Eats

Greater Manchester’s Karen’s Diner has suddenly closed down

No more getting shouted at while eating burgers.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 12th June 2024

Karen’s Diner, a restaurant concept where people pay good money for deliberately rude service, has suddenly closed the doors to its Manchester location.

The interactive diner opened in Prestwich in 2022, staffed by waiters who would make jokes at customers’ expense.

A night at Karen’s Diner could include ketchup squirted directly onto a table, insults written onto paper hats and jammed on your head, or being made to parade around the restaurant being taunted.

Sounds… lovely, right?

The Karen’s Diner concept first launched in Australia and had been going down a storm in Manchester, where the space was kitted out like a retro American diner.

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But it appears it has closed down with immediate effect while the group concentrates on pop-up experiences instead of permanent restaurants.

The news comes a few months after the Karen’s Diner site on Bury New Road appeared on Rightmove, but at that time, the restaurant said it had no intention of closing.

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In a statement, a spokesperson thanked all the customers who have visited the restaurant and assured those with bookings that they will be contacted shortly.

The Australian arm of Karen’s Diner had already collapsed into voluntary liquidation in 2023.

Memorable moments from Karen’s Diner’s time in Manchester include horrified pensioner Barbara telling the staff off for being too rude, Davina McCall being called a ‘stupid b*tch’, and the Malone family from Gogglebox being completely savaged by their waiter.

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Welcome to our chatoic night at Karen’s Diner #manchester #themanc #karensdiner #food #karen

♬ original sound – The Manc

It also hosted an event with Katie Hopkins, which is a step too far to the controversial if you ask me.

A spokesperson for Karen’s Diner said: “As it stands the initial licence agreement has come to an end and our head office wants the UK operation to concentrate on ‘pop up’ events rather than restaurants. In the current climate reluctantly we can understand their decision.

“When the business opened in Prestwich critics said that is was “far too far out the way” and we want to thank the 100,000 + customers that have proved them wrong.

“The group is undergoing a reconstruction which will see the brand appearing in its pop up form all over Britain.

“Our admin team will ensure that customers with bookings will be informed of next steps.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

A huge festival dedicated to tequila and mezcal is coming to Manchester this month

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Suplied

Manchester’s first-ever Mezcal and Tequila Festival is taking place this month, filling Manchester Cathedral with tastings, masterclasses, cocktails and street food. 

The massive event will see the Grade I-listed building transformed into an agave spirits tasting floor, featuring more than 100 varieties of premium tequilas and mezcals from some of Mexico’s best producers including El Jimador, Ojo de Tigre, El Sueno, Los Arcos, Del Maguey, Cazcabel, Komos, Nixta, Tapatio, El Tequileno, Tiempo and many more.

Festival-goers will be able to gain exclusive insights into the craftsmanship behind these spirits, sampling (responsibly, of course) from dozens of stands. 

All samples, plus a limited-edition clay tasting copita, will be included in the ticket price – there’s no token system here and no extra charges for samples. 

The new Mexican-inspired drinks festival only debuted in Glasgow back in Spring 2023 but it unsurprisingly went down an absolute storm – after all, what’s not to like a big festival full of booze?

Bartenders will stir up cocktails at the bespoke cocktail bar while the crowds are kept fed by delicious street food, including Mexican-inspired Taco Or Don’t, previously featured at the British Streetfood Awards. 

And it’d be remiss of you to leave the festival empty-handed when you can take a taste of Mexico home from the exclusive bottle shop provided by Drinkmonger on site (with discount tokens included in the ticket price). 

A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Supplied
A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Supplied
A tequila and mezcal festival is heading on Manchester. Credit: Supplied

Colin Campbell, one of Copita’s co-founders said: “We’re really excited to be bringing Copita to Manchester. It’s gone down brilliantly in Glasgow the last two years so we felt now was the right time to take it on the road and we couldn’t think of a better place than Manchester to head to next! 

“It’s a really easy-going event with a great atmosphere, lots of local street food, shopping and music, so whether you’re an aficionado or a casual sipper we’re confident you’ll have a great time.”

The Copita Mezcal and Tequila Festival will be at Manchester Cathedral on Saturday 14 September. 

Tickets cost £35 and you can get yours here. 

Sessions last three and a half hours and will take place from 12.30pm to 4pm, and 5.15pm to 8.45pm.

Read more: Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester

Featured image: Supplied

Eats

Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Lina Stores is set to open its very first restaurant in Manchester early next year, taking its beloved mix of handmade pasta and deli food outside of London for the first time.

80 years after opening for the first time in Soho, Lina Stores is heading north to open a 150-cover restaurant.

Blending coffee shop, delicatessen, restaurant, and bar, the new space will be styled in traditional Lina Stores shades of pastel green hues, warm timber woods, and terrazzo and timber flooring.

You’ll find bespoke marble tables, original vintage Bentwood chairs, dark green booth seating and opaline globe lighting inspired by the original Brewer Street delicatessen.

Diners will be spoilt with an Italian-inspired breakfast menu, featuring dishes like truffle scrambled eggs with toasted sourdough, Greek yoghurt with Italian Macedonia fruit salad, and a selection of breakfast panini.

At lunchtimes and dinner there’ll be antipasti such as ricotta and herb gnudi fritti with Calabrian chilli marmellata, and tuna crudo with capers, pink peppercorn and salsa verde.

Lina Stores Manchester will have the brand’s beloved pasta dishes, such as the 30-egg yolk taglioni with black truffle, and lamb sausage ragu pappardelle, plus new options like lemon sole and potato raviolo.

For secondi (because this is Italy darling, you can have two mains!) there are dishes like chicken Milanese and Luganega fennel sausage.

And for dessert, it’s set to be a feast of Sicilian cannolo (filled with ricotta, pistachio and chocolate) and tiramisu.

Lina Stores - Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester. Credit: Rebecca Hope

In the open-plan delicatessen, you’ll be able to grab filling salads, freshly-made panini, and delicate cakes and pastries.

Shelves will be stocked with Lina Stores Collection pantry essentials, from olive oil to traditional biscotti.

And just next to that will be Bar Lina, serving classic and modern Italian cocktails for aperitivo hour until late at night.

Expect favourites like the bloody martini, Rinomata americano, and the basilico with gin, vermouth, basil and lemon.

The bar will have a versatile wine list from all corners of Italy, including the brand’s own signature collection.

Lina Stores Manchester will be located on Quay Street in the recently-refurbished Quoin building, right opposite the Opera House theatre.

Masha Rener, Head Chef of Lina Stores, said: “We’re extremely excited to be opening in Manchester this spring.

“The city feels like a natural home for us considering the area’s rich history, vibrant culinary scene and lively nightlife, and look forward to sharing our passion of great Italian food and produce with the Manchester community.

“Quay Street is the perfect location for us to do so, sitting right in the trifecta of Spinningfields, St John Street and St Peter’s Square.”

Lina Stores Manchester will open in spring 2025.

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Featured image: Supplied

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