High profile chef Mike Jennings will head up the kitchens at Neighbourhood when a £1million refurbishment of the venue completes next month.

The popular Spinnigfields bar and restaurant closed following the Bank Holiday weekend and will reopen to the public on Friday, June 3.

Jennings, who trained under former Manchester United chef Gary Rhodes, has joined East Coast Concepts’ Neighbourhood from Grenache.

James Hitchen, the owner and founder of New-York inspired East Coast Concepts, says recruiting Jennings will bolster the business as it eyes the £11m turnover mark.

“This is a fantastic appointment for us,” said James. “It’s also great timing as Mike will come in and work in a totally new-look venue.

“The bar, restaurant, everything, will be absolutely new as we are currently refurbishing the whole of Neighbourhood.”

East Coast Concepts – also the parent company of Victor’s in Hale – will open a Neighbourhood in Liverpool in Autumn this year as expansion continues.

He added: “Neighbourhood has been integral to the explosion of the restaurant and bar scene in Manchester since opening in 2013.

“But things needed to change to reflect evolution of not just Spinningfields, but our customers too.

“We believe our new and exciting menu will reflect what customers want as we focus on providing something for everybody.”

The appointment of Jennings as head chef comes just a few weeks after Ciaran Hogg left Manchester House to become East Coast Concepts operations director.

Jennings landed two AA Rosettes and a Good Food Guide ‘Best Restaurant’ award at Grenache and has also worked under well-known chefs Shaun Ranking and Nigel Haworth.

James, 33, who trained to be a BBQ pit boss in Nashville, America, said: “Mike was going to be our original head chef at Neighbourhood but another opportunity came up for him back in 2013.

“Right now is the perfect time for him to join and lead the Neighbourhood kitchens.

“It also comes at an exciting time as we are on track to employ more than 200 people when the new Neighbourhood opens in Liverpool in October.”

Neighbourhood is a corporate social hub on Monday through to Thursday, is transformed into a party hotspot on Friday and Saturday nights and offers all-day New York style brunches for lazy weekends and mid-week meetings.

There’s something for everyone #InYourNeighbourhood from morning to night. Join the conversation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/neighbourhood4