Caravan, the renowned all-day dining destination from London, is poised to inaugurate its first establishment outside the capital in Manchester’s St John’s this summer. Boasting a globally-inspired menu, this breakfast-through-dinner hotspot operates seven venues in London, from Canary Wharf to King’s Cross, alongside its spin-off, Vardo, in Chelsea.
The Manchester location will be situated near Aviva Studios, the former Granada Studios site, and close to new ventures like Fenix and the soon-to-open Soho House. Spanning a 200-cover space, the Manchester branch will feature two all-day dining rooms, a bar, a private dining room with its own sound system, two outdoor terraces, a takeout coffee brew bar, and a dedicated coffee roastery.
Founded by three friends from New Zealand in 2010, Caravan’s menu ranges from fresh fruit and grain bowls for breakfast to fry-ups. Signature dishes include Korean-style buttermilk fried chicken with kimchi pancakes and gochujang ketchup, and fried jalapeño cornbread with fried egg, spinach, curd cheese, mojo verde, and chili butter. Additionally, the venue will serve wood-fired sourdough pizza throughout the day, alongside its house-roasted coffee and a selection of cocktails.
Laura Harper-Hinton, co-founder and CEO of Caravan, expressed her enthusiasm: “We are so excited to be taking Caravan on the road to Manchester, but more importantly, we are really looking forward to spending more time in this incredible city. We’ve had nothing but great vibes and support from everyone we’ve come across so far.
“We’ve chosen a unique location which sits right next to the new Aviva Studios, behind the historic Granada Studios and right in the heart of a growing new district at St John’s.
“We hope to attract a real cross section of the city to our beautiful new restaurant and roastery. In our London spaces we see everyone from early morning gym goers and commuters grabbing coffee, business lunches, baby dates and cocktail-heavy birthday parties in the evening. We’ll be open morning, noon and night and you’re all welcome anytime that suits you.”
Mike Ingall of Allied London, the team behind the St John’s development, added: “Caravan are one of very few successful businesses that have managed to take a relaxed coffee house culture and develop a combined wholesome food, drink, and restaurant offering whilst keeping that distinctive coffee culture.
“Bringing Caravan to our unique mix at St John’s was an obvious move for us bearing in mind what we are creating, and Caravan will be an operation I am sure Manchester will love. A place where people can come in the morning and stay all day and night.”
During a busy lunch rush in the middle of the week, the Caravan restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia, and in the heart of the West End, is packed with office workers, families, tourists, shoppers, and everyone in between. This vibrant atmosphere, welcoming guests for anything from a big lunch to a small bite, is what the owners hope to replicate in Manchester with their first restaurant outside London later this summer.
Located in the emerging St John’s neighbourhood, opposite the Old Granada Studios and near Aviva Studios, the restaurant will feature globally-inspired dishes, from salads and curries to roast meats and falafel, all prepared with precision and creativity.
The name Caravan, originating from a brainstorming session among the founders, represents the diverse, “well-travelled” menu it offers. The menu features small plates, such as spiced cauliflower with harissa, tahini, and pomegranate, and Jamon and smoked San Simon cheese croquettes, as well as pizzas and grain bowls, like steamed rice with avocado, miso mayonnaise, mung beans, sumac-salted cucumbers, and hot smoked salmon.
The menu also includes hummus with falafel, halloumi, quinoa, and roasted courgettes, with optional add-ons like grilled chicken, chorizo, halloumi, or crispy chili-salt tofu. All ingredients are sustainably sourced through partnerships with local and independent traders, farmers, and makers.
Noteworthy is the jalapeno cornbread, served as a small plate with chipotle butter, coriander, and lime. Another highlight is the large sharing plate of chargrilled lamb Barnsley chop, served with chermoula, aubergine, tahini, labneh, pickled red onion, and new potatoes. The London menu also features baked cod fillet with miso butter, crushed potatoes, and wilted spinach, and an impeccable Dingley Dell pork schnitzel with a fried egg, mustard dill cream, pickles, sage, and French fries.
With eight locations in London, Caravan’s restaurants are known for their bustling atmosphere and exceptional coffee, roasted in a former Victorian warehouse in Islington. The coffee, sourced from single farms and specialty estates in Ethiopia, Colombia, and Rwanda, is lively, fresh, and bursting with flavor. It also features in dishes like espresso salted caramel sauce with vanilla ice cream.
The Manchester branch will continue this legacy, offering a slightly varied menu inspired by the north. The St John’s restaurant will include two all-day dining rooms, a bar, a private dining room, two outdoor terraces, and a takeout coffee brew bar with another coffee roastery.
The interior, inspired by New Zealand’s trail hiking huts and wool sheds, will feature natural light and recycled materials, reflecting the passion evident in both the menu and the ambiance.
Caravan’s Manchester restaurant in the St John’s neighbourhood is set to open this summer.