Inside big new Printworks restaurant in first outside London

The Printworks has welcomed a big new restaurant - serving massive seafood platters and giant shrimps. Shrimp Shack has opened its first venue outside of London here in Manchester with a stylish new venue inside the entertmaint complex in the city centre.

First founded at the end of 2023, Shrimp Shack's menus allow diners to pick and choose their own shrimp platter, choosing an assortment of dips and sides to go with their seafood. Its first store on London’s Streatham High Road was such a success that it later opened a second spot in Camden and now it has headed to Manchester amid plans for big UK expansion.

The new restaurant is also serving up its Signature boils, featuring the likes of shrimps, mussels, calamari, and snow crab, whilst a Lux Lobster Boil will feature an all-out loading of seafood, as well as a whole lobster, sausages, corn on the cob, boiled egg and potatoes in a special boil sauce.

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The new restaurant has taken over the former Frankie and Benny’s spot in the Printworks, and it's a bold and bright new interior to announce its arrival. There are rows of booths in bright yellow and blue leather-look finishes, as well as a host of quirky neons celebrating their seafood.

Think "Shrimply the best" and a pair of kissing lobsters in bright neons adorning the walls. There's seating for up to 140 across the restaurant - which includes an upstairs seating area too that can be booked for private dining or parties for up to 50 people.

As for the menu? Think large seafood platters where you get to choose your own mix of fish, sides and sauces as well as its signature "Ocean's big boils".

These are served at the table in a huge bag, before being released into a huge platter before your eyes. All diners are provided with gloves and a giant bib to protect you from getting too messy as you tuck in to the array of shellfish.

The boil bags start from £32.95 for one, right up to a hefty £109.95 for the lux lobster boil sharer for two diners. You can also go all out with a "Big Boss Boil" for four guests for £198.95 featuring a "super luxury boil" including four lobsters, crab clusters, all manner of shrimps and 8 mussels.

In addition to its platters and boils, the restaurant also offers a £19.95 Shack Savers Selection, featuring the likes of fish and shrimps, and a surf and turf with 8oz Wagyu steak and 4 prince shrimp - all served with your choice of two sides and a sauce.

There will also be a £10 Lunch Menu featuring dishes like a Shrimp Rich Po’ Boy in a brioche roll with fries and garlic dipping butter, the Double Cheese Smash Stack Burger, and the vegetarian-friendly Beyond Burger.

There's also a small bites menu featuring salt and pepper shrimps (£9.50), chicken wings (£8.50) and lamb chops (£12.50), while for those who really are not a fan of shellfish, there's chicken and beef burgers (£13.95), as well as piri piri chicken (£13.95) and prime 10z steak (£23.95) on the menu too.

There's also a snazzy new bar area inside of the restaurant, and you can get a choice of house cocktails for £9.95, premium cocktails for £11.95 as well as wines, beers, cider and spirits.

The drinks selection includes an extensive menu of soft drinks too - with freshly blended smoothies (£5.95), indulgent milkshakes, an extensive list of mocktails (£6.95) and sharing jugs (£15.95), as well as refillable soft drinks for £4.50.

Rish Gola, Co-Founder of Shrimp Shack said: "Shrimp Shack was born in London to redefine how people enjoy premium seafood; served fresh and fast, where bold flavours are brought together with everyday dishes.

"Shrimp Shack has a strong appeal with ethnic communities, family diners, and groups of friends who come together over big flavours and generous seafood feasts. Our accessible pricing and high-quality dishes create a premium fast experience that welcomes everyone."

Dan Davis, General Manager at Printworks, added: “We’re delighted to have secured Shrimp Shack as Printworks’ latest tenant, its first location outside of London and another exciting restaurant to add to our offering.

"Shrimp Shack’s unique and distinctive offering is perfectly aligned with our aim to deliver high quality experience-led concepts right in the heart of Manchester.”

As part of its eyes on a big expansion, Shrimp Shack has said it also has eyes on locations in Leeds, Liverpool and Luton set to be announced in the coming months.

The new Manchester restaurant joins the likes of Big Licks, Nando's, Tank & Paddle, and Dave’s Hot Chicken at the Printworks right now.

Earlier this year bosses of the indoor destination teased that they had a string of big names to announce throughout the year amid a time of change at the complex.

Shrimp Shack Manchester is now open daily from 12noon for lunch and dinner in line with The Printworks opening hours.