The North’s leading Hospitality Trade Event returns on 11-12 March 2025, alongside new dedicated show for cafes & coffee shops, with free trade tickets available now
The highly anticipated Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) hospitality trade event, sponsored by Uber Eats, is back in action for 2025, and registrations are officially open as of today (Monday 11th November).
Taking place on 11-12 March, NRB returns to Manchester Central, its steadfast home for over a decade, to unite hospitality operators and and suppliers over two dynamic days of industry innovation and collaboration – with free tickets for workers in the hospitality industry available here.
NRB25 will host a variety of talks from industry leaders; engaging interviews & panels; plus captivating demonstrations that reflect the ever-evolving landscape of the hospitality industry. For over 20 years, Manchester Central has played host to NRB, providing a fitting backdrop for the longstanding and ever-growing event.
This year’s event will be expanded upon with the arrival of lunch! NORTH, a sister event to NRB25 which will be taking place in the very same venue. lunch! NORTH is brought to Manchester for the first time by the same organisers behind NRB, and will be dedicated to the north’s flourishing café, coffee shop and food-to-go sector.
lunch! has been running successfully in London for 16 years, attracting brands such as Twinings, HP Snacks, Yeo Valley, Capri Sun and Pip Organic and over 8000 visitors in 2024, and its northern counterpart is sponsored by Uber Eats for its inaugural year.
In 2024, NRB witnessed a record-breaking year with attendance from top luminaries across various sectors within the hospitality industry. More than 9,600 visitors attended and ranged from renowned restaurants like Caravan, The Ivy Collection, El Gato Negro and Higher Ground to thriving pubs and bars such as JW Lees, All Bar One, JD Wetherspoon and Seven Bro7hers.
This year’s roster of exhibitors already includes leading names such as Coca-Cola, Uber Eats, BrewBog, Fever-Tree, AU Vodka, and Greene King. Campari Group UK will also join, making NRB25 as its exclusive trade show appearance in 2025, with a focus on the Spritz category. The industry giant will showcase its latest products, innovations, and services, offering invaluable insights into the future of hospitality. Those interested in exhibiting at NRB25 can find out more here: https://northernrestaurantandbar.co.uk/enquiry-now
Scheduled for lunch! NORTH’s debut year are exhibitors such as Hip Pop, TRIP DRINKS LTD, Britvic, Tony’s Chocolonely, Tiffin Sandwiches and The Exploding Bakery.
The Kuits NRB Top Fifty is also set to return for its 13th edition and will once again recognise 50 top hospitality operators who have excelled both commercially and critically over the past twelve months.
The winners are chosen by an expert judging panel after rigorous research and are unveiled on site. Last year, two special achievement awards were presented to House of Tides/Solstice by Kenny Atkinson, with Roxy Leisure Group & Concept Taverns receiving the coveted trophies for trailblazing and business growth.
Siobhan Thompson, event manager for NRB25 said: “Manchester Central feels like home for us, and it never gets any less exciting for us announcing that we’re ready to officially kick-start another year of NRB there.
“We’re particularly excited by the launch of lunch! NORTH for this year’s edition of the show. We feel it perfectly complements what’s on offer at NRB, and the needs of café and coffee shop operators can be distinctly different from the needs of late-night venues or restaurants. We’re very pleased we can offer this important segment of the hospitality industry its own dedicated, targeted show; one which has already seen incredible success in London.”
Katie Tyler, Event Director for lunch! NORTH, also commented: “lunch! NORTH is a great opportunity to support and celebrate the café and food-to-go industry in the North. This show creates an ideal space to connect directly with a new group of operators. We’re excited to bring this targeted event to Manchester and look forward to its impact.”
The NRB event experienced a 11% increase in attendance last year, with over 300 exhibitors and more than 9500 attendees, solidifying NRB’s stature as a prominent fixture in the hospitality calendar. The addition of lunch! NORTH further solidifies NRB’s commitment to supporting every aspect of hospitality, from restaurants to cafés and everything in between.
Will Beckett, CEO and co-founder of Hawksmoor, who attended NRB last year, said: “NRB is the date in the calendar for Northern hospitality; an event that brings the industry together like no other in the UK.”
Registrations for the North’s leading hospitality trade event and the inaugural lunch! NORTH event open on Monday 11th November, and you can secure your spot here.