We popped our heads into the brand-new Black Cat Club, a new competitive and social gaming bar from the team behind tapas favourites El Gato Negro and Canto right here in Manchester.
Opening its doors this month (Saturday, 16 March) from a stylish Brown Street den, previously home to the old Habas site, the maiden Black Cat Club is set to combine a small plates dining experience with entertainment and activities like shuffleboard, darts, table football, music and more.
With El Gato just down the road on King Street and Canto over Ancoats’ Cutting Room Square remaining two of the best places for tapas anywhere in the city centre, we were already pretty excited to see what the set-up was going to look like in person.
Safe to say that now we’ve had a glimpse of everything and taken a head-first dive into the food, we cannot wait for this place to launch. They’re also helping usher people in with a very enticing offer on the gaming side, but we’ll get on to that.
First announced last month, it is the games and interactive elements that are the star of this sister concept, promising to deliver the city’s first ‘immersive shuffleboard experience’, with four SHUFL tables and seven FlyBy dart stations and more at the heart of this competitive socialising bar.
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Although the combination might sound a bit left-field at first glance, with tapas and small plates all about sharing and creating a more social way to eat, it actually makes perfect sense when you stop and think about it.
Speaking of the food, there is a very healthy spread to choose from on the menu: buttermilk chicken bites with curry mayonnaise, corn ribs coated in paprika and garlic; salt and pepper ribs, Cajun chicken nachos, crispy cauliflower with sweet spicy chilli sauce and more.
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If you’re after slightly bigger portions to keep to yourself after you’ve just been humiliated by your mates at the oche, you can also choose from some very good loaded pizzas, ‘burgers and buns’, hot dogs with caramelised onions, fish finger butties, dirty fries and tasty wraps for meat-eaters and veggies.
As you can see, there’s plenty to feast your eyes on, both in terms of the menu and interior — which itself is like a crossover between a popular darts bar, a contemporary European drinking spot with lots of musical aesthetics, and the obvious dining room elements from their award-winning parent restaurants — but this place is also about having a tipple with friends.
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The menu is just extensive when it comes to drinks, with ice-cold pints, wines, spirits and a classic cocktails line-up featuring some of Black Cat‘s signatures: ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ (a sweet combination of Discarded Banana Rum, Licor 43 and pineapple), the refreshing ‘Yuzu Spritz’ and a zesty ‘Sevilla Southside’ — now that is a little bit of us right there.
We can’t think of many prettier settings for a drink, some scran and tipsy shenanigans than set against the backdrop of original Manc brickwork inside a repurposed wine cellar, merged with green and copper hand-painted wall art, marble finishings, art deco fittings and booth seating for big groups.
That’s another big draw for this place too, by the way. Black Cat Club will be offering premium sports viewing experiences, showing all major UK sporting events with the added perk of table-top service — you only need to tap a button to order some food or an ice-cold beer.
Also housing a private space in the back, bookings can be made for up to 20 guests at a time for special events and big sports screenings, which is perfect timing seeing as Euro 2024 is just around the corner.
Last but not least, Black Cat has just revealed that to celebrate their official opening date on Saturday, 16 March (bookings are live as we speak) they will also be offering 50% off all gaming throughout March. Say no more.
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If you’re interested in going along to give a try and score yourself a discount on your games of choice on your way in, you can book for Black Cat Club HERE or by calling 0161 470 9375.
An app that can get you 50% off at top local restaurants has arrived in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
An app that unlocks exclusive restaurant deals in top local spots has officially arrived in Manchester.
EatClub has launched into our city with some big local restaurant names included, like Maki & Ramen, Noi Quattro, and Salvi’s Mozzarella Bar.
The rapidly-growing dining app is backed by Marco Pierre White and has been picking up pace across the UK since launching in London last year.
EatClub is bringing next-level, exclusive dining deals to Mancs, while helping our local restaurants make the most of quieter times.
Participating restaurants and bars can offer smart, real-time pricing during off-peak hours, which can mean up to 50% off deals appear for diners.
As a customer, that means you can save big by dining when it’s quieter, knowing you’re filling vital tables for your favourite businesses.
EatClub has been designed by restaurateurs who understand the realities of running busy venues.
CiaoooSalvi’sKAJI
You’ll find local favourites, hidden gems, and much-loved brands on the app, which handles the entire discount process discreetly in-app.
Once you’ve downloaded EatClub, you unlock an EatClub Pay digital card to add to your phone wallet – then select your chosen offer before you arrive, dine, and pay your bill with the EatClub Pay card to apply your discount.
Wondering where you might get to eat for less in Manchester? Restaurants already signed up to EatClub include Italian favourites like Ciaooo, The Pasta Factory, Noi Quattro; South Asian restaurants like Maki & Raman and Soul & Surf; and stylish spots like TYGA Restaurant & Bar, On The Hush, and Avan Lounge Restaurant & Shisha Bar.
You’ll also find refined restaurants like KAJI, plus Doux Chaton, Fress, Chai Latte, Stan-M1, Arnero, and Napoleons Restaurant on EatClub in Manchester.
The Pasta FactoryMaki & RamenDoux Chaton
Based on data from London, EatClub users increase their dining frequency by 70%, while restaurants see up to a 10x uplift in targeted off-peak windows, equating to roughly a 12% annual revenue lift.
Originally founded in Australia by hospitality insiders including CEO Pan Koutlakis and legendary chef Marco Pierre White, EatClub is now expanding across the UK, following a $27 million AUD (£14m+) oversubscribed Pre-Series B funding round led by Marbruck, with continued support from EVP and CoAct.
Pan Koutlakis, CEO and co-founder of EatClub, said: “Manchester has such incredible energy when it comes to hospitality and we’re so excited to be working with a fantastic range of venues from day one.
“EatClub is all about making it easier for people to dine out more often, discover new favourites and enjoy great value, all in a way that feels effortless.”
EatClub is available to download now, with loads of Manchester restaurnats already signed up – download and find out more HERE.
Smash-hit sandwich shop Earl’s is set to open another site in Bolton
Danny Jones
Yes, beloved Bolton butty shop and bar, Earl’s, is set to open up their second location in the Greater Manchester borough, taking the food from the town centre over to Farnworth.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a metropolitan expansion either this year or next, but for now, we’re just glad to hear we’re getting more of the good stuff.
Earl’s Day and Night Deli, to give them their full name, is the latest name to join the lineup of new foodie faces joining the culinary boom over at the Farnworth Green development.
Soon, the stacked sandwiches, quality coffee and laid-back vibes will be coming to one of the best up-and-coming new neighbourhoods.
Founded by two local lads, Jonny Eckersley and Andy Partington, the first venue only opened back in December of 2024, but has gone on to become a North West-wide sensation.
Carb connoisseurs will literally travel for this scran, and having tasted it for ourselves a couple of times now, it’s no wonder.
Taking inspiration not only from regional food and drink, but also from the wider atmospheres and culinary cultures of Lisbon, Sydney, Antwerp and more, if they can translate even half the levels of chill from the OG Earl’s into this soon-to-open sister site, we’re sure it will hit the ground running.
As per an official press release, fans and those who’ve never tried it before can “expect a menu packed with freshly made sandwiches, alongside a line-up of hot and cold options available for both grab-and-go and delivery.”
Crucially, they’re also looking to carry over that feeling of a seamless transition between services, blending everything from morning coffee runs and the lunch rush with casual evening hangs.
Co-founder Jonny said in a statement: “We are staying true to our roots by bringing a second Earl’s in Bolton. This new venture helps to fuel our expansion plans and widen our catchment area so even more local people can enjoy the Earl’s experience.
“We have big plans for the space and can’t wait to get started.” An exact opening date hasn’t even been confirmed yet, but we’re already getting excited.
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director at Capital and Centric (the developers behind Farnworth Green) added: “We back standout local operators, and Earl’s is right up there – great food, loads of energy and a proper following already behind them.
“Farnworth Green is shaping up to be a neighbourhood with real character, and Earl’s is only going to add to that. Expect it to be busy.”
Danny Jones -
12th March 2024 
