KAMPUS TO GET A PIZZA THE NELL’S ACTION
COMMON SCRAPS PUB PLAN AT NEW CITY DEVELOPMENT IN FAVOUR OF RESTAURANT
MANCHESTER institution Common has scrapped plans for a new city centre pub, instead transforming the large site into a pizza restaurant.
The bar’s bosses say that ‘so much has changed’ since plans were drawn up for the Cornerstone pub at Kampus.
The corner plot at the new city centre development will instead become a dedicated home for its popular pizza brand, Nell’s.
Nell’s was always in the plans for the pub, but had been pitched as a small outpost beside the main pub.
It will now take over the entire site, serving its infamous massive slices and whole 22-inch pizzas as Nell’s New York Pizza and Bar.
The site will include a restaurant, a bar, a private snug area, and a standalone ‘slice bar’ for grab-and-go pizza served late into the evening.
The New York-inspired pizzas include the original cheese, the ‘Do You ‘Roni Honey,’ and a vegan deluxe, served with dipping sauce pots.
As well as its pizzas, the new Nell’s at Kampus restaurant will have a range of snacks and signature cocktails, including the Nell’s Sbagliato, Nell’s Spritz, and Nell’s Sour.
The brand’s ice cream sandwiches, handmade by co-founder Charlotte Heyes, will be on the menu too, wedging Cheshire Farm ice cream between homemade cookies.
There’ll be 17 lines of beer, pouring house beers Veltins, Virtuous and Pomona Island, plus rotating specials from both local and international breweries.
Founder Jonny Heyes has created a new focaccia-style dough to join the menu alongside its signature 48-hour pizza dough.
On Sundays, Nell’s New York Pizza and Bar will serve up bottomless slices and drinks, with DJs playing out the weekend.
The tiles inside the restaurant have been inspired by the facade of Stretford Mall, and local artist Tara Collette has designed proteststyle banners celebrating pizza.
Speaking of the decision to scrap the Cornerstone plans in favour of a Nell’s restaurant, Jonny said: “We decided to make a change from our original concept for Kampus.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but we felt like so much had changed since we began this project at
Kampus and Cornerstone started to feel like a ‘pre-Covid’ idea, which of course it was.
“Kampus had been intended as the first ever Nell’s but in fact we’re already now operating at two sites [Common in the Northern Quarter and The Beagle in Chorlton].
“So much of our focus over the last year has been on Nell’s so we thought it didn’t make sense to have it playing second fiddle to Cornerstone.
“Now felt like the right time for Nell’s to step out of the shadows and have a place of her own.”
Nell’s New York Pizza and Bar will open at Kampus on November 5, joining the likes of Pollen, Banh Vi and General Stores.