Black Leaf, the subterranean plant-based kitchen underneath Northern Quarter neighbourhood hangout Alvarium have announced they are moving out at the end of April.
A statement from chef Chris Nuttall and the Black Leaf team was posted on social media earlier this week explaining that are now ready to find a new site of their own.
“Although we will be sad to leave Alvarium, and what we have built together, we are going to take some time to fine tune our concept and hope to find a new space that works better for us,” it says.
“This is not the end for Black Leaf, although closing for now, we will be returning as soon as possible, and bigger and better than ever. We are so grateful for all of the support from you and have loved every moment of our time here at Alvarium, however we now believe our brand is strong enough to fly the nest and have a space of our own, to grow Black Leaf further into everything we aspire to be.”
Black Leaf will be serving their menu until Wednesday the 27th April and are offering 25% off food Monday - Thursday is 25% off food for their very last week of service.
Keep a look out for updates on Black Leaf’s future plans on their Facebook and Instagram.
Meanwhile, Alvarium’s basement kitchen and restaurant space is ideal for a local, independent business who can’t have their own site – and it has found its next occupant already.
Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria – a pop up which gained a huge following after serving various slabs of home-made lasagna during lockdown are moving in. The pasta pioneers enjoyed a successful summer residency at Foundation Coffee House last year and more recently have been serving their slabs from a hatch in Ancoats.
Lazy Tony’s menu offers classic beef and pork filled lasagna as well as weekly special versions such as steak and ale in a Newcastle Brown Ale beef gravy with Guinness bechamel. Vegans mourning the departure of Black Leaf can be rest assured that Tony’s plant-based lasagnas are equally delicious along with dishes such as Mac n Cheese, Vodka Penne, stuffed sourdough subs, loaded fries and mozzarella sticks.
A statement from neighbourhood cocktail bar and plant based kitchen Alvarium on their social media channels confirmed the news: “From Friday the 29th April, we will be welcoming @lazytonyslasagneria into our restaurant downstairs.
“Lazy Tony’s are hyped for this opportunity and we’re excited to bring them in and see where we can take the Alvarium brand alongside their partnership. Although we will be sad to part ways with Black Leaf, our space has always been one which allows small brands to grow into their own. Lazy Tony’s started in lockdown and immediately gained a great following. Each section of their menu has both veggie and vegan options and they, like ourselves and Black Leaf, are focussed on becoming a concept that you know and love. We look forward to seeing what Black Leaf will become in the future, and what Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria have in store for us!”
Lazy Tony’s will open at Alvarium on Friday 29th April, and their current Ancoats ‘slab shack’ will be closed for the next couple of weeks, while the team focuses their efforts on yet another new venture of theirs - Little Dumplin.
Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria, at Alvarium, 8 Dorsey Street, Manchester, Manchester, M4 1LU