We’re thrilled to announce we’ll be opening the doors to our new Manchester restaurant in February 2016.
The historic building at 52 King Street is set to become our spectacular new home in the heart of the city centre, and we’ve been carefully transforming it from a former fashion retail store into a spectacular three storey restaurant. As we’ve written before, it’s a wonderful building, and we’ve stripped back it to the nineteenth century walls and windows. The new conversion will take full advantage of the original structure, with spectacular design features sure to delight customers old and new, and we’re treating it with the respect and care which such a prime space deserves, even if that means taking a little longer to get it just right.
Simon says
“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.”
As well as plenty of work going on behind the scaffolding, we’ve also been building a superb senior team to complement Simon’s award-winning work heading the kitchen brigade.
We are excited to announce Phil Bennett joined El Gato Negro this summer as our General Manager. Phil has an enviable pedigree in the hospitality sector, most recently as General Manager at the Savoy Hotel’s Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, one of London’s most celebrated restaurants. Coming onboard after a three month trip of culinary discovery around South East Asia, Phil said
“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. As soon as I saw the opportunity to work with Simon I got excited and was delighted when I got the call.“
Phil wasted no time in strengthening his team by hiring Garry Foy as Beverage Manager. Garry’s one of the most experienced, credible and respected bar operators in the North West, most recently as General Manager of popular Manchester nightspots Elixir and Panacea. Reflecting on the appointments Simon says
“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.”
With our long-anticipated opening approaching, and a top notch team at the helm, we’re now actively recruiting for other positions. See our jobs page for a chance to join our team by applying online.
El Gato Negro is a Simon Shaw restaurant. The award-winning tapas menu combines modern and traditional flavours and techniques, offering seasonally-influenced small plates using quality Spanish and locally-sourced ingredients.
