SAN Carlo Fumo sounds like a film location and early in March it urns into one but only as a venue for screening four cinema classics with an Italian link.
A befits one of the city’s prime eateries, the Fumo Film Festival (March 5-March 8) offers more than popcorn and Coke to accompany its four consecutive days of movies – for £15 head you get a choice of cicchetti (Italy’s answer to tapas) and a Peroni tipple (the beer brand is are sponsoring the festival).
The films are The Talented Mr Ripley (Sun, Mar 5, 4.30pm, filmed on Ischia, pictured above), The Great Beauty (Monday, 7.30pm), Cinema Paradiso (Tuesday, 7.30pm) and The Italian Job (Original) at 7.30pm on Wednesday.
All four,of course, are set in some of Italy’s most beautiful locations – from the Bay of Naples and Sicily to Rome – and a have scooped a raft of awards.
Fancy more than just nibbles. For an extra £19.95, Fumomare offering an exclusive pre-show cinema club menu. Start with bruschetta, wild mushroom or Pachino tomato, before tucking into a choice of baby mozzarella, arancini or salt cod croquettes. Next there’s a choice of lasagne al forno, spaghettini vongole, spaghetti carbonara or ravioli with spinach and ricotta. Sides include baby peas with pancetta and onions, zucchini fries, roast potatoes, fries and Pachino tomato salad.
San Carlo Fumo Manchester, 1 St Peter’s Square, Oxford Road, M2 3DE. 0161 236 7344. Book your film festival tickets through Event Brite.
