Family favourite food chain with over 170 locations announces shock closure of city centre restaurant after 20 years
A BELOVED restaurant in the city centre has shut its doors after two decades of serving up fan-favourite dishes.
Wagamama has confirmed the closure of its Spinningfields location on Hardman Street after its lease came to an end.
The Japanese-inspired chain, known for its Chicken Katsu curry and ramen dishes, first opened the Spinningfields site in August 2005, making it the second Wagamama restaurant in the city.
The venue, located in Spinningfields Square opposite Rosa’s Thai, is now listed as permanently closed on the chain’s website.
A message tells customers: “We’re now closed at this location. but don’t worry, you can still get your favourites at the nearby St Peter’s Square or Printworks restaurants.”
A spokesperson for Wagamama confirmed the decision, stating: “Given there are already two other wagamama restaurants in Manchester, guests are being directed to the two other sites to either wagamama Printworks or wagamama St Peters Square.”
The spokesperson also hinted at potential future expansions, adding: “We are always looking for suitable sites in and around the area.”
Despite the closure, Wagamama continues to operate across more than 170 locations across the country, including Greater Manchester locations in the Trafford Centre, Didsbury, and Salford’s MediaCity.
Wagamama is owned by The Restaurant Group (TRG), which also runs Barburrito and the airport hospitality brand TRGC, linked to the San Carlo venue at Manchester Airport.
Wagamama, which started in London in 1992, quickly became a staple of casual dining in the UK, bringing its fresh, fast, and flavour-packed Japanese-inspired dishes to cities nationwide.
It was one of the first brands to popularise communal bench-style dining and open kitchen concepts in Britain.
Manchester played a key role in its growth, with the Printworks site, opened in 2000, being its first venture outside London.
It comes as a mum-of-two who refused to pay a £227 bill at a Wagamama restaurant defended her actions in court, claiming she had the right to walk out over a strand of hair in her meal.
Rosemary McDonagh, 23, dined at the Ashford, Kent branch with friends before fleeing without paying.
Appearing at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court, she argued: “I did complain [in Wagamama] as I wasn’t happy to pay the bill for them.”
She told the court: “Back then, between December and April, I was in a bad relationship and my head was all over the place.”
McDonagh, who is part of a travelling community and lives with her parents, explained her financial situation, saying: “I don’t work, I am on benefits and I get £600 Universal Credit a month.
“I also get child benefits, but that’s for the kids, and I get PIP for my mental health – that’s about £400 to £500 a month.”
The court also heard she had previously been handed a community order for theft.