The North’s number one trade show opens next week – secure your badge today!
Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB), sponsored by Uber Eats, the leading hospitality trade show in the North, is returning to Manchester Central next week alongside the brand-new lunch! NORTH, an event dedicated to the region’s thriving café, coffee shop, and food-to-go sector.
Taking place on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th March, these two must-attend events will bring together the best of Northern hospitality under one roof with a stellar line up of keynote speakers, exclusive interviews, and live demonstrations, as well as invaluable networking opportunities.
NRB25 Highlights:
- Keynote Theatre: Industry leaders including Kate Nicholls OBE (UKHospitality), Simon Potts (The Alchemist), and Roy Ellis (Mission Mars) discuss key hospitality challenges and opportunities.
- Chef Live: Featuring Tom Barnes (Skof), Ruth Hansom (Hansom Restaurant & Wine Bar), and Danielle Heron (OSMA) showcasing their culinary expertise.
- Pub & Bar Theatre: Panels on leadership, brewing innovations, and mixology featuring William Lees-Jones (JW Lees) and award-winning mixologist Joe Schofield (SCHOFIELD’S BAR).
- Kuits NRB Top Fifty: Recognising the most influential operators in Northern hospitality.
This year’s event will be expanded upon with the arrival of lunch! NORTH, a sister event to NRB25 which will be taking place in the very same venue. lunch! NORTH is brought to Manchester for the first time by the same organisers behind NRB, and will be dedicated to the north’s flourishing café, coffee shop and food-to-go sector.
lunch! has been running successfully in London for 16 years and its northern counterpart is sponsored by Uber Eats for its inaugural year with confirmed brands including Hip Pop, TRIP DRINKS LTD, Britvic, Tony’s Chocolonely, Tiffin Sandwiches and The Exploding Bakery.
Lunch! NORTH Highlights:
- First-ever Northern edition of the leading café, coffee shop & food-to-go trade show.
- Industry insights: Talks from Simon Stenning (FutureFoodservice), Marta Pogroszewska (GAIL’s), and Christian Binney (Burger King UK).
- Food-To-Go Leaders Panel: Discussions with Jon Lake (Chopstix), Dimeji Sadiq (Vegan Shack), and William Gordon-Harris (Knoops).
Siobhan Thompson, event manager for NRB25 said: “We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Manchester Central next week! NRB has always been the beating heart of Northern hospitality, bringing together the best talent, brands, and operators under one roof.
This year, we’re raising the bar once again with an incredible lineup of speakers, interactive sessions, and the introduction of lunch! NORTH. It’s a must-attend event for anyone in the industry who wants to be inspired, make connections, and stay ahead of the game.”
Katie Tyler, Event Director for lunch! NORTH, also commented: “We’re so excited to launch lunch! NORTH and welcome visitors to this brand-new event. The café, coffee shop, and food-to-go sector in the North is booming, and we’re bringing together the best brands, experts, and ideas to help businesses thrive. We can’t wait to open the doors next week and see the industry come together!”
The NRB event experienced an 11% increase in attendance last year, with over 300 exhibitors and more than 9500 attendees, solidifying its stature as a prominent fixture in the hospitality calendar. Meanwhile, lunch! NORTH is set to establish itself as a key event for the Northern grab-and-go sector, mirroring the success of its London counterpart, which attracted over 8000 visitors in 2024.
Will Beckett, CEO and co-founder of Hawksmoor, who attended NRB last year, said: “NRB is the date in the calendar for Northern hospitality; an event that brings the industry together like no other in the UK.”
Register Today:
An unmissable date in the diary for everyone in the northern hospitality industry, NRB25 and lunch! NORTH will bring together over 10,000 visitors and 400 exhibitors for two days of business, networking, and education at Manchester Central, 11th-12th March 2025. For more information and to book your free trade ticket visit www.northernrestaurantandbar.co.uk or www.lunchnorth.co.uk.
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