Eateries add flavour to centre’s nightlife

THE leader of Rochdale council said the increase in restaurants is boosting the town’s reputation as a food and drink destination.

An analysis of government figures reveals a rise in restaurants and cafes from just 70 in 2011 to 115 this year.

However, Rochdale is the joint worst in Greater Manchester, both in terms of total number of establishments and per head.

There are just five restaurants or cafes for every 10,000 people in Rochdale tied with Tameside - which is half the national average and almost three times less than Manchester.

Recent months have seen the opening of Players, a new sports-themed restaurant on Oldham Road, trendy Chinese chain WowYauChow (though it soon closed from flood damage) and Italian restaurant Riva, by the owners of the popular The Green Door.

Allen Brett, leader of Rochdale Council, said this increase shows that the regeneration of the town centre is gathering pace and that the night time economy is becoming more prominent.

He said the town centre is becoming seen as a venue not just for fine dining but also real ale.

He added: “This increase demonstrates the success of Rochdale town centre’s regeneration programme, which will help improve our leisure offer and early evening economy. We already have award winning venues, like The Flying Horse and Cask and Feather, and newer establishments like the Medicine Tap and Petit Cafe have opened with council support.

“These council incentives, alongside Rochdale’s newly launched coffee trail and real ale events like Oktoberfest, are helping us gain an increasing reputation as a food and drink destination and we’re expecting more of these types of businesses to open soon. Our developer partners, Genr8, are also in detailed negotiations with several food and beverage operators, who are looking to come into our new retail and leisure development, Rochdale Riverside, which is expected to open next Easter.”

There are more restaurants and bars to come before the close of the year with Bombay Brew, an Indian street food and craft ale bar, expected to open in the coming weeks – as is ‘unique social hub’/bar Hoochi Koochi and Rochdale Road bar and kitchen The Crown & Shuttle.

The Medicine Tap, which opened in March last year, recently added a new cocktail room, while the Greengate Bar and Kitchen, on Halifax Road, has reopened after a big renovation.

The new year will also bring four new restaurant units as part of the £80m Rochdale Riverside leisure and retail complex.