One of Manchester’s most anticipated openings, The Refuge by Volta, opened it’s doors on 14th September 2016. The curators of the space and the two men behind The Refuge by Volta are DJs turned restaurateurs, Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford. Celebrated for their laid back vibes and no-nonsense small plates, the Volta team were snapped up to run the food and drink offering at Manchester’s Palace Hotel. 

Set inside the recently refurbished and stunning Palace Hotel, The Refuge by Volta is a staggering 10,000 sq ft space that has been cleverly carved up into atmospheric areas, including a 139-cover restaurant with open kitchen, cosy booths, and a private dining room. At the heart of the space is the winter garden, housed inside a glass atrium cascading with natural sunlight. In contrast to the relaxed restaurant, the airy space will retain a sense of elegance as it plays host to afternoon teas. Meanwhile, an impressive 40ft granite bar will serve up craft ales from 18 taps, with a drinks menu hand selected by Volta. Modern design features such as 1920s inspired light shades, industrial bar and stylised chairs have been designed to compliment the original features of the building, once the home of The Refuge Assurance Company ltd, a life insurance and pensions company who purpose built the head office in 1895.

Luke and Justin opened Volta in West Didsbury in 2013, creating a neighbourhood restaurant serving small plates influenced heavily by their travels. Their plates are an eclectic collection of dishes from as far wide as Japan to the Mediterranean and now they bring this cuisine to the heart of the City of Manchester. 

Book your table now at www.refugemcr.co.uk or 0161 233 5151