The restaurant will create a surprise pre-Christmas pop-up this winter

Manchester’s oldest independently-owned Italian restaurant - Don Giovanni - is taking over another popular city centre venue in the run up to the busy Christmas period.

For now, we’ve been sworn to secrecy as to the exact location, but one lucky corner of Manchester (clue: across town from their Oxford Road venue) is about to strike it lucky. The pop up will run between the beginning of October until the end of December, so keep your eyes peeled as Confidential will reveal the exact location within the next week or so.

20170803 Don Giovanni A La Carte Lobster Thermidore
Lobster dish at Don Giovanni

Expect a very special stripped back menu which will focus on fresh seafood, Neopolitan sourdough pizza and other authentic Italian family favourites with a sprinkle of pre-Christmas luxury. There’ll be classics such as grigliata mista di pesce; mixed shellfish including half a lobster, giant tiger prawns, langoustines, clams, mussels, monkfish and salmon, as well as capesante all ‘orientale’; seared Scottish scallops served with a cherry vine tomato jus and fresh samphire.

20170510 Don Gio Capesante All Orientale
Capesante all 'orientale' - Seared scallops will be on the new pop up menu

The pop up bar will offer a special range of cocktails inspired by Italian classic drinks, plus a selection of Italian craft beers, fine wines and award-winning organic Prosecco.  

Don Giovanni, which was established in 1984, has had some success with special pop up events including menu collaborations with guest chefs Rob Owen Brown, the Michelin starred Jean-Christophe Novelli and Manchester's Three Rivers Gin.

A Don Giovanni insider told us, “Due to constantly being fully booked, we needed an additional site over the Christmas period.”

Well it seems they found one and as soon as they give us the nod, we’ll make sure you’re the first to know…..