Eats

Bar San Juan in Chorlton is expanding ahead of reopening this week

The popular tapas restaurant has announced expansion plans to accomodate social distancing measures.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 29th June 2020
Bar San Juan

Popular tapas restaurant Bar San Juan in Chorlton has announced expansion plans to accomodate social distancing measures of reopening to the public once again this week.

It’s set to be a busy week for the hospitality industry leading up to 4th July with many establishments looking to lay out their plans of action for reopening, make necessary adaptations to adjust to the ‘new normal’ and welcome visitors back through their doors.

Bar San Juan, a much-loved tapas restaurant in the heart of the Manchester suburb of Chorlton, has announced its reopening plans for this Saturday and this includes the exciting acquisition of a former adjoining pub to create a larger premises and will allow for necessary social distancing measures to be correctly observed.

The Beech Road eatery has acquired an unoccupied venue that previously housed The Parlour before it closed back in 2018.

The two locations will be merged into one ahead of reopening.

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Announcing reopening plans in a statement via its website, Bar San Juan said: “Bar San Juan is looking forward to re-opening and accommodating as many customers as possible, so we have acquired a building – formally Parlour, one door away from Bar San Juan, to encourage social distancing.”

Bar San Juan / TripAdvisor

The owners have also provided an insight into what members of the public can expect upon paying a visit to Bar San Juan once lockdown measures are lifted.

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The statement continues: “As we have never taken reservations we are trying out different booking systems but we would like to first see how this new normal works before we start with it. In the meantime, we are setting up a similar system to the one we have always had that we can manage within the bar for walk-ins.”

“You will join a waiting list and be called 15 minutes prior to the table being ready.”

“There will be a set time on each table of two hours in order for us to be more accurate when we have to call customers and also have time for us to disinfect the table.”

For more information ahead of reopening, visit Bar San Juan’s website here.

Eats

Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week

Students will be able to take part in a build-your-own ramen workshop this week, led by everyone’s favourite pan-Asian restaurant group, Wagamama. 

The workshops will cost just £5 (all of which will go to a brilliant cause), and will include the time spent creating your perfect meal, the actual food, plus drinks and sides.

Wagamama has teamed up with mental health charity SHOUT to host this cosy ramen-making workshop. 

Students will be invited to join Wagamama chefs in the kitchen, selecting their own broth, protein and veggies, with perfectly-cooked noodles, before sitting down at the restaurant’s benches to slurp up their creations with fellow students. 

There’ll also be toppings and garnishes including kimchi, tea-stained eggs, chilli oil, spring onions and more.

With merch to take home too, and steaming bowls of the best-ever autumn dish, this is a one-off event you won’t want to miss. 

Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week
Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week. Credit: Supplied

Each £5 ticket includes your food and two drinks, plus a variety of the new Wagamama winter sides and sharers. 

All money raised will be donated to SHOUT to support the vital services they provide. 

A representative from SHOUT will also be in attendance to talk about student wellbeing and the services available from the charity. 

Wagamama says: “At Wagamama, we believe having a conversation is one of the most powerful ways you can support someone struggling with their mental health. Whether it’s a quick check-in via text or an open conversation over a bowl of steaming ramen. no chat is too big or too small to make an impact.

Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop for just £5 this week. Credit: Supplied
Students can join a Wagamama ramen-building workshop with SHOUT this week. Credit: Supplied

“This ethos is one we share with SHOUT, a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs someone to talk to. After huge demand during Covid, SHOUT’s service has become increasingly essential + today SHOUT is more highly in demand than ever before.”

The Japanese and pan-Asian restaurant is donating £40,000 to SHOUT this year, plus providing perks and rewards for their team of volunteers, and hosting events in their spaces. 

The Wagamama ramen-building workshop will take place at the St Peter’s Square restaurant on Thursday 7 November between 2pm and 4pm. You can get your tickets HERE.

Read more: ‘Glittering winter adventure’ set to take over Tatton Park this Christmas

Featured image: Supplied

Eats

Manchester restaurants to add an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A handful of local restaurants will be adding an extra £1 onto every bill over the festive season to help fight street homelessness.

People in Greater Manchester are once again able to give back while they dine at some of the best restaurants the region has to offer in the run up to Christmas, as the successful StreetSmart fundraising initiative is back for another year.

This year, 13 fantastic restaurants have come together to support local homeless charities as the campaign launched last Friday (1 November).

Manchester independents such as Mana, Climat, 20 Stories, and Tariff and Dale are among those taking part in the campaign this year, alongside several city centre branches chains such as Tampopo, Banyan, BOX, Manahatta, and San Carlo.

StreetSmart works by each participating restaurant adding an extra £1 to every bill they deliver throughout November and December, with all of the money raised going directly to local homeless organisations, thanks to StreetSmart’s official sponsorship from LandAid.

The funds raised by StreetSmart in Greater Manchester this year will support the crucial work of organisations such as CentrePoint, and Akt – a charity supporting LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 into safe homes, employment, education, or training. 

In 2023, Manchester restaurants alone raised a whopping £25,000 for these life-changing services in the local community.

Manchester restaurants are adding an extra £1 to bills to help fight homelessness this Christmas / Credit: Supplied | Rifqi Ali Ridho (via Unsplash)

“Many of us want to help the vulnerable people in our community during the festive period, and StreetSmart provides an easy way to do this,” explained Glenn Pougnet, who is the Director of StreetSmart.

“We’re grateful to see so many local restaurants stepping forward to help our city’s homeless.

“It’s amazing to witness the kindness that our community has to offer, and see the tangible impact of our efforts and funding in the community.

Read more:

“This year, we’re proud to be taking another step towards the eradication of homelessness, and look forward to seeing even more restaurants getting involved over the Christmas period.”

Featured Image – John Carey (via Supplied)

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