El Gato Negro founder Simon Shaw has teased a first glimpse of the menu for his new opening Habas – a Middle Eastern restaurant set to launch in Manchester this summer.
Housed in the former wine cellar of the historic Manchester Club building just off King Street, the hotly-anticipated venue is tipped to welcome its first customers in June.
Habas will focus predominantly on small plates, and given how this concept has enjoyed huge success at multi-award-winning sister sites El Gato Negro and Canto (the latter was recently awarded a Michelin Plate), we know this is something Shaw does very, very well.
From tomato filo cigars to spiced lamb ‘jackets’, some intriguing creations have been revealed today – stirring excitement for this summer’s opening.
Feta cheese, wilted spinach and sunblush tomato filo cigars
Small plates so far include a homemade garlic and herb flatbread with hummus and zhug, Middle Eastern raw slaw with pomegranate molasses, bata harra (spicy fried potatoes with dill sour cream) and beetroot hummus with Greek yoghurt and dill.
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Feta cheese, wilted spinach and sunblush tomato filo cigars have also piqued our interest piqued, along with the spiced lamb ‘jackets’ (fried potato skins filled with spiced lamb, served with mint yoghurt).
Alongside a generous small plate selection, the menu will also feature some larger dishes and feasting platters.
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Beetroot hummus with Greek yoghurt and dill
Speaking on the new opening, Shaw said: “Back in the late 90’s you’d have struggled to have found Middle Eastern restaurants outside of London. Even there, they existed largely to feed the local community, people from Middle Eastern countries and living in London, it was almost regional to them.
“Times have changed and there’s a whole new wave of Middle Eastern & Mediterranean cuisine coming through.
“It’s an amazing style of food, simplistic but with a real depth of flavour that blows you away. It’s what excited me about it as a chef and I think it will have really broad appeal.”
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He’s not wrong. This year alone has seen the emergence of some successful Middle Eastern pop-ups in the city, most recently Evelyn’s Pitta Shop – which saw their head chef Phil Cardy cooking up traditional Israeli pittas and babkas over the last lockdown.
Middle Eastern raw slaw with pomegranate molasses
From what we understand, the new menu at Habas Shaw is very much leaning into the fusion side of things – its ingredient selections making connections with the Spanish food, Syrian lentils and spiced aubergine dishes of El Gato Negro.
“Middle Eastern cuisine has many influences and Habas is a fusion of all,” added Shaw.
Describing the menu as “a real labour of love,” Shaw adds that he can’t wait to unveil it in its entirety.
“There’s something for everyone, whether you’re dining as a table of two, six or twenty. It’s a really inclusive style of dining.”
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Bookings for Habas are due to become available in the coming days.
To be amongst the first to hear when reservations go live, you can sign up to the restaurant and bar’s newsletter on the Habas website.
News
Global sensation Eggslut is FINALLY coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
After waiting what feels like a lifetime, worldwide viral sensation Eggslut is at long last coming to Manchester city centre.
Cracking news (sorry not sorry).
Honestly, there aren’t many big-name food chains that we’ve been waiting to arrive in Manchester longer than Eggslut, which started as little more than a food truck in LA and has gone on to become a truly global giant in the culinary scene.
Set to pop up at Centurion House over on Deansgate, which backs onto Lincoln Square, Eggslut is scheduled to make its Manchester debut very soon.
Literally drooling at the thought more than those drips. (Credit: Publicity pictures)
I mean, look at it. Class, just class…
Aiming to launch in the new year, Manc foodies who have been clamouring for the brand’s arrival for more than a decade now will soon be able to get their chops around fan favourites and internet-famous items like the ‘Fairfax’ and ‘Gaucho’ sandwiches, as well as the standard but signature ‘Slut’.
Oh, and yes: having tried various parts of the menu down in London, we can assure you they are just as naughty as they sound – especially those truffle hash browns and those new dippy French toast sticks, which we cannot wait to sample for ourselves.
Not only is this the eighth UK location, but Manchester will also be the first venue in the country outside of the capital.
With the first CGIs of the space having now been shared with the ravenous masses, we confirm it is set to take the place of the existing Starbucks site at the base of the Bruntwood SciTech building.
You can see more down below:
Credit: Supplied
Head of Operations at Eggslut, Pedro Ribeiro, says of the impending opening: “Manchester has been crying out for an Eggslut for too long, and we were only too happy to make that dream a reality.
“The city is the perfect place to bring our kind of breakfast to a brand new area of the UK, and we cannot wait to join such a fast-paced and buzzing food scene.”
Matt Pazos, as for Bruntwood SciTech‘s Retail Commercial Manager, Matt Pazoz, he commented on them taking up residence here: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the first Eggslut outside of London to Manchester and can’t wait for the team to crack open their doors on Deansgate.
“The brand has built a cult following thanks to their delicious chef-driven comfort food, and we know that it will fast become a go-to spot for businesses based in Centurion House as well as locals and visitors to the city.”
Coming to a mouth near you by the end of January 2026.
They’re aiming to tackle the pressures currently being put on temporary accommodation by turning long-term empty homes throughout the region into safe and secure housing for families who need it.
Temporary accommodation is described as being a ‘vital safety net’ for people who are facing or are at risk of homelessness, as it ensures they have somewhere safe to stay – but rising demand, a shortage of affordable homes, and escalating costs have left Councils, such as Greater Manchester‘s, increasingly reliant on expensive alternatives that are often deemed unsuitable and place a significant strain on local budgets.
At the same time, thousands of long-term empty homes across Greater Manchester remain unused.
This is why, with new devolved powers, GMCA is now taking what it’s calling a ‘coordinated, region-wide approach’ to bring these empty homes back into use and pioneer long-term solutions to the temporary accommodation crisis.
Greater Manchester reveals its £11.7m plan to tackle empty homes across the region / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
New research has revealed that temporary accommodation usage across the region has nearly doubled since 2019, with 5,915 households now making use of it as of March 2025.
At the same time, it’s estimated that the region has around 12,700 homes which have been empty for six months or more.
So, the new £11.7 million package – which is funded by GMCA – will be used to refurbish or lease up to 400 properties and help Councils cut bills for ‘costly and unsuitable’ temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, hostels, or hotels.
“More than 8,000 children are among the families living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester and that is simply unacceptable,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham.
“Homelessness tears young families from their communities and support networks, leaving them in environments that are often wholly unsuitable. This experience leaves lasting scars and that’s why we’re taking bold action.
“By investing an initial £11.7m to bring long-term empty homes back into use, we can offer better housing options, reduce the reliance on costly temporary accommodation, and ease the financial strain on local authorities.”
Alongside this package, another £10.6 million fund will enable councils to provide financial incentives, repair support, and offer temporary leasing options for at least 400 empty homes, ensuring they can be quickly brought into use as temporary or settled accommodation for families.
The programme is part of the work of Greater Manchester’s dedicated Housing First Unit, established to deliver the vision for ‘a healthy home for all’ by 2038.
Georgina Pellant -
6th May 2021 
