Your complete guide to exhibiting at lunch! NORTH 2026
Make the most of your exhibition stand at lunch! NORTH 2026
10-11 March 2026, Manchester Central Convention Complex, Manchester
After a successful launch in 2025, lunch! NORTH returns to Manchester Central on 10–11 March 2026, showcasing cafés, coffee shops, and food-to-go suppliers from across the region.
Over two packed days, the show will attract top buyers from independent outlets, contract caterers, wholesalers, and supermarkets. It’s a prime opportunity to connect with decision-makers and demonstrate what your brand does best.
Lunch! NORTH is a vibrant, exciting event where food brands meet the people who matter. So if you want to exhibit, now’s the time to start planning your showstopping stand.
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2026 exhibition stand?
What to expect at lunch! NORTH 2026
lunch! NORTH is set to deliver even more buzz, buyers, and opportunities for ambitious brands. Co-located with the popular Northern Restaurant & Bar event, it will transform Manchester Central into a vibrant marketplace packed with products, equipment, tech, and trends for the food-to-go sector.
Buyers from across the industry will be looking to discover fresh suppliers and new tastes. From local independents to national chains, expect serious decision-makers with buying power.
In 2024, lunch! SOUTH drew over 8,000 visitors, including senior figures from Caffè Nero, Compass Group, Costa Coffee, JD Wetherspoon, Marks & Spencer, and Sainsbury’s. lunch! NORTH 2026 brings the same energy and opportunity to the North – and your exhibition stand needs to make the most of it.
How to make lunch! NORTH 2026 a successful exhibition for your business
Before you commit to exhibiting, start by getting clear on your goals. Are you looking to boost brand awareness, generate quality leads, or connect with buyers ready to place orders? A focused plan will help you get the best return from your stand investment.
Next, set a realistic budget. You need funds for both the stand space and the stand itself – plus extras like displays, demo areas, furniture, and tech. A great stand doesn’t have to be huge or expensive, but the design needs careful thought if you want to make an impression without overspending.
Live demos and working kitchens can pull a crowd but they take planning. From power and kit to compliance and paperwork, we handle the details so you don’t have to.
Once your goals are set, decide how you’ll measure success. Is it 50 strong leads? Or 10 decision-makers ready to buy? Specific targets help you stay focused and evaluate your ROI.
Finally, you need to put together an exhibition brief. A clear, detailed brief keeps your whole project on track, whether you’re working with us or going it alone.
We’ve helped plenty of small and medium brands, niche specialists, and big names who’ve all felt that same “Where-on-earth-do-I-start?” overwhelm. That’s why we made our free guide to the perfect exhibition stand brief – it’s been a lifesaver for so many of our customers.
Get lunch! NORTH off to the best possible start by writing a perfect stand brief.
At lunch! NORTH, we’ve seen brands make a big impact with creative stand designs, fun demos, and plenty of energy – even in small spaces.
If you’re planning to cook or run demos, it’s worth thinking ahead. You’ll need water, electricity, and the right kit to show your food at its best. That’s where we help – we sort all the logistics, so you can focus on drawing people in and making the most of the show
Edward Marshall, Motive Exhibitions Creative Director
We’ve built a strong reputation for creating eye-catching stands that help food and drink brands shine.
Whether you need a fully working kitchen or a row of ice-cold display cabinets, we’ll make sure your products look their best – and stay that way throughout the show.Every space we create is designed to reflect your brand, attract the right people, and leave a lasting impression.
We’ll work with you to create something inspiring and unique, creating an immersive experience that’ll have your visitors coming back for more.
Make your lunch! NORTH goals a reality with a Motive Exhibitions stand.
Exhibition stands we can build at lunch! NORTH 2026
The iconic Manchester Central makes the perfect backdrop for any exhibition stand.
Here are our top stand options for lunch! North:
A bespoke option offers that all-important creative flexibility at a bustling event like lunch! where you may need space to store, cook, display and demonstrate your product.
Built from the ground up to match your brand and business goals, bespoke stands give you complete creative freedom.
Whether you opt for a single or double-deck stand, bold graphics, interactive elements, or a sleek product showcase, this option ensures you make a lasting impression.
Modular stands are a smart, flexible choice if you want something adaptable, professional, and budget-friendly. Made from interlocking components, they can be reconfigured for different events and easily scaled up or down depending on your space.
They’re perfect for a venue like Manchester Central, where the layout gives you room to get creative without blowing the budget. You can even combine modular frameworks with custom features for a bespoke look – without the bespoke price tag.
Shell scheme exhibition stands are a budget-friendly option, and come in a range of sizes from 3m x 3m to 6m x 3m or 8m x 3m, often as part of all-inclusive packages.
These stands may be smaller, but they still offer plenty of room to get creative. With the right design, a shell scheme can be just as effective as a larger setup.
Ideal for those new to exhibiting or testing the waters at lunch! North, shell schemes include flooring, lighting, and power (500 watts). You can also ask to remove the fascia board to help make the space feel more open. The larger the stand, the more you can add, such as product displays or video walls.
Exhibition stand hire
If your plans for 2026 aren’t finalised or you’re not ready to commit to a permanent stand, our exhibition hire service is the perfect solution.
You can rent an entire modular stand or just specific pieces, or even mix and match custom-made elements with rented items.
Hiring is both cost-effective and sustainable – a great budget-friendly choice, especially if this is your first big show.
Everything you need to know about exhibiting at Manchester Central
We’ve built and dismantled stands for dozens of businesses that have exhibited at Manchester Central – and it’s one of our favourite locations.
Generally, it’s a very cost-effective venue as amenities are much cheaper. This means you’ll be able to do a lot more with your budget than in London. Things that might be out of budget for expensive shows in the South may well be achievable here.
In our opinion, Manchester Central is a real gem. Originally a station, it still showcases its iconic station clock and stunning vaulted arches, which have been a much-loved part of Manchester’s skyline for over 140 years.
But just because it’s a historic building doesn’t mean it’s lacking as a modern exhibition venue – the interior is contemporary, vibrant, and clean, with all the amenities you could need.
Being right in the heart of the city means easy access to transport, hotels, and entertainment, with everything you could need just minutes away. Plus, the staff are efficient, friendly, and super organised, making it a breeze for exhibitors, visitors, and contractors to get in and out.
Pros of exhibiting at the Manchester Central:
- You’ve got tons of flexible space to play with, both in terms of width and height, so go ahead and get creative.
- It has great transport links.
- You’ll find thousands of hotel rooms just a short stroll away.
- The on-site concierge team can help you with restaurant reservations, local tours, and even flight confirmations.
- The on-site logistics support covers everything: catering, rigging, AV equipment, maintenance – you name it, they’ll do it.
- The venue recently upgraded its Wi-Fi and internet, so you’ll have fast, reliable connections whether you’re a guest, delegate, or exhibitor.
- There are plenty of on-site options for food and drinks, with restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, and bars.
- The management team is committed to sustainability in exhibitions and events.
- They’ve nailed the foot-traffic flow to get contractors in and out smoothly.
- The main hall isn’t massive, which means less walking – great news if you’re hauling heavy bags!
With Manchester Central being such a state-of-the-art venue, there aren’t many downsides, though there are a few things about the location to consider before you book.
Cons of exhibiting at the Manchester Central:
- Booking space here is an cost-effective alternative to London and Birmingham.
- Food and drink on-site are on the expensive side, but there are plenty of good alternatives nearby.
- It’s smaller than some venues in London or Birmingham, so you must book early to secure your spot.
- Space for stand builders is tight, with small, highly sought-after loading bays.
- The closest car park is an NCP under the venue, which can be costly and gets mixed reviews.
- If you don’t grab a parking spot in the service area on breakdown day, you’ll need to carry your stand to the open-air car park, a 10-minute walk away.
- The overflow car park gets full quickly, and the “back up” car park is quit a trek. Don’t be late!
- Access isn’t the easiest by car: there are a lot of one-way streets in this part of the world. The traffic team is super friendly, though, and will help if you get stuck (or lost!).
I highly recommend Motive Exhibitions. We worked with them to exhibit at The International Food Event, the TUCO Summer Conference and Lunch!. They also assist us at smaller shows, where our resources are such that I need external support.
“They are adaptable, innovative, very helpful and really understand the demands of food exhibitions, especially those where we cook and sample on the stand.
“The design nous is exceptional as well.”
Tim White, Scrocchiarella
Clients we work with
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FAQs
Do you have any other clients exhibiting at lunch! NORTH 2026?
Yes! We are very experienced in food and drink shows, so we’ll have many stands at this show too.
We’ve had multiple clients exhibit at lunch! at London ExCel for several years, and many of them are branching out to lunch! NORTH too. Others have already booked space at the Northern Restaurants and Bar show which is taking place at Manchester Central at the same time.
If we work with you, can you take our supplies to Manchester Central?
Yes! We know that carrying brochures, iPads, and products can be a hassle – especially if you’re using public transport.
If you choose to work with us, we’ll handle all your supplies for the exhibition hall. Just drop everything off a few days in advance, and we’ll transport it with your stand, so you only need to bring your suitcase!
Can I have a fully functioning kitchen on my stand at lunch! NORTH 2026?
Absolutely. We’ve nailed the art of creating fully functioning kitchens, with sinks and running water alongside freezers, displays, and cooking and demo areas. We’ve got great contacts for kitchen equipment.
But don’t just take our word for it; you can see our work and read case studies from our work with Brew Tea, Joe & Sephs, Synergy Grill and NEXTERA
Should I just hire a stand?
This completely depends on what you’re hoping to achieve. Common reasons people hire their stand include:
- They don’t have anywhere to store their own stand.
- They’re looking at experimenting with new ideas and concepts.
- They’ve never exhibited and are keen to try it out.
- They don’t exhibit regularly enough to warrant the outlay of owning their own stand.
- Different teams within a company exhibit regularly and need to change the stand graphics frequently.
Our rule of thumb is that if you exhibit more than 3 times a year, it’s more cost-effective to own your stand.
How much do exhibition stands cost?
Several factors will influence the cost of your exhibition stand:
- The size of the space you’ve booked.
- Whether you anticipate your event to be a one-off exhibition or whether you need an exhibition stand you can reuse and reconfigure multiple times.
- What you want to achieve from exhibiting.
- Whether you’re hiring or buying.
We’ll collaborate with you to create a design which works within your budget.
Is Manchester Central accessible for disabled visitors?
Yes, Manchester Central is fully accessible for all events, including wheelchair users, with two step-free train platforms. They also have Induction Loop facilities, and a Deaf Alerter® fire warning system installed throughout the building.
Motive Exhibitions, 3 Orion Court, Ambuscade Road, Colmworth Business Park, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, PE19 8YX
