Revolución de Cuba is handing out free cocktails this month and they’re only asking for one thing from the people of Manchester in exchange for it: warm clothes and accessories.
The well-known chain of Latin-inspired bars, restaurants and live entertainment venues is chipping with its own offer as part of the January deal season but instead of just giving people savings on their usual menu items, they’re making sure that as many Mancs benefit as possible this winter.
Serving up complimentary cocktails exclusively from their popular Peter Street venue on Deansgate, all locals have to do to get their hands on free drinks is come into the venue with warm garments to support GreaterManchester’s homeless community and those in need.
Sadly, as the low temperatures continue throughout the colder months, the number of people at risk as a result of sleeping rough is a more pressing issue than any other time of year, so the bar group have taken it upon themselves to do their bit where they can.
Revolución de Cuba is helping out the homeless this Jan with their warm clothes drive. (Credit: via IG/supplied)
The catch is as simple as it sounds: to take part in their ‘From Cuba with GLove‘ initiative this January, Revs is asking people to bring in spare hats, gloves, scarves and other warm layers/accessories — at which point they will receive a free cocktail.
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Known for their specialising in rum, those participating will receive one of their brand-new ‘Banana Manaña’ cocktails, made with Banana Peel Rum from Discarded Spirits.
Teaming up with local charity partners, chosen by the staff and customers themselves (including local Manc poverty and homelessness charity Mustard Tree), all items received go directly to those in need of support this winter. You can nominate your own organisation to donate to HERE.
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All warm clothes and accessories must be cleaned before being handed over and can be only donated to Revolución de Cuba’s Peter Street site, with the offer ending on Wednesday, 31 January.
The group’s Brand Operations Director, Alex McMillan, said: “As temperatures are forecast to drop and snow to fall, we hope that ‘From Cuba with GLove’ will make a positive impact on the lives of those who live in the communities around our Peter Street venue and across the city, whilst shining a spotlight on Cuban kindness.
“The Cuban people are known for their affection, gentleness and humanity and they’re sentiments that we share here at Revolución de Cuba Manchester. The New Year is an excellent time to declutter and clear out, setting us up for 2024 whilst making a real difference to those who need our support – especially as an icy blast prepares to hit the UK.
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“In return, you’ll brighten up what is no doubt a chilly January day with a deliciously fruity sunshine cocktail in a glass, as our way of saying thanks for your support.” Sounds like a fair deal to us — and for such an important cause.
We’re proud to say that this city has done a lot to combat rough sleeping over the last 12 months and for all the other top January food and drink deals around Greater Manchester, you can see our list in full down below:
Featured Images — Supplied/Revolución de Cuba (via Instagram)
Food & Drink
Bangkok Diners Club – Thai barbecue restaurant to take over award-winning Ancoats pub
Daisy Jackson
The kitchens of the award-winning Edinburgh Castle pub are set to be taken over by a brand new offering – the Bangkok Diners Club is moving in.
Taking a step away from the gastropub’s previous menu of elevated British classics (its old head chef Shaun Moffatt recently opened his own restaurant, Winsome, where you can still eat that), this entirely new offering will bring a taste of Thai barbecue to Ancoats.
The exciting new opening will have a meat-focused menu cooked with wood smoke from an in-house smoker.
Chef Ben Humpheys – formerly of the futuristic Thai restaurant District, in the Northern Quarter – will combine his 20-year obsession with Thai cuisine with a ‘new-found love for low-n-slow cooking’.
That’ll mean slow-smoked meats, which Ben fell in love with in Miami, bringing a new take to traditional dishes like ex-dairy beef Nam Tok and BBQ pork jowl with burnt tomato Nam Jim Jaew.
There’ll also be dishes like Gaeng Khua, a southern curry of smoked mutton ribs, and Thai omelette with smoked mushroom and Nam Prik Pao.
Ben has honed the menu with his wife Bo, who was born and raised in the northeastern Isan region, before moving to Bangkok as a teenager.
He said: “Barbecue is huge in Thailand, but it’s usually fast and furious over fire. Last year we spent some time in Miami – we had so much mega BBQ, and I found for me the best dishes had Mexican or Korean heat and citrus which cut through the richness of the meat.
“It got me thinking about how I could do that with Thai flavours and techniques.”
Credit: Shaun PeckhamCredit: The Manc GroupBangkok Diners Club is taking over the kitchens at the Edinburgh Castle pub
Ben added that the menu at Bangkok Diners Club will draw inspiration from right across the country, as is common of the cuisine in Bangkok itself, whether it’s using fresh turmeric common in the south or herbs and dry spices from the mountains in Northern Thailand.
He said: “That exciting approach is what we’re trying to do here – it’s all rooted in a deep respect for the Thai cooking traditions and an obsessive understanding of how Thai dishes are built; how the flavours are layered and the heat builds – but without the constraints of identifying with a single region.”
Partner Danny Collins added: “We’ve spent countless nights cooking and celebrating with Bo’s family in Bangkok, and we want to bring that same energy to Manchester, and to the pub.
“We hope to give people something you can’t really get anywhere else, while offering a dining experience that’s fun, communal, and full of flavour.”
Bangkok Diners Club will open at the Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats on 2 April, with bookings live now HERE.
Manchester’s Cat Cafe issues lengthy response to anti-industry statement
Danny Jones
Manchester’s soon-to-return Cat Cafe has shared a lengthy statement responding to the recent suggestion made by leading animal charities that their particular line of business should become a thing of the past.
Cat Cafe Manchester (CCM) closed its city centre premises back in January 2021 like so many others suffering from the post-pandemic struggle, but there are still several other feline-focused coffee shops and similar set-ups located up and down the country.
With that in mind and after the Manchester location announced a comeback later this year – in a prime location on Deansgate, no less – the discussion surrounding the niche industry has turned to issues regarding animal rights, welfare and overall quality of life.
However, rather than simply firing back at the likes of the RSPCA and Cats Protection over their concerns and belief that these venues should be “phased out”, the company has come out to agree with their overarching point whilst still assuring that their sites “are different”.
As you can see in an extensive reply, the brand begins by writing: “We are in strong agreement that there needs to be more regulation in the industry, as we believe many cafes are operating in manners that are harmful to cats.”
They detail how they don’t support ventures that operate by simply piggybacking on vital animal rescue procedures, citing that around 90% of the UK’s cat cafes simply ship prospective pets in and out, creating a stressful environment for its furry residents.
In contrast, Cat Cafe MCR go on to insist that “cats in our cafes are pedigree, as they are best suited to an indoor-only environment [as opposed to rescues who often benefit from outdoor time], and they are bred for temperament, meaning our cats need a lot of attention from people, and also enjoy the company of other cats.
“Our cafes have windows for natural light and there is plenty of space off the cafe floor for cats to get away from customers. They are provided with enough resources spread out throughout a very large building to reduce any competitive behaviour. Our cats are never ever kept in cages – as is the case in some Cat Cafes.”
CCM also explained how the behaviour of their in-house cats is analysed weekly, adding that “if we feel any cat in our cafe is not happy and is showing signs of stress, we would immediately remove them from the environment.”
Besides the obvious soothing quality of the experience for regular customers, cafes like theirs and the canine equivalent CuppaPug in Salford are extremely helpful in providing animal-assisted therapy for people struggling with mental health conditions and those categorised as neurodiverse.
Cat Cafe drew their response to a close by inviting both of the charities in question to work with them in creating new guidelines and strict rules when it comes to animal welfare in these spaces.
They concluded by declaring that not only are they “incredibly difficult to run responsibly” when done properly but that “Cat Cafes are not all the same, and they should not be opened without serious thought and consideration for the cats’ welfare.”
We are still unclear as to when exactly Cat Cafe Manchester will reopen but all we know is that the team will be as dedicated to providing an enjoyable experience for both the animals and visitors when it does.
Danny Jones -
8th January 2024 
