Sandinista, a staple on the Manchester bar scene, has quietly closed its doors.
The bar, just off St Ann’s Square, has been a popular watering hole for more than 13 years, famed for its music playing til the early hours and Latin food menu.
For more than a decade, Sandinista has been a no-frills, unpretentious, laid-back spot for Manchester locals to grab a pint and a shot of tequila or three.
They also served completely silly cocktails, like pints of booze served on fire.
And its in-house kitchen, El Gordos, served a menu of ‘Latin scran for Gringos’ which includes tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and snacks like Cancun cracking, croquettas, and patatas bravas.
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The bar now appears to have quietly shut its doors for good, sharing videos of a closing party earlier this week.
They’ve shared no farewell statements (but they weren’t exactly active on social media anyway) and padlocked the doors.
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The bar has been sharing Instagram stories of people bidding it farewell, and a member of staff confirmed its closure to the Manchester Evening News.
One person shared: Sandinista. lots of good memories and friends met over the years. Our very own central perk. There really won’t ever be a place in town like it.”
Sandinista Manchester is part of the same group that operates a bar of the same name across in Leeds.
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Sandinista described itself as being ‘inspired by a love for music, food, drinks and Latin culture’.
They also said on their website: “Inspired and named after The Clash’s fourth album, Sandinista play an eclectic mix that covers rock, indie, funk, soul, reggae, 80’s and more until 3am, 7 days a week.
“Sandinista’s revolutionary theme is influenced by the political movement in Nicaragua and the Central American flavour is carried throughout the Latin inspired food and drink menu as well as the décor.”
A restaurant in Manchester is hosting a bottomless carbonara night
Daisy Jackson
A restaurant in Manchester has announced its first-ever ‘Carbonara Night’, with unlimited helpings of the popular pasta dish.
The Pasta Factory on Shudehill will be inviting diners to tuck into bottomless carbonara, with the chance to eat it all for free.
The restaurant recently celebrated its 10th birthday in the city, where it’s been serving fresh pasta dishes made by hand every single day.
When The Pasta Factory first opened, it chose not to sell carbonara, worried that the traditional recipe (guanciale, egg yolk, cheese – and absolutely no cream) wouldn’t be to the taste of diners in Manchester.
But realising there was an appetite for authentic Italian cooking, carbonara has made its way onto the menu and become a firm favourite.
And now The Pasta Factory is hosting an entire night dedicated to this delicious pasta dish.
There’ll be bottomless carbonara being served up in this cosy corner of Manchester, for one night only this month.
Your booking will get you a table for 90 minutes, during which time you can order unlimited portions of carbonara.
And if you manage to eat more than five carbonaras, Pasta Factory will give you your meal for free.
The bottomless carbonara night at Pasta Factory in Manchester will take place on Wednesday 18 February, with tickets priced at £30 per night.
Inside Kouba, Deansgate Square’s stunning new Lebanese restaurant and shisha bar
Daisy Jackson
A stunning new Lebanese restaurant and shisha bar has opened at the foot of the Deansgate Square towers, with an iced latte tap, shisha bar, and all-day dining.
Kouba has taken over the former Salvi’s site in the glamorous neighbourhood, and just days after opening, it’s packed to the rafters.
The space has been transformed from family-style Italian restaurant into a Middle Eastern oasis.
Kouba operates as a three-in-one concept, doing coffees and brunches in the daytimes before transforming to a lively Lebanese restaurant by night.
It also has a sizeable terrace (blissfully weather-proof) which doubles up as a late-night shisha lounge, open into the early hours.
This newcomer to the city has already found fame online with moments like an indulgent iced salted brown butter oat latte, served from a tap (plus the whole menu of other iced drinks).
There’s also a sharing cheesecake for two that’s built before your eyes, and hot cookies with soft serve, alongside pastries from the award-winning La Chouquette bakery.
Brunch menu dishes will include signatures like the ‘Pocket Toast’, with fillings including smash burger, bacon and egg, and avocado and egg, alongside smoothies, juices and matchas.
As for the restaurant menu, there’ll be a full Lebanese food offering that includes hot and cold mezze, and Lebanese favourites like meshwi, lamb chops, and moussaka.
Click or swipe through the gallery below to see inside
Inside Kouba at Deansgate SquareThe iced latte tapThe private dining roomThe shisha loungeA full spread of foodThe coffee shop section of KoubaIced matcha and pastries from La ChouquetteDinner at KoubaCookies and soft serve
Kouba is now open and will be operational seven days a week from 8am-2am.
Daisy Jackson -
14th October 2025 
