SAD news that El Taquero is set to close its doors from January 12. Lovers of arguably the city’s most authentic Mexican food have just the festive season to toast (with Mezcal naturally) their sopes, tacos, tostadas, antojitos, carnitas and quesadillas.
El Taquero tweeted: It is with great sadness we announce that we will be closing our doors forever after the 12th of Jan. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers who have supported our vision of bringing real Mexican food to Manchester. Muchas Gracias.”
In truth the closure comes as no surprise. It always felt like the Day of the Dead waiting to happen. Mexico City exiles Hannah Monroy (front of house) and Luis Adrian Morales De La Torre had given it impetus but the site on Back Turner Street was always a problem. Owners Solita around the corner turned what was French bistro/telly bar Montpellier into beer bar Bouncing Czech (ouch) before pursuing that South of the Border route – one plagued by constant roadworks and the demolition of a wobbly 19th century tower block on Thomas Street. The linking Kelvin Street has been shut since.
Footfall was never really there, making it vulnerable to the financial pinch the rest of the trade has been feeling in the shadow of Brexit. The hugely popular Solita brand closed its Prestwich branch last summer (it’s now Folk Bar).