Manchester restaurant Jasmine Grill to give out food and gifts to city’s homeless on Christmas Day

The bosses of Manchester’s Jasmine Grill are opening the restaurant on Christmas Day to serve free Christmas dinners to homeless people.

For their first Christmas since taking over the restaurant in Manchester’s Gay Village this summer, they will also be giving out gifts such as toiletries, sweets, hats and gloves to help combat the cold winter.

They are appealing to members of the public to fill an empty shoebox with inexpensive items and drop it off in the run-up to Christmas at their city centre restaurant.

Suggested items include a festive card or handwritten note, socks, underwear, deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary products, baby wipes, gloves, hats, chocolate and sweets.

Other items could include a torch, a novel, a colouring book and pencils, thermals, and a warm jumper or a blanket.

Razors and alcohol-based products such as mouthwash and hand sanitiser are not suitable.

The restaurant’s owners, who also run Manchester taxi firm Street Cars, are inviting local homeless charities to help out on the day.

They are offering free taxi pick-ups to bring people to the restaurant from across Manchester and will take them back afterwards free of charge, too. Pick-up locations will be revealed closer to the day.

To find out more and get involved, email [email protected]streetcarsmanchester.co.uk.

Jasmine Grill will be open to the homeless from 12-4pm on Christmas Day. Find it at 5 Richmond St, Manchester M1 3HF.