Franco Manca - London's famed sourdough pizza joint that now has more than 40 branches nationwide - has lodged an application to open its very first Manchester restaurant at Piccadilly Gardens.
Planning and licensing applications have been submitted by the pizza slingers for a unit on Mosley Street, which was previously a branch of Lloyds Bank.
The new venue will sit on the periphery of Piccadilly Gardens, opposite the bus station and M&S Simply Food.
The planning application submitted shows that Manchester's Franco Manca restaurant will be a two-storey affair, with around 130 covers and a bar in the basement.
It's expected to be open seven days a week, with a licensing application requesting opening hours from 10am to midnight.
Although the pizza chain has achieved phenomenal success in London - originally opening as Francos in Brixton Market before being taken over and rapidly expanding in 2008 - it will have some stiff competition up north.
When TripAdvisor released its list of top 10 pizza restaurants in the UK, Manchester restaurants bagged the top two spots.
Manchester's best pizza restaurants and bars
Rudy's Neapolitan - which has sites at Cutting Room Square in Ancoats, on Peter Street, and in Liverpool - was crowned overall winner, with Chorlton's Double Zero in second place.
There's also the likes of Noi Quattro, Honest Crust, Ply, Proove and Tre Ciccio to compete with.
Franco Manca will be a lone dine-in restaurant on this stretch of Mosley Street, with other food outlets - Greggs and Subway, for example - focusing on a grab-and-go offering.
Slow-rising sourdough bases are the brand's speciality, baked at 450°C and topped with quality ingredients sourced from across Italy, Spain and Yorkshire.
Prices at most sites start at £5 for pizzas, with cocktails for £5.50 and 'no logo' lager at £3.85.
Franco Manca declined to comment on the opening at Mosley Street and the exact opening date could be a while off - this will be one we'll be watching closely.
