Manchester Arndale expands food lineup with new venue from YouTube group

As part of our 2023 Retail Week coverage, in association with Metrocentre, we hear from Sides, the chicken restaurant created by the YouTube group, The Sidemen, which will be opening its first outlet in Manchester after agreeing to take a 1,222 sq ft unit at Manchester Arndale on a 10-year lease.

With a successful track record of delighting food enthusiasts through delivery platforms, and with established outlets at BoxPark in Wembley and Croydon, Sides is now ready to bring its unique chicken offer to Manchester.

Specialising in succulent chicken dishes paired with a choice of seven sauces, Sides is primed to satisfy the cravings of both locals and visitors alike. Its decision to establish an outlet in Manchester represents a significant step in the brand’s journey as it continues to grow its presence beyond the London market.

This latest addition to the centre’s food and beverage lineup follows other recent arrivals including Black Sheep Coffee, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Lazy Sundae, Slim Chickens and Tim Hortons. The letting to Sides also follows a run of retail lettings to The North Face, Sunglasses Hut, Nike, Manchester City, and Moss.

Scott Linard, Portfolio Director for M&G Real Estate, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Sides to Manchester Arndale. With its already substantial following, the fried chicken outlet will undoubtedly be the perfect addition to an already vibrant food and beverage offering.

“We are dedicated to curating a dynamic retail destination that caters to a diverse range of visitors. Our commitment extends to providing not only a high-quality retail experience, but also embracing cutting-edge leisure and experiential operators, perfect for those looking for a full day out.

“As the leading retail destination in the North West, we’re proud to note that our footfall remains strong, and interest from both start-up and established operators continues to thrive.”

Robin Mehta, Sides CEO, added: “Opening a location in Manchester is definitely a massive step for us and we are proud to be opening in the Arndale. Sides continues to grow with high street and shopping centre locations popping up around the country and we are really impressed with all the effort that has gone into making this vision come to life.

“From the menu options to the actual space itself, it is clear that The Sidemen are doing things properly and there’s no doubt this is a brand making food quality a priority. At Sides we like to say that people will come in for the hype, but they’ll come back for the food, and we’re confident this will be the case in Manchester.”

This article is part of Bdaily’s 2023 Retail Week, in association with Metrocentre.


By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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