Food & Drink
Manchester restaurant launches ‘pay as you feel menu’ to help with cost of living
Ukrainian refugees also get to eat for free
A restaurant in Manchester has launched a ‘pay as you feel menu’ to ensure everyone can enjoy a meal out during the cost of living crisis.
The Gherkin in Levenshulme serves a hearty plant-based menu consisting of breakfasts, seasonal sandwiches and Sunday Roasts, all while taking a focus on the environment and its local community.
Back in March, the restaurant’s owner Jamie Whittaker flew out to Ukraine on a humanitarian outreach mission to help the country’s refugees following Russia’s invasion.
Upon his return, Jamie decided to start offering free meals for Ukrainians fleeing the war in Manchester every Monday, giving them the opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasure of eating out.
@thegherkinlevenshulme / Instagram
And now, Jamie has transformed the Monday offering into a ‘pay as you feel’ evening.
While refugees will still dine for free, locals can come and enjoy a set menu of six to seven dishes – featuring meals such as the Sunday roast, a variety of curries, salads and The Gherkin’s famous burgers – all for whatever they can afford at the time.
Diners will also have the option to pay forward for food or donate cash to the restaurant, to ensure the business won’t lose out on a big portion of its earnings.
The restaurant has also introduced its ‘Kindness Kabinet’, which encourages visitors to donate whatever they can to others in need, whether it be money, clothes, books or toys.
@thegherkinlevenshulme / Instagram
Jamie said of the new menu: “The main reason we’re doing this is to help the community out, but it also means that we waste less produce, too.
“A lot of people are struggling at the moment, especially with the rising cost of energy bills and I want to make dining out accessible to everyone in the community, not just those who are more privileged.”
He added: “We wouldn’t turn anyone without cash away on a Monday for food. Some customers have paid extra and offered to buy anyone a drink or food. We’ve done this often since opening.”
Jamie and the team at The Gherkin plan on running their Pay As You Feel menu for the foreseeable, so make sure to follow their Instagram page for news and menu updates.