El Gato Negro Tapas celebrates opening with launch party and reveals retractible roof

Guests including celebrity chef Simon Rimmer were treated to welcome drinks and a speech from founder and chef patron Simon Shaw on his ambitious plans for the restaurant at 52 King Street.  

The select crowd sampled delicacies from the impressive ground floor charcuterie counter before taking to the first floor restaurant where vistas over the King Street conservation area were enjoyed.  The food offering took centre stage and was served from the open finishing kitchen.  Featured dishes included theconfit of belly pork with rosemary flavour arrocina beans and Carabineros prawns with shellfish rice.   

The Black Cat at El Gato Negro, the restaurant’s dedicated cocktail bar at the top of the building, provided the perfect setting for after dinner drinks. Guests had the opportunity to savour a selection of beverage manager Garry Foy’s exclusive cocktail creations under the retractable roof.  

“Following a successful few days of soft launch events with friends and family, we were delighted to welcome respected members of the North West’s food and drink industry to help celebrate our forthcoming opening,” said Simon. 

“Standing here tonight I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved, there have been some long hours invested and I couldn’t have done it without the fantastic team around me.  We’re looking forward to opening the doors to the public next week and welcoming people to El Gato Negro Manchester.” 

El Gato Negro is renowned for seasonally-inspired dishes reflecting a mix of modern and traditional Spanish flavours and techniques with influences from closer to home. 

Dining enthusiasts eager to be amongst the first to experience the new restaurant can make reservations online via the website.