A vegetarian and vegan bistro in Levenshulme is serving a menu that allows customers to pay what they feel to help those struggling with the cost of living.
The Gherkin restaurant originally launched a free meal service to help Ukrainian refugees settling into Manchester, but its owner has since made the decision to extend the Monday night deal to everyone who needs it.
Owner Jamie Whittaker first began cooking free meals at his restaurant for refugees after returning from a humanitarian outreach mission to Ukraine in March.
As the months passed, however, he realised that more people from the wider community would stand to benefit from the communal dining sessions, and has now moved to offer a ‘pay as you feel’ option to locals who’d like to join in.
A recent food menu for one of the ‘pay as you feel’ nights. / Image: The Gherkin
Whilst refugees can still eat for free, others are encouraged to pay what they can towards a dish of their choice – choosing from a set menu of six to seven dishes, featuring The Gherkin’s popular Sunday roast and a selection of its beloved burgers.
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A recent post advertising the ‘pay as you feel’ nights promised “curries, hot dogs, soups, falafel salad ,& more”
Owners wrote: “We are aware that people are struggling with the inflation of practically everything so we have decided to help you out. Literally pay what you feel ( can ) for all meals at the gherkin on Monday. All welcome.”
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Image: The Gherkin
Image: The Gherkin
Whilst hard-up guests contribute whatever they can afford, those who happen to be more well off are also given the option to ‘pay it forward’, either by buying a meal for someone else or by making a cash donation to the restaurant to help it continue its good work.
The restaurant has also set up a ‘Kindness Kabinet’, inviting people to leave donations for others in need ranging from clothing to food, books and toys.
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‘Pay as you feel’ meals are served every Monday from 4-9pm, with promises that no one will be turned away hungry for being unable to pay. Drinks are a normal price but tap water is free.
Feature image – The Gherkin
Manchester
DJ at centre of Parklife cancellations speaks out over ‘unsafe’ crowds
Daisy Jackson
A rising DJ whose set was cancelled due to ‘safety concerns’ at Parklife festival has now spoken out on his side of events.
Josh Baker is a popular Manchester-born DJ who was set to perform on the brand-new Matinee stage on the Sunday night of the local music festival.
He had the second-highest billing of the day, followed by Chris Stussy as headliner of that particular stage.
But despite being booked onto one of the festival’s smaller stages, Josh Baker’s popularity quickly saw the space becoming overcrowded.
Videos shared on TikTok show fans clambering over the safety barriers that Parklife security had installed as a queue system, desperate to get inside for Josh’s set.
The young talent has now spoken out again about the incident, saying he could see from his vantage point it ‘quickly became unsafe’.
Josh Baker said that ‘the organisers made the right call’ despite the show ‘meaning a lot’ to him.
He detailed that he has been going to Parklife since the age of 16, and playing such a big slot in the festival ‘felt like a proper full-circle moment’.
He added that he’s been looking into doing free follow-up shows, but has been unable to find a venue that would hold ‘anywhere near the amount of people who were trying to get in to see me play’.
Josh wrote on Instagram: “I’m honestly so sorry to everyone who didn’t get to see the set. It was completely out of my hands, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Just know I’ve felt every bit of frustration with you.”
He then said he’s planning ‘something ridiculous’ for his Creamfields appearance to make it up to fans.
Josh Baker said in his full statement on Parklife: “I’ve taken a few days to process what happened at Parklife last weekend, and I wanted to share a few words.
“This one was always going to mean a lot. Growing up in Manchester, I’ve been going to Parklife since I was 16, so to be booked for such a big slot felt like a proper full-circle moment. But just as I stepped on stage, the music had to be cut. When I came on there were too many people trying to get into the arena and it quickly became unsafe, and therefore the stage had to be closed for the rest of the day.
“It’s gutting, but I want to be clear – the organisers made the right call. Safety has to come before everything. After seeing a few of the videos from the crowd, I’m just relieved the situation did not escalate and everyone remained safe.
“Still, it’s hard to explain how much it hurt not being able to play. I know so many of you were excited for that set and it honestly blew me away seeing that many people turning up.
“Over the last few days, I’ve been trying to figure out how to make it right. I looked into doing a free follow-up show in Manchester, but the reality is, there are no suitable or possible venues which would hold anywhere near the amount of people who were trying to get in to see me play.
“The last thing I’d want is to announce something and end up disappointing even more people who couldn’t get tickets. After a lot of conversations and digging behind the scenes, we’ve had to accept that there’s no realistic way to do something that feels fair right now.
“I’m honestly so sorry to everyone who didn’t get to see the set. It was completely out of my hands, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Just know I’ve felt every bit of frustration with you.
“I really hope to see loads of you at Creamfields because I’m already planning something ridiculous to try and make this up to you in some way.”
21 of the best tapas places in Manchester city centre and beyond
Danny Jones
Probably one of the questions we get asked most is, ‘Where does the best tapas in Manchester?’, so much so, in fact, that we’ve had to start breaking our answer down into traditional Spanish, Catalan and everything else.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to finally succumb to another big round-up listing some of the best places for tapas in the city centre and further out into Greater Manchester.
Because, in case you didn’t know, while our weather might often fall short, our city’s ever-growing take on food from the region and other Latin countries doesn’t disappoint.
So, we hope you’re hungry and willing to divvy up the portions and the bill, because here are some of the best restaurants for tapas, small plates, and Spanish sharing platters in Manchester (in no particular order, because we can’t hack too much favouritism)…
Where to find the best tapas places in and around Manchester
1. Bar San Juan – Chorlton
Up first, where better to start than with, arguably, the current gold standard of tapas in Manchester: San Juan in Chorlton, which if you haven’t heard of it before, is regularly placed up there with the best of the best around these parts – our review back in 2022 included.
The beloved Beech Road tapas bar is known for brilliant gambas soaking in chilli, garlic and the most flavourful oil for dipping, along with plenty of other lip-smackingly salty seafood options, their unbelievable bite-size saquitos de cordero (filo dumplings filled with lamb), and so much more. Stunning.
Heading into the city now, we’re going for a personal favourite and one that genuinely feels like it transports you to some taverna in Spain. We’re talking about El Rincon, a.k.a. Rafa’s, which has been a cult classic tapas spot in Manchester for more than 30 years – just look at the atmosphere.
Opened back in 1994, they barely need to advertise these days; the ‘comida’ has never dipped in quality, with their filetitos pimienta, padrón peppers and chorizo cooked in red wine all delicious. Also, is it just us, or does this stunning shop front convey pretty much everything you need to know about the place?
Not too far up the main Deansgate strip and just a short turn onto King Street, you’ll find Tast: a Catalan tapas restaurant co-owned by Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, and overseen by multi-Michelin-star-winning executive chef, Paco Pérez. Put simply, the food is as top-notch as the footy.
Specialising in specific cuisines from the municipality’s main regions – Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona – we consumed a lot of boquerones (anchovies), cod fritters and prawns here, but you can never go wrong with their top cuts of jamón ibérico and charcuterie boards either.
We used to love the aubergine dish served in the deceptively shallow plate from a few years back. (Credit: The Manc Group)
4. Campo Blanco – Whitefield
Next up is beyond the city limits and over Bury way, where you’ll find Whitefield’s neighbourhood gem, Campo Blanco, known for wonderful tapas bowls, a popular tasting menu, as well as paella if you fancy using your small plates as more standard starters before one big main. This place is built for sharing.
As for what their tapas offerings have besides other places in Manchester, you’ll find light and refreshing salads such as chicory and beetroot Salad, burrata and courgette with grilled peach, not to mention harissa-baked seabream, saffron and orange-cured salmon, and plenty more creative dishes.
Ironically, we’re not just heading back to the city centre for number five but right next door to Tast, where you’ll find long-standing Merseyside and Manc mainstay, El Gato Negro. This place needs no introduction, really, but we’ll give it a bit of one anyway. We also love their spin-off, Black Cat Club.
The spot headed up by Simon Shaw is still one of the most reliable places for proper patatas bravas, croquetas, spicy sausages, sangria and so on, but they also always freshen up their menu with plenty of specials, meaning we could never skip past including this on our Manchester tapas guide.
Returning to Chorlton now, and this food is so good it’ll have you repeating the lord’s name back to each other. Big Parrot continues to confound us as to why it’s still one of the quietest spots in the area during most of the week, because as far as tapas goes, it’s some of the best we’ve had in Manchester.
Admittedly, we’ve not been in a bit, but we’ve only ever had fond memories of this place, especially given the reasonable prices you pay for a very filling Spanish omelette, goat’s cheese croquetas, mussels, crispy pork belly and more. Don’t let this be another one that slips away; give it a try.
At the risk of giving you whiplash, we’re hopping the tram back into Manchester city centre and wandering over to Cutting Room Square for a round of ‘tipsy tapas’ at Canto, which essentially sees small plates collide with bottomless brunch, only you can keep the party going until 4pm.
Their salt cod croquetas are so moreish, their rustic take on patatas bravas are perfect; spiced lamb Merguez meatballs are a must-order, and you can even squeeze in a butty with their steak ‘prego’ sandwiches. Find out more about one of the best bottomless brunches in Manchester down below.
This next one has the benefit of being available in three different spots around Greater Manchester, including a stunning Salford sun-trap, East Disbury and on the Cheshire boundary, where the first restaurant opened back in 2016. It remains one of our favourite places to eat, full stop. There, we said it.
Nine whole years on and we’ve spent more time and money at the Bexley Square spot than we care to admit, scranning endless plates of pan con tomate, boquerones, rabbit al ajillo and lemon sorbet. They do brilliant bocata sandwiches, also. 10/10, no notes – we even like the walk-in only policy.
Back into the city centre again, and another staple among Ancoats residents. Maricarmen started as a pop-up inside the now sadly closed Cocoa Cabana but has gone on to be a very solid addition to the Manchester tapas scene, even despite being located on a busy roadside.
The Times’ Charlotte Ivers dubbed the menu a “joyous mountain on beige” (in a good way, we hasten to add), celebrating the calorific, fried and baked golden staples that may not be the best for our arteries, but are certainly good for the heart. Try the ‘Tarta de Santiago’ and thank us later, by the way.
Okay, who fancies having on the tram out to Trafford? Well, Sale and its flourishing foodie scene, specifically and for a Portuguese play on tapas that more people in Manchester need to know about. Seriously, our first visit is a meal and overall vibe we’ve been trying to recreate ever since.
We’ll confess that we’ve only been here once, but we’re still trying to find a place that comes close to nailing the alignment of food, service and overall experience we felt. Two or three dishes aren’t enough: please try as much of this menu as you can. We’re still waiting to rate their famous Sunday roast as well.
Onto an independent business serving some of the very best authentic Spanish tapas in Manchester for our money, even if they don’t ever stay in one place for too long. The curious case of Abejas Tapas, who gained a great reputation from their stall in Hatch, is one we always keep an eye.
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Primarily because we really wish these guys had a permanent brick-and-mortar for us to visit, as you’ll now find them catering corporate events, private events and pop-ups in the likes of Wilmslow, Poynton and plenty of other outposts. Put it this way, we’d travel virtually anywhere for that almond torta.
You can ever get it delivered to your door. However you can get it, just do it. (Credit: The Manc)
12. La Bandera – Central
On to a legend of the Manchester tapas game, La Bandera isn’t just a brilliant place for small plates and sharing, but renowned as one of, if not the, best Spanish restaurant in the city. It’s that kind of pedigree and reputation that allowed them to create a more laid-back pintxos bar in late 2024 (we’ll get to that…).
They’ve been doing Latin fine dining for the past decade, landing themselves on The Sunday Times list of best tapas spots in the UK back in, as well as earning multiple certificates of excellence and Diners’ Choice awards from OpenTable. Just look at the absolutely grade A choice cured meats alone:
Ok, we’re well over the halfway mark now and we couldn’t go any further without mentioning one of the best additions to the world of tapas in Manchester in recent times, which is Madre over at the thriving mini-district that is Kampus, located just across the water from Canal Street.
In truth, we come here for mostly for the margaritas these days – especially since the launch of the Salón Madre pool hall and tequila bar spin-off – BUT, the fish tacos are some of the best we’ve tried in years, the crispy cola pork belly bites are to die for and so is the bone marrow.
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From the same team behind Belzan, we always knew it would be an instant hit. (Credit: The Manc)
14. Dimitri’s – Deansgate
From contemporary Spanish and Latin twists to some of the best Greek mezze in Manchester city centre, is this technically tapas? Maybe not. Do we care? Nah, not really; is it still utterly brilliant food, you bet your pedantic little culo it is. It also happens to have the most charming hidden terrace in town.
Dimitri’s, or simply Dimi’s among its regulars, is an absolute GOAT of Deansgate’s dining scene and never gets quite enough attention as it should, if you ask us. They do a stunning stifado and steak ‘diablo’, but the gigantes me feta (plaki) and kolokithokeftedes are two of the very best sharers.
Since we’re pushing the boundaries of what fits into this tapas guide, we’re going to chuck Madre’s nearby neighbours, Beeswing, in here also; their menu is definitely influenced by the Spaniards, and their sangria is up there with the best of them.
Having launched their food offerings in collaboration with Baraxturi and Levanter (both former Freight Island faves), their smoky shakshuka, Ibérico Benedict, along with a chickpea and romesco eggs dish, are all very impressive. If you’ve already tried Canto’s ‘tipsy tapas’, why not try its Kampus counterpart?
Now onto La Bandera’s aforementioned pintxos twin, El Kabron, which brings a much more simplistic, almost street-food style to tapas and small plates. It replaced the old Bowlers Cafe, a once busy breakfast and lunch spot, last September, and the space has been completely transformed.
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The main difference between pinxtos and tapas is not just their origin, hailing from the Basque Country, but in the tooth-pick-skewered, nearly grab-and-go fashion with which this alternative is presented. Our personal highlights include the chicken thighs in Rioja wine and the albondigas.
17. Evuna – Northern Quarter, Deansgate and Knutsford
Before anyone accuses us of including a chain, one: pipe down, chains can still be good, and two; contrary to seemingly common belief, Evuna isn’t a chain but rather a small group of three restaurants here in the North West built on the back of the success of the original Deansgate location.
Since launching in 2003, it’s become a name that most people who have spent a decent amount of time in Manchester city centre will recognise, and they managed to expand because they were good enough – simple as that. Plus, their lunch deal of three small plates for £16.95 is still a joy with a glass of red.
On to one that surprise some of you, The Molly House over in the Gay Village is a gem for a number of reason, and one of those is that is quietly serves up some of the most incredbile and well-priced tapas in Manchester. It may look like a pub, but inside is a cosy interior turned Catlan-influenced hideaway.
We’ve had some exquisite playes in here, not least of all the likes of their pan sobrasada (toasted focaccia smothered in Ibérico pork with rosemary honey, their perfectly flaky feta parcels, the charred hispi cabbage and a bloody brilliant Basque cheesecake. Please give them your patronage.
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19. Baraxturi – Exhibition and Freight Island
You may remember us mentioning Baraxturi earlier in this absolute epic tale of Manchester tapas and you’ll be glad to hear that some of the brilliant brain behind Beeswing’s food are serving up some very special stuff here in the city centre. They may no longer be in Ramsbottom, but they’re still kicking.
Currently serving out of Freight Island and among the increasingly resident working out of Exhibition, their Basque cheesecake is also the stuff of legend and the best part about them being in the latter most food hall means you can mix and match with other kitchens for the perfect sharing meal.
As we approach the end of our best tapas in Manchester round-up, we wanted to give a shout-out to a slightly more rough around the edges bar that although it may not offer true tapas, per se, it’s a go-to for Mexican and Latin American munch, ranging from ‘bocaditos’ to corn ribs, taquitos and more.
Sitting down an alleyway just off St Ann’s Square, Sandinista is a great late-night spot. Do we have loads of pictures of the food in here? No, mainly because we’re usually so many margs in that couldn’t take a steady-handed snap if we tried, so you’ll just have to look at these instead and take our word for it.
And last but not least, we’re nipping for one last trip outside of central Manchester to the burgeoning Stockport suburb and into the Heatons for the firm local favourite, Casa de Moor. They have a sister site over in Chorlton these days too, but there’s just something really welcoming about the main venue.
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One of the things we love most about this place is that despite offering tapas at great prices, they take a pretty generous approach to ‘small plates’. Honestly, the portions here are great; we’d recommend the brie fritters, costillas de cerdo (BBQ pork spare ribs), as well as the salt and pepper squid.
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2022 
