Eats
Manchester breakfast, lunch and late-night spot Bowlers Cafe set to become tapas and pintxos bar
Another new opening is on its way.
Danny Jones -
27th August 2024 
Beloved Manchester breakfast, butty and late-night boozing spot Bowlers Cafe has quietly closed and is set to be turned into a tapas and pintxos bar next month.
News of the cult favourite closing went under the radar but posters in the window of the now former Bowlers site went up over the weekend, confirming that the popular city centre lunch spot is set to receive a Spanish makeover.
Although the exact September opening date is still unconfirmed, the new small plates and snack bar located just off Albert Sqaure will be called El Kabron and is set to be operated by well-established local restaurant, La Bandera.
Now open for a decade, La Bandera is categorically one of the go-to Latin establishments in Manchester, picking up countless awards including the best Spanish restaurant in the city and being voted among the top three best tapas places in the UK by The Times.
While the same Spanish-Canarian influences will no doubt be in the mix, you can most likely expect El Kabron to be a more pared-back concept than its parent brand.
Said to be “inspired by the northern Spanish taverns”, the poster only gives away that there’ll be tapas, pintxos – pronounced ‘pinchos’ in case you were wondering – bocadillo-style sandwiches and lots of lovely cured meats. Give us all the Jamón (ham), por favor y gracias.
Naturally, as a tapas bar, there’ll also be lots of imported beer, sangria, wine cocktails and other boozy options when they soft launch to the public very soon.
As Bowlers was also known for regularly staying up in the evenings to host live music and entertainment, it no doubt comes as welcome news that the replacement will carry on the late-night culture.
Read more:
- The incredible history of Sinclair’s Oyster Bar in Manchester city centre
- Liquor & Burn – Much-loved Northern Quarter Mexican restaurant announces shock closure
- French Taco’o – Salford’s French takeaway that’s taken the city by storm
It remains to be seen whether the new opening will carry on any kind of breakfast service like their predecessors but we can smell a lovely Spanish lunch deal coming winging its way to us very soon.
In the meantime, La Bandera themselves have extended their current 50% off until mid-September, meaning you can make the most of their discounted food and get a better idea of what might be to come from El Kabron.
Muy emocionante!
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Group
