Spanish wine bar and restaurant Evuna has secured planning permission to open a new outlet in Hale.
The family-run business, which already has two restaurants in the city centre, has received email confirmation of a successful application from Trafford Council’s planning office and is now awaiting a formal letter.
It hasn’t yet signed a lease, but owner Jane Dowler told us it was “95% certain” that an agreement would be reached with the landlord.
Should all go to plan, Evuna will carry out a four-month refit of the Ashley Road unit previously occupied by the Black Rose florist, and is aiming to open early in the new year.
The planning application had met with some opposition from neighbouring residents and businesses, but Evuna has successfully provided assurances about noise levels.
The new Evuna would also be directly opposite another tapas bar, La Vina, but Dowler said the two restaurants would have very different offers.
Evuna originally launched on Deansgate in the city centre in 2003, opening a second restaurant in the Northern Quarter in 2013.
It aims to offer fine Spanish wine and food, with Dowler revealing the 50-cover Hale restaurant would offer a full tapas and à la carte menu both upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs would also be available to hire for private dining, as well as corporate and residential wine tastings.
Dowler, who runs the small chain with her husband and mum, explained that many of its wines were exclusive to Evuna.
“We import direct from wineries in Spain,” she said. “I go to wine shows in Europe, meet with the producers, taste the wines and import them back.”
She added that the company had been looking for a venue “in the suburbs” for a while and had unsuccessfully bid for a site in Didsbury.
But Dowler said she was “very excited” about the opportunity to open in Hale – and indeed was looking to relocate her family to the village from Worsley.
She added: “I love the village, it’s got a great vibe and is a great catchment area. I love going out there with my friends now.”
Evuna is proposing to open from 10am for coffee and be open, seven days a week, until 11.30pm, with the exception of Sunday closing at 10pm.
The new venue would bring around 15 new jobs to Hale.
