Fast-growing Manchester pasta specialist Sud has opened its first branch in the city centre, on the site of the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre.

Sud joins the highly rated Basque outfit Baratxui, formerly of Ramsbottom, and modern Scandi small plates specialist Osma at Exhibition, a new food and drink destination in the city’s former natural history museum on Peter Street.

Founded by brothers Alex (pictured) and Mike de Martiis in Altrincham in 2015, Sud now has branches in Sale and Ancoats, and is praised in the 2023 Harden’s guide for its “simply stunning pasta”. Originally known as Sugo, it changed its branding earlier this year after running into legal difficulties with a Glasgow outfit of the same name.

Alex says: “Needless to say, we’re absolutely buzzing to be opening our brand-new kitchen at Exhibition. We think it’s a great project in a great location, and most importantly for us, the whole team at Exhibition really cares about creating something special.

“Three great kitchens, one beautiful building in the heart of Manchester and the chance to cook and serve some of our stone-cold classic dishes – what’s not to love about that!?”

(Historical note: the Peterloo Massacre was one of the most shameful events in British history, when 60,000 protesters gathered peacefully at St Peter’s Field to demand political reform were charged by cavalry. Eighteen people were killed and several hundred injured, and the episode was named in ironic reference to the Battle of Waterloo, four years earlier.)