Manchester’s £1 taco restaurant El Capo appears to have quietly shut its doors after nearly a decade in the city centre.
The Mexican-inspired taco and tequila bar and restaurant has been a fixture on Tariff Street since first opening its doors in 2014, but now it looks like its years of Northern Quarter service may have come to an end – for now, at least.
A closure notice has been posted on its website homepage and its Instagram appears to have been deactivated, despite the notice advising customers to visit the page to ‘keep up to date’.
The business’s Facebook page, meanwhile, has not been updated for over a month with the last update – advertising £1 tacos and £6 margaritas – shared on 12 April.
El Capo’s website has also seen its booking page removed, with a notice on its homepage that reads: “CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
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“Unfortunately, due to electrical issues encountered we have made the decision to close for the forseeable.
“In the meantime, keep up to date on our Instagram and we will see you soon. EL CAPO.”
The bar and restaurant’s Google Business page has also been updated to say that it is ‘temporarily closed.’
In recent months, El Capo has received positive press coverage for its brilliant £1 taco Tuesday deal – with many local media outlets praising it as one of the city’s best dining deals.
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The kitchen also recently released a chippy tea burrito that had foodies in Manchester talking, but sadly – despite its popularity – it now appears that the venue has shut its doors.
First opened in 2014, the South American street food-themed restaurant first appeared as a bar before launching its hotly-anticipated basement eatery later that same year.
In response to a request for comment, El Capo confirmed to The Manc that the site’s closure was temporary whilst the business worked on a refurbishment of its kitchen and basement and that it was planning to open in the winter of 2023.
A spokesperson said: “We plan to reopen by winter 2023, with a new refurbed basement and large kitchen extension, so that we can successfully reopen our doors and welcome back our regular customers to a new and improved El Capo.”
Featured image – Google Business
Eats
Indie food and drink festival to return to popular Greater Manchester town for second year
Emily Sergeant
A food and drink festival shining a spotlight on independent businesses is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.
Following the success of last year’s tasty debut, Urmston’s very-own independent food and drink festival, YUM! – Your Urmston Matters, is back for its second serving later this month, and will once again be transforming the Trafford town’s M41 site on Railway Road into a buzzing hub of ‘flavour, fun, and local pride’.
Organised by Love Urmston and hosted by Urmston resident and food and drink presenter, Matty White, this community celebration will bring together top local street food vendors, artisan producers, and drink retailers, alongside live cooking demos, family activities, and loads of entertainment.
Now in its second year, YUM! continues to shine a spotlight on Urmston’s indie food scene and the passion of the people behind it, but as well as local residents, it also invites the rest of Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester community to come together.
So whether you just live down the road, or you are discovering the town for the first time, everyone is welcome to pop down.
“Bringing YUM! back for a second year is incredibly exciting,” commented Fred Davids, who is the Chair of the Love Urmston committee.
“It’s a brilliant way to celebrate what makes Urmston special – its community, and fantastic food and drink scene, welcoming people from near and far to experience the town at its best.
“And as a committee, we’re proud to support our incredible local independent businesses who put their heart and soul into everything they do.”
YUM! is returning to Urmston for another delicious festival this month / Credit: Emma Boyle (via Supplied)
Just some of the independent businesses you’ll find at the festival throughout the day include English Rose Bakery, Inforno Pizzeria, Dan’s Cookies, Banga Curries, JJ’s Caribbean Kitchen, The Greek Village, Pomona Island Brewery, Kelder Wines, and so many more.
The festival is also proudly sponsored by Gecko Homes – a north west property developer that specialises in creating affordable and shared ownership homes across many of Manchester’s most popular suburbs.
You can read more about what Gecko Homes is doing across the region here.
YUM! – Your Urmston Matters is back this month on Saturday 21 June, and will be getting underway from 11am through to 5pm.
Featured Image – Emma Boyle (via Supplied)
Eats
The Stables – A brand-new Manchester pub on the site of the Rovers Return
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new pub is set to open in Manchester city centre net month, with treats in store like complimentary bowls of crisps, an outdoor terrace, and a games parlour.
The Stables Tavern is taking shape in the St John’s district, poetically on the same site that was once home to Coronation Street’s iconic Rovers Return pub.
They’re promising this will be a ‘historic tavern reimagined for today’s lover of a proper pint’.
The pub will come from Shiko Group, which is also behind Courts Club, where you can play tennis or basketball followed by court-side pints, and Side Street, a bar-restaurant-events space with a mid-Century interior.
Neighbouring the Bonded Warehouse, The Stables Tavern will join this rapidly blossoming new creative district, just across the yard from Caravan, The Trading Route and Aviva Studios.
Inside, punters will find multiple beer taps with local beers, served with complimentary bowls of crisps as well as a menu of pub snacks like handmade sausage rolls and local pies.
The pub will be split into three sections – an outside terrace, a main bar, and a parlour area at the back of the pub for live entertainment, old school games, and rounds of whiskey.
The Stables pub in Manchester
The Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in Manchester
This might be a new district but it’s a historic area for the city – the same building was a busy watering hole back in the early 19th century for workers, merchants and visitors who made use of the nearby canals and cobbled streets.
It was then the home of the Rovers Return, back when this area was the home of Granada Studios.
Hayley Sammé, Marketing Director, said: “We’re so excited to bring The Stables Tavern back to St John’s. The area’s extensive historical backdrop and burgeoning hospitality scene provides the perfect landscape for a traditional British pub.
“It’s the perfect addition to the existing scene, and we hope it’s going to become a popular spot in our new creative district.”
The Stables Tavern will open at St John’s on Friday 6 June – you can sign up for one of 1,000 free pints HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
18th May 2023 
