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.
A groundbreaking new multi-use entertainment and leisure venue is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
A new multi-purpose food, drink, entertainment and leisure destination is coming to Manchester city centre and the Salford border this autumn, and you won’t find many places that roll so much into one spot.
Mancs, get ready to welcome ‘Tangerine’.
Conceived by an impressive collective of local creatives, indies and those with plenty of experience catering to the Northern masses, Tangerine is promising everything from multiple resident kitchens, a live music hall, an arthouse stage, a specialist martini bar and more.
Better yet, after a year in the making and quietly chipping away at the striking space, it opens later this month, so you don’t have to wait long to try it for yourselves.
Located on New Bailey Street, just on the edge of Spinningfields and Salford Central, this groundbreaking new venue features two main platforms (utilising the integrated charm of the historic railway arches), each boasting its own selection of attractions.
While platform one will offer a bakery, coffee roastery, wine store and bottle ship, the ‘Canteen Club’ and even a florist, number two will contain the music hall, arthouse stage and the stylish ‘Grand Departures’ bar – serving seven espresso martini alone – Tangerine will deliver a seamless day to night transition.
Arguably, however, the centrepiece is the ‘Cantina Collective’. The food and drink hall promises seven in-house kitchens, showcasing a variety of cuisines.
The opening line-up already confirmed includes Vanda: a family-run Parisian-inspired Ukrainian bakery; Mexican taqueria, PANTERA, burger joint Juicy, as well as Yo Dutchie (a unique fusion of Dutch-Japanese food) and a new Korean/ramen concept from local sushi favourites, Unagi.
Our stomachs are already grumbling just thinking about it.
CGI renders of the completed space. (Credit: Supplied)
Designed not only by the brains behind Northern Quarter’s beloved Mala hidden garden but WANT STUDIOS, who will be ensuring local artists, independents, and traders will be regularly spotlighted, the site will boast a capacity of well over 300 people.
Artyom Dmitrijev, owner of Tangerine and Mala, said in a statement: “Over a year in the making, we’ve used all our experience in design, interiors, architecture and hospitality to create our dream project. A place for all the independents to come together and thrive.”
Andy Windsor, Director of WANT STUDIOS, added: “Tangerine unites the city’s independent kitchens, bar tenders, bakeries and entertainment specialists. It is a unique showcase of what we do in the city. This is a new space for creativity, food, and culture, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
Debuting to the public with a big Halloween weekender on the evening of Friday, 31 October, with another launch event the following Saturday, you can sign up for exclusive early access for free, which could see you score a few freebies to boot.
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/Tangerine MCR (via Instagram)
Eats
Bottomless curry deal returns to popular Manchester Indian restaurant Zouk
Danny Jones
One of the best-loved Indians in Manchester has relaunched its bottomless curry offering and is chucking in free rice and naans to boot.
Zouk over on Chester Street has brought back its endless curry, rice and naan deal to ease the last of those January blues.
Every night this week, you’ll be able to tuck into a full buffet of the tea bar and grill’s award-winning, authentic curries, showcasing dishes from all over the Indian subcontinent.
Costing just £20 a head, you can feast until your heart’s content on some of the very best curries in the city – no exaggeration.
What does ‘bottomless curry’ night at Zouk look like?
The bottomless curry deal at Zouk first ran this year back in January, but it’s now back for National Curry Week (6-12 October 2025), and we can’t wait to stuff ourselves silly yet again.
Every single day, there’ll be four different curries to choose from, always including two meat options, a vegetarian curry and a vegan dish.
What exactly can you get on Zouk’s bottomless offer?
As mentioned, each booking also includes unlimited rice and naan to go with your curry of choice.
Tables are for 90 minutes per booking, giving guests plenty of time to take on the increasingly popular bottomless curry challenge.
Question is, do you have the stomach for it?
With an ever-rotating selection of curries inspired by various distinct regions and speciality cuisines, you’re not short on variety either. You can see Zouk‘s current bottomless curry menu in full below:
Monday
Chicken Karahi – A speciality from the Northwest region of Pakistan. Tender pieces of chicken cooking in a sizzling wok over hot flames with tomatoes, crushed peppercorns, cumin, ginger and garlic.
Lamb and Potatoes – Tender chunks of lamb cooked with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
Mutter Paneer (V) – Indian Paneer cheese with new potatoes, yoghurt, tomatoes and garlic.
Chole Masala (VG) – From Delhi to Punjab, this authentic channa masala is a tasty street food classic.
Tuesday
Tamater Kadei Murgh – A delicious chicken and tomato curry cooked with mild spices. Perfect with rice or bread
Lamb Do Pyaaza – Medium-spiced North Indian speciality: tender pieces of lamb slowly cooked with lavish amounts of caramelised onions in a spicy masala
Tarka Dall (V) – Channa and mung lentils cooked in a spicy sauce
Gobi Mutter (VG) – Spicy cauliflower sautéed in a rich tomato masala with peas
Wednesday
Chicken Do Payaza – Spiced North Indian chicken dish with tomatoes and caramelised onions
Lamb & Bindi – Tender pieces of lamb cooked in a spicy masala with ‘lady fingers’ (okra)
Chole Masala (V) – Authentic channa masala is a tasty street food classic
Mili Juli Sabzi (VG) – Fresh vegetables fused together with herbs and spices
Over the halfway hump, room for more? (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Thursday
Chicken Tikka Masala – A simple classic chicken tikka masala. Chicken pieces marinated in yoghurt tossed inside a balti of garlic and ginger.
Lamb Rogan Josh – A speciality from Jammu and Kashmir, with chillies and juicy tomatoes.
Dall Makhani (V) – Black lentils in a smooth and creamy sauce.
Palak Aloo (VG) – Spinach leaf and fenugreek cooked with new potatoes and coriander.
Friday
Chicken Handi – Punjabi-style chicken curry slowly cooked over burning flames with tomatoes, onions, garlic and Zouk’s special garam masala.
Lamb Jalfrezi – Lamb pieces cooked with capsicum, onions and tomatoes in a thick spicy sauce.
Bengan do Pyaza (V) – A medium-spiced North Indian dish of aubergine cooked with tomatoes, spices and lavish amounts of onions.
Bindi Do Pyaza (VG) – A medium-spiced North Indian dish of Okra cooked with tomatoes, spices and lavish amounts of onions.
And now we’re stuffed…
If you’re looking for somewhere to get bottomless curry in Manchester, this is the place for you. (Credit: The Manc)
Zouk has become one of Manchester’s leading restaurants since it opened in 2009, even drawing in famous fans like Rihanna, Drake, Manchester United stars and, of course, many a Mancs each and every day – because there’s never a bad time for a curry.
Available all throughout this week, you can make the most of this incredible bottomless curry deal like we do every year and trust us, Manchester: it genuinely NEVER disappoints.
You can find more information – including all terms and conditions – on the website and book your visit HERE, or over the phone on 0161 2331 090.
Danny Jones -
12th March 2024 
