A total of 22 restaurants and bars are involved in the initiative this Christmas
Tampopo (Image: Tampopo)
In the run up to the festive season, diners across the region are being asked to pay an extra £1 when it comes to settling their restaurant bills.
It’s all part of a campaign to support local homeless charities in Greater Manchester. Launched this past week, the StreetSmart fundraising initiative is being backed by a number of venues and will run throughout November and December.
StreetSmart was established in 1998 and since then they have raised over £10.3m for the homeless.
There are currently 21 restaurants and bars already signed up, 20 of which are in Greater Manchester, with other venues being encouraged to take part and help fight homelessness this Christmas.
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The scheme works by participating restaurants adding £1 to every bill they deliver over November and December, with all money raised by the campaign going directly to local homeless organisations, thanks to StreetSmart’s official sponsorship from LandAid.
The team at Posie are taking part in the campaign this year(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
At the end of each month, the restaurant passes on all of these extra pounds to StreetSmart. They then use them to support reputable charities for the homeless.
Glenn Pougnet, Director of StreetSmart said: “The festive period can be an incredibly tough time for the vulnerable people in our community.
StreetSmart was established in 1998 and since then they have raised over £10.3 million for the homeless.(Image: ©johncarey2024)
“StreetSmart provides a simple way for people to help some of our city’s most in need – giving back whilst dining out at Christmas is what StreetSmart is all about and we’re thrilled to have so many restaurants already taking part.
“Every £1 added to a bill adds up and makes a huge difference. There’s still time to sign up too so if you would like to get involved please get in touch.”
The team at Posie are taking part in the campaign this year(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
The funds raised by StreetSmart in Greater Manchester this year will support the work of organisations such as CentrePoint, which funds Independent Living Advisors for young people, and Real Change Manchester who plug into the existing homelessness charities to provide that extra boost of funding.
This year, the campaign has also drawn support from musician and lead singer of Elbow Guy Garvey, who said: “Every single one of us is a direct descendent of a desperate, homeless, hungry person. We don’t deal in fear and alienation in Manchester; we step up and help out.”
The £1 donation is voluntary and can be removed from the bill upon request, however experience has shown that less than 1 per cent of customers decline to participate; and some often request that more than £1 be added to the bill.
The full list of restaurants signed up so far StreetSmart 2025 so far are:
- Climat, Manchester City Centre
- Tampopo: Albert Square, Manchester City Centre.
- Tampopo: Corn Exchange, Manchester City Centre.
- Stretford Canteen, Stretford
- Banyan, Corn Exchange
- Banyan, Spinningfields
- Manahatta, Deansgate
- Tartuffe (Side Street), Manchester City Centre.
- Tender, Stock Exchange Hotel, Manchester City Centre.
- Lina Stores, Manchester City Centre.
- Bottega by San Carlo at Selfridges, Exchange Square
- Frog and Bucket, Manchester City Centre.
- Ezra & Gill, Hilton Street, Manchester City Centre.
- Ezra & Gill, Peter Street, Manchester City Centre.
- El Capilla, Heaton Moor, Stockport.
- Mana, Ancoats, Manchester City Centre.
- Bar Posie, Manchester City Centre.
- 10 Tib Lane, Manchester City Centre
- Erst , Manchester City Centre
- Podium, Manchester City Centre
- Fredericks, Todmorden, West Yorkshire