There’s a new bottomless brunch in Manchester with Middle Eastern-inspired small plates, and if you love a good Saturday afternoon out on the town then you absolutely need to put it on your list.
Hosted at former Michelin-recommended King Street restaurant Habas, for £38 per person diners can enjoy a ‘tipsy tapas’ with 90 minutes of non-stop cocktails, wine, beer, and a mouthwatering selection of punchy small plates.
Drink choices include the likes of fruit punch, Aperol and apricot spritzes, prosecco and bellinis, plus glasses of house lager and red, white and rose wine.
As for the food, you’re completely spoilt for choice with a selection of dishes that pulls out some of the restaurant’s dish highlights – spanning starters, mains and puddings.
Choices available with the bottomless brunch include the likes of harissa-roasted sweet potato, steaming chicken tagine, the most perfect crisp lamb pomme anna, garlic flatbreads and roasted cauliflower.
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Elsewhere, you’ll find mini Merguez sausages, salmon arancini, seared mackerel fillets, Israeli chopped salad, batata harra, Syrian lentils, Zalouk aubergine and Habas’s own Middle Eastern rice.
As for sweets to finish, think traditional honey and pistachio-drenched baklava, miniature donuts oozing with raspberry jam with a dollop of homemade vanilla custard on the side, zingy pineapple carpaccio, a Medjool date and orange cake, and beautiful cubes of Turkish delight.
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The third city centre restaurant from Simon Shaw (also chef-owner of El Gato Negro and Canto), Habas was added to the Michelin guide in 2021.
At the time, inspectors described it as follows: “Habas comes from the same owners as Canto and El Gato Negro and occupies what was once the wine cellars of the magnificent former Manchester Club building.
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Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
“Arrive early for a cocktail in the bar before moving into the fun, slightly retro style dining room.
“Small sharing plates take their influences mainly from the Middle East but there are also hints of the Mediterranean to be seen.
“Must-haves include the homemade pita bread, stuffed filo cigars and vegetable dishes.”
Habas and its sister restaurant Canto have both since been removed from the Michelin Guide but Shaw’s original Manchester restaurant El Gato Negro continues to be featured as a Bib Gourmand recommendation.
Bakery chain Gail’s is attempting to win over Prestwich after spelling mishap
Daisy Jackson
Gail’s has announced a plan to try and make amends with Prestwich after spelling the village’s name wrong on the new bakery’s signs.
The massive bakery chain finally confirmed that it would be moving into the suburb on the fringes of Bury and Manchester, but made a fatal flaw at the first step.
The huge posters are missing the letter ‘T’, instead saying ‘Hello Preswich’.
More than a few eyebrows were raised locally, with people saying it’s ‘not a great first impression for the locals…’.
And now Gail’s is attempting to put things right by offering free tea to Prestwich residents.
In new material released today, they wrote: “Oops… people of Prestwich, we owe you a ‘T’.
“You may have seen how we missed out a ‘t’ in our new bakery signage.
“We’re sorry for the mistake, and to make up for it we’d like to brew you a tea when we open.”
The new advertising has a QR code which people can scan to claim their free cuppa.
Gail’s has also passed its thanks on to ‘local resident Clair’, who actually came up with the suggestion on The Manc’s LinkedIn post here.
With this development, Gail’s has now confirmed it’ll be opening in Prestwich – directly opposite the new Rudy’s – in early 2025, with free tea served then to those who scan the QR code.
Gail’s will hand out free tea in Prestwich to apologise for spelling the village’s name wrongHuge bakery chain Gail’s confirms move to Prestwich – but spells village’s name wrong in signage
Salon Madre – A new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A new tequila bar and pool hall is set to open in Manchester in a couple of weeks, from the same team behind Madre.
The huge new space, Salon Madre, will be serving up the tacos and burritos that have made the Mexican restaurant at Kampus so well-loved.
And all that’s alongside a drinks menu that centres around tequila, including frozen, classic and flavoured margaritas and palomas.
Can’t stomach tequila? There’ll also be wines on draft, Corona and local beers.
The food menu will show off signature dishes like al pastor tacos, with daily rotating specials, plus Gringas, nachos and Madre’s huge burritos.
Salon Madre has taken over a spot just off Kampus’s lush garden that was previously home to a Seven Brothers taproom, right next door to Madre itself.
Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSalon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
As well as all the Mexican food and drink goodness, the bar will have four pool tables and will be screening Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) and American sports.
The dream is to bring the fun and liveliness of a Mexican pool hall to the heart of Manchester, in this beautiful spot right near Piccadilly and Canal Street.
Salon Madre will open on 6 December at Kampus, with bookings for Christmas groups and parties now available.
Georgina Pellant -
5th June 2023 
