After a decade of success on King Street, the award-winning Manchester tapas restaurant El Gato Negro is preparing to open a sister concept in Salford. The new venue, named El Gatito, is being billed as a "relaxed neighbourhood bar and kitchen" and is set to launch at MediaCity in early November.
Mills Hill Development Limited (MHDL), the team behind El Gato Negro Tapas, Canto and Black Cat Club, will open the new site. Designed as a fresh, laid-back evolution of Simon Shaw's award-winning El Gato, El Gatito will bring an all-day dining and drinking experience to the area, with Spanish-inspired small plates, generously loaded focaccias, charcuterie made for sharing, and a drinks list featuring wine, beer, cocktails and plenty of sangria.
New Venue Details and Interior
Interiors at the new venue feature striking green booth seating alongside a rich palette of greens and cool blues. Open-plan areas and statement wine fridges add to the neighbourhood bar feel, while bifold doors open directly onto a terrace, making it a spot for when the sun returns next summer.
Lunch will centre around a selection of focaccias, served Monday to Friday from 11am until 4pm, alongside a menu of Spanish-inspired small plates. The line-up includes the signature 'Iberico Club', layering jamón serrano, Salchichon, chorizo, manchego, roasted peppers, tomato, lettuce and salsa verde, and there will also be vegetarian options.
Evening Menu and Drinks
As the day rolls into evening, El Gatito shifts up a gear, with tapas, sharing plates and drinks taking centre stage. Highlights include slow-cooked Beef Short Rib and smoky Catalan Chorizo, Gambas Pil Pil, and Manchego Churros. Generous boards of Spanish charcuterie come loaded with cured meats, cheeses and all the classic accompaniments.
Drinks will span wines, ice-cold beers, refreshing spritzes and signature cocktails, alongside plenty of sangria made for sharing around the table.
Launch Offers and Pop-Up
The restaurant will also have a selection of special offers available following launch, with Happy Hour taking place between 4-6pm every day with £5 pints and £5 Sangria, and a three for £15 offer across select dishes between 12-4pm Monday-Friday and all day Sunday.
The team has also announced a special pop-up set to take place outside the El Gatito site on Thursday, 29 October, giving away coffees and bocatas between 11am and 2pm, and a selection of para picar and sangrias between 2pm and 4pm. Items will be served on a first-come-first-served basis.
Lucy Silcock, Operations Director at MHDL, said: "We're really excited to finally share El Gatito with everyone. We've taken some of the things we love most about El Gato Negro and given them a more relaxed, easy-going feel that we think is perfect for the MediaCity neighbourhood."
El Gatito will launch on Friday, 6 November at MediaCity.
