Set against an elevated backdrop of the Manchester skyline, rooftop eatery 20 Stories has debuted in the UK city’s Spinningfields neighborhood. New York-based design firm CetraRuddy completed the restaurant, utilizing a palette of locally sourced materials and natural elements that reference Manchester’s industrial and agricultural history.
Spread across more than 15,000 square feet, 20 Stories channels the ambiance of a casual brasserie and grill, complete with an open layout and a cocktail bar. An expansive terrace and garden hosts sculptural installations and frames 360-degree views of the city. Alfresco fireplaces punctuate the outdoor lounge bar beneath a canopy trees and dramatic lighting to establish indoor-outdoor intimacy.
“Our approach was influenced by the way of nature and the ever-changing Manchester skyline as seen from above the city,” says Nancy J. Ruddy, founding principal and executive director of interior design for CetraRuddy. “We chose design elements whose color and texture create a glamorous and sophisticated environment that still offers a feeling of warmth. Tactile materials like local textiles and oak timber flooring combine with vibrant ensembles that incorporate luminous and reflective elements, charges of color, and organic forms.”
