Ex Red Gary nets Michelin winning chef

YOUNGEST EVER TO GET TWO CULINARY STARS SET TO TAKE OVER KITCHEN AT HISTORIC HOTEL

- JENNA CAMPBELL

HE'S the youngest ever chef to be awarded two Michelin Stars in the UK, and now Niall Keating, is bringing his proven star power to Manchester.

But if you're picturing tiny portions with an eye-watering price tag, starched white tablecloths, and stuffy service, think again.

In just a couple of weeks' time, the Stoke-on-Trent chef will take over the ornate restaurant space at the historic Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester City Centre. He's teamed up with Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who co-owns the hotel alongside Ryan Giggs and hotelier Winston Zahra, to bring 'Tender' to life.

Having now stepped away from his most recent project, Lunar, a 120-cover restaurant at the World of Wedgwood visitor attraction in Barlaston, Niall is busy putting the finishing touches on his next project and he's determined that it be 'for everyone and anyone! 

"I don't want the restaurant to be branded as super high-end, Michelin fine dining, we need to accommodate for everyone that we can in this area," he reflects, sitting down next to Gary Neville ahead of a special preview event for the new restaurant.

"Sure, you could do a crazy, high price point and have only 12 people dining in the restaurant every night, but that just doesn't make sense to me. I want to see 80-100 people in every day - it should be about accessibility, live music and making sure people come back."

The new chef-in-residence, follows in the footsteps of Tom Kerridge, another two-Michelin-starred chef who was the first to take on the restaurant space. The Bull & Bear opened to much fanfare, but at the end of 2022, Gary and Tom jointly announced they were to part ways.