We did not follow a trend. We started one.
Roots Restaurant & Lounge. Manchester. Since 2012.
In 2012, African cuisine in Manchester was not fine dining.
It was not on anyone's Instagram. It was not trending on TikTok. There was no hype to ride, no wave to catch. There was just a belief that the flavours we grew up with deserved a bigger stage.
Roots was built on that belief. Not as a pop-up, not as a concept, but as a full restaurant and lounge in the heart of Manchester. A place where jollof rice sits next to a wine list. Where suya is plated like it belongs in a Michelin guide. Where the cocktails are crafted with the same pride as the food.
Five years later, the rest of the city started paying attention. African restaurants began opening across Manchester, across London, across the country. The culture shifted. But Roots was already here. We did not arrive late to the party. We built the venue.
Today, Roots is more than a restaurant. It is a lounge, a Friday night destination, a place where culture and cuisine meet without compromise. The menu has evolved. The cocktails have deepened. The atmosphere has sharpened. But the conviction has never changed: African flavour belongs at the highest table.
Three convictions. Zero compromise.
Heritage
Every dish on our menu has roots. Not just in West Africa, but in family kitchens, market stalls, and the people who taught us that food is identity. We honour that.
Craft
We do not cut corners. From sourcing ingredients to plating, from cocktail recipes to lighting design, every detail at Roots is intentional.
Culture
Roots is not just where you eat. It is where you feel something. The music, the energy, the people around you. That is the culture we have built.