So many reasons to visit Lunya this month – especially if you’re a woman

There’s nowhere quite like Lunya Manchester.

Spread over two floors of the stunning Barton Arcade, it’s home to a beautiful restaurant, Spanish wine and gin bar, and one of the biggest Spanish delis in the country (and the biggest online deli in the UK with over 1300 products).

Independently owned and run by husband and wife Peter and Elaine Kinsella, who gave up their day jobs to launch Lunya and went on to win lots of awards and gain a huge following of loyal fans who love their authentic food, fabulous produce and friendly, and welcoming atmosphere.

Peter and Elaine visit Spain regularly seeking out the very best suppliers with whom they have established strong relationships. They have uncovered exquisite products which they buy direct from the farmers, fishermen and women, meat curers, cheese makers and a whole host of different artisan producers of fine food.

It’s these magnificent ingredients that make the Lunya restaurant experience so special.

The restaurant serves up a huge range of authentic Catalan and Spanish cuisine. Cheese, olives, nibbles, homemade breads (including the traditional and delicious Catalan tomato bread), deli platters and of course tapas. Lots of it, including plenty of dishes you won’t have tried before. And some unique to Lunya.

Dishes like the signature crispy chicken (inspired by Albert Adría), coated in broken tortilla chips and served with Catalan Dip sit alongside classic dishes like patatas bravas.

The paella is baked from scratch using the finest Bomba rice from Sueca. It takes 40 minutes plus to cook but definitely worth the wait. Just order something to drink and some nibbles.

All the restaurant’s fresh produce that’s not imported from Spain is supplied by a range of fantastic local producers including Noone’s, Frosts, Neves, Manchester & Liverpool Gin, Silver Apples, Edge and Son and Wards.

Downstairs is one of the biggest Spanish delis in the UK housing over 1300 authentic, Spanish products – all meticulously sourced by Peter and Elaine from their hand-picked suppliers. It’s got the largest collection of Spanish cheese in the world outside Spain.

It’s home to an unparalleled list of Spanish wines, including many of the most sensational wines that Spain produces, some of which may be unfamiliar and are rarely seen on British shores.

Lunya is home to one of the biggest gin bars outside of Spain. The Spanish have been distilling their own gin for the last decade and have started producing some of the best in the world and Lunya serves up lashings of them. 27 varieties to be precise. And all doubles come with a free Fevertree or Vichy Catalan tonic.

As well as gin there’s the biggest Spanish spirit collection in the UK, including vermouth served Barcelona-style over ice with a squeeze of orange.

Then there’s the sherry range – the most extensive collection in the UK – offering a kaleidoscope of flavours from dry to nutty sweet and not at all what your granny drinks at Christmas.

Lunya is for anyone who loves exceptional food and drink. But it definitely helps if you’re a woman – especially this month.

The laid back ambience, welcoming team and cosy Spanish feel make it the perfect place for solo dining and drinking. And breast feeding mums aren’t just welcome at Lunya. They get a free drink.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, there’s a free drink on the house for all female diners.  And not just any drink. A free vermouth cocktail no less. It’s one free drink per woman when you buy any tapas and quote ‘I’m celebrating International Women’s Day’. Valid all day and evening on Thursday 8th March.

And why not treat your mum to a Catalonian feast this Mother’s Day. It starts with a bubbly breakfast and ends with a recipe book gift with a Spanish feast in between. It’s the mother of all Mother’s Days.

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