Acclaimed tapas restaurant, El Gato Negro, has confirmed it will open the doors to its new Manchester home in February 2016.
The restaurant, originally set to open at 52 King Street this autumn, has rescheduled the launch to allow renovation work to be completed to its full potential.
Speaking at the site this week, El Gato Negro founder and Chef Patron Simon Shaw said: “Before hoardings went up we were looking to an autumn opening but it’s been delicate work and we want to respect the integrity of the historic building, which will ultimately make ours a truly unique dining experience.
“It’s important to me that we create the very best experience for El Gato Negro’s new home in the heart of Manchester and if that means taking a few extra weeks to get it right, we’ll honour that.”
Works at the restaurant’s new address – part of the King Street conservation area – commenced in July. Formerly a high street fashion retail space, development to date has seen previous fit-outs stripped back to the original Victorian walls, floors and windows.
El Gato Negro Manchester is preparing for the New Year launch with the appointment of a strong senior management team. Phil Bennett joins as General Manager from the Savoy hotel’s Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, one of London’s most celebrated restaurants, where he headed up operations from November 2013 to April 2015. Phil wasted no time in bolstering his team by hiring Beverage Manager Garry Foy, former General Manager of popular Manchester nightspots Elixir and Panacea.
Fresh from a three month sabbatical in South East Asia, Phil said of his new role: “After time out travelling I felt very open to new opportunities. There was an equal pull between both London and Manchester, where I grew up.
“Manchester’s restaurant culture has changed dramatically in the last 10 years; there is so much happening right now with a real depth of quality in restaurants and bars, so it’s a great time to come back home. I was excited at the chance to work with Simon and was delighted when I got the call. Bringing Garry into the team was a great moment and points to the quality we plan to deliver when introducing El Gato Negro to the city centre.”
Founder Simon Shaw added: “It’s a rare opportunity to assemble a team that will work together from the very beginning and to make confident staffing decisions with the luxury of time. I’m thrilled to have both Phil and Garry on board and can’t wait for the restaurant to open.”
