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 city-wide cocktail celebration featuring some of the world’s best bars is coming to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Manchester is set to become a cocktail lover’s paradise this November, as the inaugural Manchester Cocktail Festival has unveiled its jam-packed schedule of events, international bar takeovers and exclusive drinks offers.
Taking place across the city, the festival will bring some of the world’s best cocktail bars to Manchester, alongside a series of special events, masterclasses, tastings, and plenty of discounted drinks at some of the city’s favourite venues.
Those with a Manchester Cocktail Festival 2026 pass (which is priced just £10) will also be able to take advantage of exclusive drinks offers at participating bars throughout the week of 9-15 November
That includes two-for-£14 cocktails, and £10 birthday cocktails at both Crazy Pedros sites, £10 oyster and martini at Hawksmoor, £7 Irish Coffees at The Bay Horse Tavern, £4.50 Parton shots at Dahlia, and £10 Rosita Spritz and Blackberry Bonitas at Dahlia, amongst offers from all participating bars.
Kicking things off on Monday 9 November, the festival’s opening party will welcome the team from Passing Fancies, led by GB Bartender of the Year 2026 Matt Arnold, to Studio IV at Mollie’s.
Meanwhile, over at Blinker Bar, Copenhagen’s award-winning Victory will be taking over for an evening of Scandinavian hospitality.
Blinker will be hosting Manchester Cocktail Festival eventsPassing Fancies will also be back in town
Things get even bigger on Wednesday 11 November, when Mexico City’s Tlecān makes its way to Manchester.
Currently ranked fifth in North America’s 50 Best Bars and 47th in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026, the acclaimed mezcaleria will be joining the team at Crazy Pedro’s to celebrate the Northern Quarter favourite’s 10th birthday. Expect an evening of Patrón tequila, Ilegal mezcal and plenty of celebrations.
Thursday 12 November will see Dublin favourite Bar 166 take over Speak in Code, bringing a taste of Irish hospitality to Manchester.
There’s also something for the book lovers, as local boozy book club Read Room welcomes author Eloise Rodger to Science and Industry for an evening of literature, Q&As and a complimentary martini flight.
And if cocktails and a bit of glamour are more your thing, Friday 13 November has you covered.
Local collective The Flaneuse will be hosting a Fur Coats and Cocktails party at Exhibition, where guests can learn how to make the perfect margarita during a dedicated masterclass, before enjoying two margaritas of their own.
The ticket for this event also includes a Manchester Cocktail Festival pass, giving guests access to drinks and perks at participating bars across the city.
Manchester Cocktail Festival co-founders Nick Coupland and Ben Kendrick
The festival will wrap up on Sunday 15 November with two more exciting takeovers.
The team behind Bermondsey’s Nine Lives will head to Double Down for an evening celebrating Dominican rum, while the internationally acclaimed Waltz takes over Bar Shrimp for a night of martinis and music from local DJs.
Waltz recently earned a place at number 32 in The World’s 50 Best Bars, as well as fifth spot in the UK’s Top 50 Bars.
Nick Coupland, co-founder at Manchester Cocktail Festival said: “We feel extremely grateful for all the support, so far, from the local community and our partners.
“It’s been great to see that the festival and city’s pull has enabled us to attract a roster of incredible bars from across the world.”
Ben Kendrick, co-founder at Manchester Cocktail Festival added: “It’s going to be super exciting to see what comes of the collaborations, when combining these venues, with the huge talent we have in the city.”
Eccles pub says it’s ‘a dream come true’ as it’s named the best pub in Britain
Daisy Jackson
The Good Food Guide has named its best 100 pubs in Britain – and it’s a local Eccles boozer who’s come out on top.
The guide has travelled the length and breadth of the country to single out the best pubs the nation has to offer, from community atmosphere and great drinks to top quality kitchens.
Greater Manchester is well-represented in the top 100, with the Marble Arch placing 36th and The Trof 76th, plus The Pack Horse (just outside the region in Hayfield) came in 16th.
But showing the country how it’s done is The Queens Arms in Eccles, a fantastic Victorian red-brick pub with an unexpected yet authentic Japanese izakaya-style menu.
This is a pub where you can get an eel rice bowl or a pork cutlet katsu alongside a pint of pale ale, or a Japanese Sapporo lager.
Since October 2024, the historic pub has been under the steer of Mr. Lo and Mr. Anthony Sit, and their efforts have meant that The Queens Arms has now been named the number one pub in Britain – something they said is a ‘dream come true’.
The Good Food Guide said: “Expect the unexpected. Rarely does this well-worn phrase ring truer than at this historic Victorian pub in an obscure part of Eccles.
“The small, red-brick tavern has a significant claim to fame in the annals of industrial heritage: built in 1828 and ranked as the oldest passenger railway boozer in the world, it has been sympathetically preserved in all its Grade II-listed glory. That might be reason enough to visit, but it doesn’t prepare the first-time visitor for the culture shock inside.
“Under Hong Kong ownership, and with an authentic Japanese izakaya-style menu, the result could be an aesthetic car crash – a cultural pile-up that does no favour to either tradition. Instead, the Queens Arms is as packed with Asian diners and Chinese tourists as any eatery in Manchester’s Chinatown – even on a dull Monday lunchtime.
“And the unlikely combination has been a great success, as much for the novelty as the excellent quality of the cooking and speedy service (as many repeat customers testify).
“The menu is short but expertly executed: best-selling dishes include pork cutlet katsu, a teriyaki ox-tongue rice bowl, eel rice bowl and teppanyaki mixed vegetable udon. The tempura batter on our visit was outstanding – meltingly light, fresh and crisp.
“Somehow, the whole thing fits together: etched ‘snug’ windows, comfortable padded booth seating, tiled fireplaces, wooden bar fittings and Victorian knick-knacks. One room still functions as a local drinking den with a dartboard – so you can practice your throws with a glass of cold Sapporo on draught.”
Sharing the news today, The Queens Arms wrote: “A DREAM COME TRUE – WE ARE THE WINNER
“We are incredibly proud and delighted to announce that The Queens Arms has been named the overall WINNER of The Good Food Guide Britain’s 100 Best Pubs 2026! What an incredible moment for our little pub in Eccles!
“When we first took over The Queens Arms, we had a dream of bringing new life to this historic 1828 pub, combining the charm and heritage of a traditional British pub with our passion for Japanese cuisine.
“It has been quite a journey, and this recognition means so much to us.
“A heartfelt thank you to our amazing team, whose hard work and dedication make everything possible, and to all our wonderful customers, friends and local community for your continued support. You have been part of our journey from the very beginning, we couldn’t have done it without you.
“Our sincere thanks to The Good Food Guide for this incredible recognition and for continuing to celebrate the great British pub, independent hospitality and the people who work so hard behind the scenes.
“This is not just our achievement – it is something for our whole community to celebrate!
“Thank you for believing in us. We can’t wait to welcome you and celebrate together!”
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You can see the full Good Food Guide top 100 pubs in Britain HERE.
Danny Jones -
12th March 2024 
