A much-loved neighbourhood restaurant has gone up for sale due to ‘unforeseen health reasons’ of one of its directors, leaving its team looking for a new financial backer.
The Gherkin in Levenshulme is a favourite amongst the local community and has made a name for itself in recent years through its charitable initiatives, such as its ‘pay as you feel menu’ – first launched to help Ukrainian refugees, then extended to everyone In September as the cost of living crisis continued to worsen.
Announcing the news of the sale on Facebook, one of the owners of the vegan and vegetarian bistro said that he hoped the new buyer would keep on the team as it is so they could continue to operate in the same way as before.
A post written by co-owner Jamie Whittaker explained: “Due to unforeseen health reasons of one of the directors, it is unfortunate that we are having to put The Gherkin up for sale.
“As you know, we have worked tirelessly to make The Gherkin what is has become today and have been incredibly proud of what it has achieved, through the many obstacles thrown at us since taking over the premises in 2019.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The venue, its staff and its customers have become an intrinsic part of the community and for all we have achieved, we have been very fortunate. Whilst the business is set up 50:50, this is what Chris did to protect me as Gherkin was my idea.
The post continued: “He, however, is the 100% financial backer and so any buyer needs to buy him out of Bescoby & Whittaker and whatever or whoever buys the business sets it up in whatever new capacity I have every hope that someone will see how fabulous The Gherkin is and our team & keep us the way we are ( what will be will be ) we have some interest already.
“Until a buyer has been found, we will continue with business as usual.”
Since being shared last week, the post has been liked over 600 times and attracted over 200 comments.
One person said: “Whoever buys this business – not to say legendary and beautiful institution – is on to a good thing, hope someone who appreciates what an amazing place (and group of people!) you’ve built here comes along very soon with a great offer x”
ADVERTISEMENT
Another wrote: “It’s a no-brainer, someone would be so lucky to invest in what you’ve already built. I too have faith it will get sorted lovely. Gherkin is the only venue we go to these days, first on my Uber list.”
A third said: “Ahhh man. Stressful times! You’ve created such a force for good in such a small space of time, made a real mark. It’s an amazing achievement. I’ll keep everything crossed that someone will come through and let you carry on doing the magic that you do.”
A fourth wrote: “I think we’re all dead proud of you for what you’ve done there, it’s been amazing to watch. Whatever is next jamie you will slay it ”
The restaurant hosts its pay-as-you-feel dinners every Monday. Whilst hard-up guests contribute whatever they can afford, those who happen to be more well off are also given the option to ‘pay it forward’, either by buying a meal for someone else or by making a cash donation to the restaurant to help it continue its good work.
ADVERTISEMENT
The restaurant has also set up a ‘Kindness Kabinet’, inviting people to leave donations for others in need ranging from clothing to food, books and toys.
‘Pay as you feel’ meals at The Gherkin are served every Monday from 4-9pm, with promises that no one will be turned away hungry for being unable to pay. Drinks are a normal price but tap water is free.
Any interested parties should contact The Gherkin at [email protected] or call 07368808870.
Feature image – Jamie Whittaker / The Gherkin
Eats
Manchester’s viral sandwich shop Ad Maiora is selling HUGE butties for only 9p through Deliveroo
Daisy Jackson
Ad Maiora, the Italian sandwich shop that’s loved by Manchester City stars (and everyone else who’s sunk their teeth into one), is selling butties for only 9p this week.
The local business is famed for its authentic sandwiches filled with quality imported Italian ingredients, and for its super-sized versions of its delicious lunches.
And this week only, you’ll be able to pick up a hefty sandwich, called the Scran-wich, for only 9 English pence.
The limited-edition Schiacciata will have nine different components and weighs in at a whopping 500g (though it’s nothing on their 1kg beast we’ve tried before…)
Owners and couple Enrico and Daniela have spent weeks developing the perfect balance of flavours.
Each ingredient is sourced in Italy but inspired by places and sayings from Manchester.
So you’ll find spicy ‘supersonic’ salami, nowt better N’duja, mozzarella ‘footballs’, sliced Haçienda heritage tomatoes, ‘r kid Italian wild rocket, 0161 olives, lashings of mad fer it mayonnaise, ‘buzzing bee’ basil leaves and ‘let’s ave it’ red onions – all sandwiched between fresh homemade Scran-worthy Schiacciata bread.
The Scran-wich and its 9p sale have been created to celebrate Deliveroo’s ninth birthday, and there’ll be 300 available to order through Deliveroo.
Enrico and Daniela, owners of Ad Maiora, said: “We’ve had so much support from the local community since we launched, so we were very excited when Deliveroo asked us to create a special Ad Maiora sandwich dedicated to the city of Manchester in celebration of their 9th birthday.
“We hope our customers love the limited-edition ‘Scran-wich’ – we’ve really enjoyed creating a sandwich that celebrates our city which makes this SUPER limited edition and special!”
Steffi Morel, Deliveroo city manager for Manchester, said: “It has been an absolute honour connecting Manc foodies to the best local restaurants at the click of a button for the last nine years.
“To celebrate, we’ve partnered with one of Manchester’s new local favourites, Ad Maiora, who’ve created the ultimate birthday ‘Scran-wich’, which pays homage to the city with every delicious bite! Deliveroo customers will need to be quick, as there are only 300 available!”
Ad Maiora’s Scran-wich is available for just 9p from Tuesday 30 April until Thursday 2 May through Deliveroo.
Medlock Canteen receives rave Guardian review from Jay Rayner just one month after opening
Daisy Jackson
Medlock Canteen, a new Manchester restaurant, has received a rave review in the Guardian just weeks after it opened.
National critic Jay Rayner has heaped praise upon the restaurant at Deansgate Square, describing it as ‘so special’.
The restaurant only opened its doors at the end of March, taking its inspiration from opposite sides of the pond – the laid-back style of American diners and the hospitality of Parisian bistros.
Rayner said it’s ‘a welcome haven for all’ and applauded its menu packed with ‘appealing, familiar dishes that are the best versions of themselves’.
Medlock Canteen comes from the team behind Madre (the Mexican restaurant at Kampus) and Belzan (one of Liverpool’s top restaurants).
But unlike those two restaurants, things are much simpler at their newest venture – this is a restaurant where you can order a fried egg with any meal, drink bottomless coffee, and even order the day’s ‘staff dinner’ for just a tenner.
Rayner dedicated almost an entire paragraph of his review to Medlock Canteen’s gravy (‘dark and sticky and deeply savoury’), which he said is so good you should just ‘order that and pour it over everything. Pour it over a friend’.
He also waxed lyrical about their rotisserie chicken (there are rows of the things rotating in the city’s first in-restaurant rotisserie chicken oven), of which he said: “It is everything those words promise and don’t always deliver. No special rubs or sauces. Just roast chicken, rested long enough for the meat to start shrugging itself off the bones. The skin is crisp and salty.”
Inside Medlock Canteen in Manchester, which just received a rave review in The Guardian. Credit: The Manc Group
Other dishes that were celebrated in the Guardian’s review of Medlock Canteen included a rhubarb pie, charcoal-grilled fish of the day, duck rillettes and pistachio frangipane tart.
The restaurant itself said there were ‘happy faces’ after the review was published over the weekend.
Medlock Canteen wrote on Instagram: “Manchester may be grey this Sunday, but let us tell you, there are a few happy faces both on and behind the scenes as we enjoy our morning brew, reading through the kind words of @jayrayner1 in the @guardian.
“Thanks go to our team and our guests for all the hard work, dedication, and pure passion that has made Medlock Canteen ‘a welcome haven for one and all.’
“Anyway, enough of that. Just another day. Just another ‘set of appealing, familiar dishes that are the best versions of themselves.’
“Caution: gravy jus may be thrown. Let Sunday service commence.”