Monday, 20 February 2012

Kings of King Street: Jamie vs Rio


These grand buildings at the top end of King Street were built by Manchester wealth of the 19th and 20th centuries. Two of them are former banks which now house restaurants owned by two of today's wealthy celebrities. On the left we have Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italian and in the turreted building on the middle right we have footballer Rio Ferdinand's Italian, Rosso.

The white building was formerly the Midland Bank (where I banked in splendour for many years!), built in the 1930s to an Edwin Lutyens design. Original features have been retained, including marble clad columns, intricate mahogany wall panellings and a number of historic art deco features. Thе vaults аnԁ safety deposit boxes hаνе bееn also incorporated іntο thе design.

Jamie says of his restaurant which opens today: “I hope thаt whеn Manchester see thе restaurant thеу feel wе′ve looked аftеr thеіr building sensitively. [I hope] thаt thеу Ɩіkе іt, іt’s got energy, gorgеουѕ food, fаntаѕtіс ingredients, cooked bу community people аnԁ really accessible. I јυѕt hope thеу delight іn іt and wе really wіƖƖ look аftеr thеm, аnd whаt саn thеу expect? EхсеƖƖеnt food, ехсеƖƖеnt drink, ехсеƖƖеnt atmosphere, fοr sure.”

Photos of the inside at Manchester Confidential.

15 comments:

  1. Dunno about Rio's place but I do like Jamie's Italian here in Leeds, nice people.

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  2. I had no idea Rio F had a restaurant! I expect popular with United fans but not so with City.

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    1. I think you are right Mark- and it is very red in decor. Expect there are enough Utd fans- and those who don't care either way- to keep it going though. I prefered the venue that Rosso is in in a previous, non-Rio incarnation when it was a rather swish bar.

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  3. Wow! Every city has them... banks now restaurants. Too many banks I guess.

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  4. The buildings are handsome! I'm glad people who can afford to take care of them own them.

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  5. So you'll have to give us a review of Jamie's Italian when you've been Chrissy. What a fabulous building and surrounds to open a restaurant!

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  6. I've seen Jamie Oliver on US tv on the odd occasion... I'll be that restaurant will be very good...

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  7. It is said, that food keeps body, mind and soul together. Wonderful buildings indeed. Nice that they are taken care of. Please have a good Tuesday ahead.

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  8. My Uncle Pete always says about Manchester architecture, 'when walking in town, look up.'

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    1. Uncle Pete is very wise Katie- I have long heeded his advice!

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  9. Love that composition. Great shot.

    Is this the bank with all that jewellery, a gun and Joy Division master tapes??

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    1. It could well be Cara, I will have to investigate...

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  10. Love seeing old buildings re-purposed, instead of being bulldozed!
    These are beautiful!

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