Chotto Matte, the Peruvian-Japanese fusion Nikkei concept from former Nobu and Hakkasan honcho Kurt Zdesar, is to open a second London branch in Marylebone on 28 April – and has signed up for footballer-turned-entrepreneur Gary Neville’s St Michael’s development in Manchester.

Meaning “wait a moment” in Japanese, Chotto Matte is wasting little time in becoming a global brand, with branches in Soho’s Frith Street, Miami’s South Beach and downtown Toronto already up and running. Doha, Riyadh, San Francisco and Beverly Hills are on the way, and sites in Mexico, Panama and Italy on the radar.

Manchester may have to wait more than a moment, though. Work started on the £200 million St Michael’s scheme in January and is expected to take at least two years to complete.

Zdesar is upbeat about prospects in the northern city, saying “I see this new opening as an important part of our international expansion plan. 

“I have been monitoring the city’s growth for years but never found the right opportunity until now. It is only when meeting with Gary and understanding his vision for this first-of-a-kind development that I felt a great synergy with our brand. The city is growing at an exciting pace, and the timing couldn’t be better for Chotto Matte to bring diversity to the local landscape.”