James Martin’s flagship Manchester restaurant has closed after 14 years, ending a partnership that made the venue a familiar part of the city’s dining scene.
A 14-year Partnership Comes to an End
The restaurant, located inside Manchester235 Casino at the Great Northern Warehouse, ceased trading on October 1, 2026, bringing to a close a relationship between James Martin and Metropolitan Gaming that began in 2012.
According to the Oxford Mail, customers were informed of the decision by email. The message confirmed that the two sides had agreed to end the partnership rather than extend it.
An email sent to customers confirmed the closure, stating:
“After a successful partnership spanning more than a decade, Metropolitan Gaming and James Martin have mutually agreed to conclude their restaurant partnership at Manchester235 on October 1, 2026.”
Credit: James Martin Manchester
Customers with Bookings Offered Refunds
The closure also affected diners who had already arranged future visits.
Customers with upcoming reservations were informed that their bookings could no longer go ahead. Those affected were offered refunds, according to the notice sent by the venue.
The restaurant had spent more than a decade serving guests inside Manchester235, becoming closely associated with both the casino and the wider Great Northern Warehouse complex.
Its long run also placed it among a relatively small group of celebrity-chef-backed restaurants able to maintain a presence in a major UK city for more than a decade.
Metropolitan Gaming highlighted the restaurant’s role in hosting celebrations, events and regular dining experiences throughout the partnership.
The company said: “We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together and grateful to James and his team for the creativity, passion, and commitment they have brought to the restaurant throughout our partnership.”
The operator also thanked Martin and his team for their contribution to the venue over the years.
James Martin Remains Active in Restaurants and Television
The closure does not mark Martin’s departure from the restaurant business.
The chef continues to be involved with other hospitality ventures, including his restaurant at The Lygon Arms in Broadway, in the Cotswolds. The historic hotel has become another prominent location associated with Martin’s food and restaurant work.
Martin, 54, has built a career that extends well beyond restaurant kitchens.
He remains a regular presence on British television through ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning, a weekend food program in which he cooks alongside chefs and celebrity guests.
Before joining ITV, Martin became widely known as the presenter of BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen. His years on the program helped establish him as one of Britain’s most recognizable television chefs.
He has also appeared at food festivals and public events around the UK, including appearances in and around the Manchester region.
The Manchester Venue had Become Part of His Public Profile
For Martin, the Manchester restaurant represented one of his longest-running hospitality partnerships.
Opening in 2012, the venue operated through a period in which Manchester’s restaurant market expanded significantly, with new independent venues, national groups and chef-led concepts competing for diners across the city.
James Martin Manchester built its identity around familiar British dishes presented in a more formal restaurant setting. Its location inside a casino also gave it a different profile from many standalone celebrity chef restaurants.
Afternoon teas, tasting experiences and private events broadened its offering beyond standard lunch and dinner service.
The restaurant’s longevity meant that it served customers across several different phases of Martin’s television career, from his years associated with the BBC to his later work with ITV.
Manchester235 Continues Without the James Martin Partnership
The decision ends the restaurant partnership rather than Martin’s wider hospitality or television career.
Metropolitan Gaming operates Manchester235, the casino where the restaurant was based, while Martin continues to work across television, live events and other restaurant projects.
Neither side indicated in the customer message that the Manchester restaurant would relocate under the same format.
For diners who had planned to visit after the closure date, the immediate impact is straightforward: reservations made for future dates will not be honored at the former James Martin Manchester venue, with refunds offered to affected customers.
The partnership between James Martin and Metropolitan Gaming officially ended on October 1, 2026, 14 years after the restaurant first opened.
