PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW WEB SITE
www.market-restaurant.com




The Market Restaurant first opened at 30 Edge Street in May 1980. Mary-Rose Edgecombe and Elizabeth Price moved up from Oxford (where they had both worked at the Cherwell Boat House) to open a restaurant in Manchester.

The Restaurant gained recognition from "The Good Food Guide" in Autumn 1981.

The restaurant was sold to Peter O'Grady, Anne O'Grady & Lin Scrannage in 1983 (Mary-Rose returned as Chef in 1990 when Lin left for pastures new).

In February 1989 our famous "PUDDING CLUB" was founded (followed in 1990 by our equally popular "Starters Society"). We were voted Best Restaurant of the Year in the North West by "Perrier" in 1990.

We are now featured in all the major Food Guides and were the North West Tourist Board's Restaurant of the Year for 1998-9.

When, in 1986 the building at 30 Edge Street became "unsafe" - a long-forgotten cellar re-discovered itself! - we moved 50 yards across the road to our present location 104 High Street (on the corner of Edge Street).

This building originally opened as a pub, the "King Richard III". Local historian, Neil Richardson, found a copy of the original license, which was granted on condition that the landlord did not permit bear-baiting or cock-fighting to be carried out on the premises!

It later became a vegetable and potato wholesalers associated with the (then) adjacent Smithfield Market. The market moved out of town in the 1960's and 104 High Street subsequently became a clothing wholesalers, there was also a recording studio on the top floor - and the first floor was used by the National Federation of Windowcleaners as offices.

After being almost derelict for three or four years, we moved in during 1987.

It's been plain sailing ever since (we wish!).

Last modified on 13 October 1999