Whitby, Spanish Restaurant Guide

“Excellent Spanish tapas that’s reasonably priced” – the winning formula at local lads Joe & Ben Wright’s walk-in restaurant, which expanded to take over the site of Joseph Benjamin, the neighbouring bistro which made their name, a few years back. The first link (est. 2012) in a now four-strong chain – there are branches in Altrincham, Salford, and a new outpost in West Didsbury.

“Set over two floors, both overlooking the stunning Albert Dock” – this “cheap ’n’ cheerful” yet stylish younger sibling of Peter & Elaine Kinsella’s Lunya “serves modern tapas at lunch and a selection of traditional Spanish dishes and Spanish-influenced British classics and tapas, throughout the rest of the day with changing specials, and sandwiches at lunch, too”.

“A well-thought-out range of well priced, sometimes interestingly different dishes” has made this lively venue a worthy follow-up to Paddy Byrne’s ‘Everyman Bistro’ (from which he moved here in 2015) and is likewise “ideal for pre-concert or theatre dinner”. As of Autumn 2024, it’s ‘temporarily closed’ with the website suggesting a relaunch after a refurb – given this uncertainty regarding its future direction, we’ve left it un-rated for the time being.

A “central Liverpool favourite” for the last 15 years, delivering “the best of Catalan and Spanish food” by way of a “brilliant range of tapas, with lots of changing options for meat, fish and veggie”. “The friendly staff and owners feel genuinely devoted to Spanish food and wines” – founders Peter & Elaine Kinsella have transferred ownership of the business to its staff – and there’s an on-site deli so you can take favourite products home.