El Gatito: El Gato Negro’s Little Sister is coming to MediaCity

MHDL’s new neighbourhood bar and kitchen is set to open its doors on 6th November, serving Spanish-inspired small plates, fully-loaded focaccias, charcuterie, wine and sangria

There’s a new cat in town. Mills Hill Development Limited (MHDL) are set to launch their newest concept, El Gatito next month. The team behind  the successful brands El Gato Negro Tapas, Canto and Black Cat Club will open at MediaCity on Friday 6th November, bringing a relaxed neighbourhood bar and kitchen to the area.

Designed as a fresh, laid-back evolution of Simon Shaw’s award-winning El Gato Negro Tapas, El Gatito brings a new all-day dining and drinking experience to MediaCity. Guests can expect Spanish-inspired small plates, generously loaded focaccias, charcuterie made for sharing and a drinks list packed with wine, beer, cocktails and plenty of sangria.

Lunchtimes at El Gatito will centre around a selection of generously loaded focaccias, served Monday to Friday from 11am-4pm alongside a menu of Spanish-inspired small plates. Available to eat in or take away, the focaccias are built for everything from a quick on the go lunch or a longer laid-back afternoon bite. The line-up includes the signature ‘Iberico Club’, layering jamon serrano, salchichon, chorizo, manchego, roasted peppers, tomato, lettuce and salsa verde. A vegetarian option will also be available, featuring a twist on a traditional Spanish classic: a Spanish tortilla filled with tomato, rocket, crispy onions and aioli.

Alongside the focaccias, guests can tuck into a selection of small plates throughout the day, with the menu created for sharing, grazing or simply ordering a few favourites to enjoy with a refreshing signature cocktail. A range of Torres crisps will also be available from the counter, with weekly flavours featuring.

As the day rolls into evening, El Gatito shifts up a gear, with tapas, sharing plates and drinks taking centre stage in a warm, laid-back setting. The menu brings together comforting flavours from Spain and across the Mediterranean, with dishes made for ordering plenty, passing around the table and staying for another round.

Highlights include everything from melt-in-the-mouth slow-cooked Beef Short Rib and smoky Catalan Chorizo to sizzling Gambas Pil Pil and playful Manchego Churros. Generous boards of Spanish charcuterie come loaded with cured meats, cheeses and all the perfect accompaniments for sharing over a bottle of wine or a jug of sangria. Selected dishes will also feature as part of El Gatito’s 3 for £15 offer, making it easy to mix, match and discover a few new favourites.

Drinks are just as much a part of the experience, with a roster designed to take guests from afternoon into evening with wines, ice-cold beers, refreshing spritzes and signature cocktails, alongside plenty of sangria made for sharing around the table.

The relaxed feel continues through El Gatito’s interiors, where striking green booth seating sits alongside a rich palette of greens and cool blues, creating a space that feels stylish without being formal. Open-plan areas and statement wine fridges add to the neighbourhood bar feel, while bifold doors open directly onto a dedicated terrace making the venue the perfect spot for sunny lunches, after-work drinks and long summer evenings.

Lucy Silcock, Operations Director at MHDL, said: “We’re really excited to finally share El Gatito with everyone. We’ve taken some of the things we love most about El Gato Negro and given them a more relaxed, easy-going feel that we think is perfect for the MediaCity neighbourhood.

“We wanted to create somewhere people can use in different ways throughout the day – whether that’s grabbing a focaccia at lunchtime, sharing a few plates with colleagues after work or opening a bottle of wine with friends and staying for the evening.

“We’ve had a lot of fun bringing El Gatito to life and we can’t wait to open the doors, meet our new neighbours and, most importantly, see people make the space their own.”

Alice Webb, CEO of MediaCity, said: “El Gatito is going to make a statement at MediaCity. It’s a bold, characterful concept from a group with a proven track record, and it brings something genuinely different. It’s a glimpse of what’s to come at MediaCity, with ambitious plans to bring more new offerings and experiences to the campus.”

The restaurant will also have a selection of special offers available following launch with Happy Hour taking place between 4-6pm every day with £5 pints and £5 Sangria and a 3 for £15 offer across select dishes between 12-4pm Monday-Friday and all day Sunday.

The team has also announced a special pop-up set to take place outside the El Gatito site  on 29th October giving away coffees and bocatas between 11-2pm and a selection of para picar and sangrias between 2pm-4pm. Items will be served on a first-come-first-served basis. 

El Gatito will launch on Friday 6th November at MediaCity. Further information can be found here (www.elgatito.co.uk)