Beloved Manchester independent restaurant Evuna saying thank you in a rather unique way to its customers for their post-COVID support since reopening doors after lockdown.
This one’s for the wine lovers out there.
The authentic Spanish restaurant – which has city centre locations on the Great Northern Warehouse’s Deansgate Terrace and on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter, as well as Altrincham and Knutsford – is turning the #EatOutToHelpOut offer on its head by offering diners at each of its restaurants up to 50% off all of its hand selected, quality wines on every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout September.
The restaurant is running the offer as a thank you for the support of its loyal and generous customers since it reopened in July.
Evuna has been importing wines for over 18 years and the restaurant team’s biggest joy is sharing its love of Spain’s wonderfully rich, diverse and eclectic wines. The team champions organic, vegan, independent and family-run wine makers, and aims to bring its customers hidden gems that cannot be found anywhere else in the UK.
Evuna Restaurants
This up to 50% discount running all month means that diners can try out a number of hand-selected, premium wines for just a fraction of their usual price. For example, a single vineyard Ribera Del Duero Arzuaga Crianza can be sampled for £23.50 (normally £38), or a Classic Santalba Rioja Selection can be snapped up at just £12 (normally £23).
Fancy a tipple with your tapas then?
Advance booking is requested if you would like to make the most of this offer and you can simply visit the Evuna website here, and quote wineinattakeout when making your reservation.
You can find out more information ahead of your trip to any Evuna restaurant here.
Eats
Indian street food spot serving foot-long naan wraps announces closure
Daisy Jackson
A lunchtime takeaway spot known for its foot-long naan wraps has announced its closure in Manchester.
Rola Wala, which only opened 18 months ago in the heart of Deansgate, said it’s ‘walking away proud’ from its venture in the city.
Rola Wala is a hugely popular lunch spot in Leeds and chose Manchester for its second location last November.
On the menu are filling rice bowls, curries and wraps, as well as build-your-own naan rolls filled with authentically spiced Indian fillings.
The brand was founded by Mark Wright (no, not that one) as a street food stall in London and quickly expanded.
But its Manchester location is soon to be no more, closing for good at the end of this year.
They wrote: “Manchester, it’s been real. We’re walking away proud — and already working on what’s next.
Rola Wala has announced its closure in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
“Something that fits who we are, and where we’re going. Thank you for the love, the queues, and the fire.
“This isn’t goodbye. It’s just the start of something new.”
They added that the Leeds Rola Wala is open and trading as normal.
They finished their statement with: “Manchester – Closing Friday 27th @11pm – See you in store for one last Rola this week xxx”
One person commented on the Rola Wala post on Instagram: “Nooooo. I only got to try recently. Devastated as it was so good.”
Another said: “Always in awe of your dignity, Mark. Wishing you the best for the next steps forward.”
Highballer – Stockport’s new bar from the brains behind Cherry Jam
Danny Jones
Stockport is riding a real wave of excitement right now, and aside from being dubbed ‘the new Berlin’ a couple of years back, it’s also enjoying a big bar boom right now: case and point, Highballer, which has just been opened by the blokes behind a familiar local name.
Given the experience behind this new venture, we have a feeling this one could finally stick for what has proved to be a tricky unit in the past.
Created by Neil Garner – the man behind charming indie bar champions, Cherry Jam – Highballer is another music-forward venue from a team with experience across both industries.
Looking to carry on where Amp, Dr Feelgood and even Remedy Bar left off before them, Highballer is the latest watering hole to appear inside 11 Market Place following a successful pop-up earlier this year.
No, it’s not the ‘Gary the Gorilla’, sorry – but it does give a nice little nod to Almost Famous. (Credit: Highballer)
With Amp closing at the start of the year, Garner saw the opportunity to step in turn the place into something familiar but new, promising more music, karaoke and bandaoke; a fresh new food menu, darts, pool and even the classic American lawn game, cornhole.
Having already opened earlier this month, toasting the arrival with a bonus Oasis reunion launch party on Friday, 20 June, the crowds are already starting to return. As for Garner, he brings an incredible pedigree to the new project.
A world champion flair bartender boasting 28 years in hospitality, he’s worked in over 100 countries, including time as a Las Vegas performer, not to mention holding a Guinness World Record and coming runner-up on Britain’s Got Talent as the founder-creator of entertainment act, ‘Barwizards’.
During his time down south, he also created the UK’s first adult playground called Roof East in London, which was ultimately sold a decade after winning Britain’s Best Outdoor Experience in 2024.
With his baby and the neighbouring bar Cherry Jam located literally just around the corner and down the brow, the reputation is already there, hence why it was busy from minute one.
Highballer sitting pretty in the shadow of two famous Stockport landmarks. (Credit: Supplied)
Stockport town centre has plenty of new pub and bar openings, from the resurrection of the old White Lion this time last year and the recently debuted Underbank, to fellow newcomer Fitzpatrick’s (formerly Bask), so it’s nice to see yet another one added into the mix.
Before Highballer, Neil spent years behind the scenes at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, running the backstage bars in the mid-noughties for events like Reading and Leeds Festival, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and even Coachella.
In terms of food, he also spent time living in Seoul, where he developed a serious love for Korean, meaning that their collab with Manc favourites BAB was a natural fit.
On the menu you’ll find:
Korean Fried Chicken – crispy and packed with flavour
Loaded Fries – choose between pulled pork or spicy grilled chicken
Cauliflower Bites – crispy and full of spice
Gochujang Mac n’ Cheese – creamy and with a kick
Korean Cheese Corndogs
Korean Grilled Cheese
BAB MCR have come to Stockport to lend their talents to Highballer. (Credit: Supplied)
With ‘power hour’ karaoke sessions, Vimto mojitos named not just after the drink but the giant gorilla bouncer sat outside (great name), not to mention a big terrace to bring those beer garden vibes, they’ve got all the ingredients for an instant hit.
Oh, did we mention there are drink deals all week long? Well, there are. Cheers to that. Speaking to The Manc, Garner kept things short and sweet as he’s confident the product will do the talking, but admitted he’s “buzzing” to be opening another venue in the borough.
Balancing live music, entertainment, and hospitality is a tall order for anyone, but with the expertise behind this place, it stands as much of a fighting chance as everyone else.
It’s been a big couple of weeks for food and drink in Stockport.
Emily Sergeant -
2nd September 2020 
