Sticks’n’Sushi brings Japanese-Scandinavian dining to Manchester with Spinningfields opening

Sticks’n’Sushi has opened its first Manchester restaurant at Spinningfields Square, marking the brand’s latest UK expansion as it continues to grow beyond its Danish origins. The new venue is now open to diners and represents the group’s first presence in the city.

Founded in a Copenhagen basement in 1994 by half-Danish, half-Japanese brothers Jens and Kim Rahbek alongside Thor Andersen, Sticks’n’Sushi has since grown to operate 12 restaurants in and around the Danish capital, three in Berlin and 17 across the UK, with a Leeds location also planned for next year. The brand has built its reputation on combining Japanese culinary traditions with contemporary Scandinavian design and a sharing-style format.

The Manchester site occupies a two-storey corner unit and has been designed by Berlin-based architectural practice Diener & Diener. The interiors draw on Japanese architectural influences alongside Scandinavian materials, incorporating timber, glass and soft lighting throughout. An outdoor terrace and bar, covered by a pergola and featuring a colour palette of deep purples and rich oranges, extends the dining space into the surrounding Spinningfields district.

The menu follows the format established across the group’s other locations, centring on creative sushi and grilled skewers alongside a selection of small plates. Dishes include Beef Tataki with Miso Aioli, Artichoke Chips with Shiitake and Truffle Ponzu and Kani Korokke – crab croquettes served with a wasabi Caesar salad. The sushi offering encompasses maki rolls, nigiri, sashimi and handrolls, with signature options such as the Hell’s Kitchen Roll topped with tuna. From the grill, highlights include Miso-marinated Black Cod and Teriyaki-glazed Chicken Meatballs.

For groups, the restaurant offers three curated sharing menus, entitled As Good As It Gets, Set For Success and Greenkeeper – each combining sushi, starters and grilled dishes. The drinks list includes premium sake, Japanese teas, wine, beer and cocktails such as the Hibiscus Margarita and Matcha & Yuzu Spritz, as well as the brand’s own yuzu pale ale. The menu is presented in a photo-led format intended to give diners a clear visual reference for each dish before ordering – something that’s consistent across the group’s other locations. Diners can also access the brand’s Frequent Fisher loyalty programme through the Sticks’n’Sushi app, which awards points per pound spent and offers rewards across visits.

The restaurant’s philosophy is rooted in the Japanese concept of omotenashi – a principle of wholehearted hospitality – which the group states informs both its menu development and the overall atmosphere of its dining rooms.

Food Desk

To book a table at Sticks’n’Sushi Spinningfields, 14-15 The Avenue, Hardman Street, Manchester M3 3HF, visit the restaurant’s website here.