they bounced on spacehoppers on a flashing disco floor.
Guests tucked into a spectacular 12-course feast including 70s classics devilled eggs, prawn cocktail, char siu pork and pineapple and classic sweet-and-sour chicken.
Harry, who donned a giant gold medallion for the occasion, said: “This was a celebration of all things 70s. Our official birthday is in November. For me though, not a lot has changed, except I have less hair and more wrinkles!
“Hair, shoes and outfits have become more sensible, but our celebrations and the costumes this week were a great reminder of all that was great about the 70s.
“It’s been a fantastic 40 years and we look forward to celebrating with all our friends – old and new.”
The anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the year, including a £250,000 upgrade and another party on the exact opening date in November. Since opening its doors, the 140-seat restaurant has become an institution for Mancunians and visitors of the city centre, with recent diners including Sir Alex Ferguson and David Cameron.
The Yeung family have invested in major improvements to futureproof the grade-two listed building on Princess Street, and a quarter of a million will be spent this year on updating dining room spaces, interior design and renewing aesthetics, whilst retaining the comfort and intimacy that the dining environment is well-known for.
Yang Sing’s Bonnie Yeung, dressed in a 70s jumpsuit for the dinner, said: “What began as a small family affair in 1977 has grown to become synonymous with the cultural and culinary landscape of the city of Manchester.
“For us, 2017 is our year for celebrating both our past and looking to the future.
“The trust of our customers, built up over many years combined with the continuity of being the same family-owned and run business, which still have the passion for what we do, is what has helped Yang Sing to achieve this longevity and become a rite of passage for the region’s foodies.”