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The City boss backed the Catalan-focused dining spot on King Street when it opened in 2018
Last night it was confirmed that Tast, a top restaurant in Manchester city centre would be closing its doors. The venue, which was opened by Michelin Star chef Paco Pérez and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, announced its closure after seven years in the city centre.
Located on King Street, the Catalan-focused dining spot opened its doors in summer 2018. In a statement posted on social media, the team announced they had made the 'difficult decision' to close its doors for a final time on the 20 December. They cited 'exceptionally challenging' trading conditions and 'increased costs'.
Based in the site formerly home to Suri and previously Quill, the restaurant seated 120 covers over three floors, with a casual dining and bar area on the ground floor, a first-floor dining room and a second floor with private rooms offering a tasting menu.
Guardiola teamed up with club CEO Ferran Soriano and former director of football Txiki Begiristain to invest in Tast, a restaurant designed to bring a taste of his native Catalonia to the city. World-renowned Catalan chef Paco Pérez was brought in to oversee the venture, which was launched by independent rodizio restaurant group Fazenda.
The top chef was born in Huelva in the south of Spain, but brought up in Catalonia, where he grew up surrounded by quality food at his parents’ tapas bar. Two chefs marked the development of his experience, Michel Guérard, one of the founders of the Nouvelle Cuisine, and Ferran Adrià at El Bulli, which would later be named the best restaurant in the world five times.
Paco currently holds five Michelin Stars across three of his restaurants. Two are for his dining spot Miramar in Girona, two for Enoteca at the Arts Hotel in Barcelona, and a final Star for Arco by Paco Pérez, based in Gdansk in Poland.
But despite the chefs pedigree and the backing of the Blues boss, the restaurant has sadly had to bid farewell to its King Street home. Explaining some of the reasons for the closure, the team wrote on social media: "Like many in the hospitality sector, we have faced exceptionally challenging trading conditions and increased costs."
They added: "Above all, we are proud to have been able to share some of Catalunya, our beloved country, with the people of Manchester. Between now and our final service on 20 December, we look forward to welcoming you and celebrating what Tast has always been about: great food, great people and memorable moments shared around the table."
Reacting to the news, a number of customers wrote of their sadness at the closure, with one writing on Facebook: "It was a lovely restaurant, the staff were always so friendly and attentive, food was always good, but King Street prices, it's a tough time for hospitality out there at that end of the market."
Another added: "A sign of the times really, I'm afraid 7 years is actually a long time for a restaurant. Only 50% last over 5 years and 17% only last a year."
A third wrote: "Genuinely devastated, my favourite restaurant in Manchester."
Over on Instagram fellow operators shared their sadness at the news, and said it was a 'real reflection' of how difficult trading conditions are for the hospitality sector. Others thanked the team for bringing 'enjoyment' to the city and being an 'original' concept.
In an update from the restaurant this morning, the venue also answered diner's questions with regards to gift vouchers. They wrote: "Dear guests, thank you for understanding as navigate this situation.
"For all of you who purchased gift vouchers, and unredeemed vouchers after the 20th of December will be refunded automatically. Please bear with us as the process will taker 14 working days from the 21st December."
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