Beloved London chophouse Blacklock is set to open their latest restaurant and first outside of the capital later this year, and it’s set to land right here in Manchester.
Officially announcing the new site on Monday, 11 March, the team behind Blacklock are set to bring their steak-centric expertise and loyal following of meat lovers to the city centre in the autumn and safe to say the news is already causing plenty of buzz amongst the local foodie community.
Blacklock Manchester will be opening their new and flagship Northern restaurant in a Grade II listed building, previously home to a textile merchant, on Peter Street — a lively street with plenty of other food and drink offerings which makes it the perfect location for their first foray outside of London.
Marking their sixth restaurant all told, and first outside of Britain’s foremost culinary hub, it only makes sense for the popular chophouse to open up shop in the city with the next biggest dining scene — yeah, we said it.
There’s always a healthy spreadTheir famous Sunday roastCredit: Blacklock
Renowned thanks to their modern take on the Great British chophouse, guests can expect a range of chops and high-quality steaks cooked over charcoal, not to mention plenty of cocktails created in line with their sustainable ‘pip-to-peel’ philosophy and wines on tap to wash it all down.
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Adored not only for catering to carnivores but to those with a sweet tooth as well courtesy of their signature pudding, an almighty white chocolate cheesecake served tableside and straight from the dish, complete with a loving ‘say when’ approach to portion sizes. Oh yes.
Their first restaurant opened up from a Soho basement and former brothel back in 2015 and the brand hasn’t stopped growing since. Founded by ex-lawyer Gordon Ker, he said of the announcement: “It’s long been a dream of mine and the team to open Blacklock in Greater Manchester given its vibrant and bustling culture and brilliant food scene.
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“It’s so important for us to be in buildings with character and history, and this part of Manchester has that in spades. I absolutely love the architecture in Manchester; the tiled basements, lightwells and stone frontages feel very us, and when a landlord asked what we thought of a basement hiding in plain sight beneath the bustle of Peter Street, I knew we’d found our perfect Manchester home.”
State of this naughty little number. Well, not little…
Quality produce and exceptional value are at the forefront of Blacklock’s mission, with all of their sustainably sourced meat coming from award-winning Cornish family farmers and butchers, Philip and Ian Warren.
Boasting an almost decade-long relationship with sustainable, regenerative farming and a no-waste approach to every facet of the business also helped earn them B Corp certification in 2023, and the franchise will be collaborating with new Northern suppliers to help champion the best local produce.
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And that’s one of the best parts: there’ll be brand new dishes debuted on the Manchester menu as well as their award-winning Sunday roast, with whole roasted joints roasted cooked over open coals, big Yorkshire puddings, duck fat roasties, plenty of veg and an unsparing amount of Blacklock gravy.
Exciting times indeed and they’re not the only southern exports soon to arrive on 0161’s doorstep, including another star steakhouse and one of London’s most popular restaurants right now.
Indie food and drink festival to return to popular Greater Manchester town for second year
Emily Sergeant
A food and drink festival shining a spotlight on independent businesses is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.
Following the success of last year’s tasty debut, Urmston’s very-own independent food and drink festival, YUM! – Your Urmston Matters, is back for its second serving later this month, and will once again be transforming the Trafford town’s M41 site on Railway Road into a buzzing hub of ‘flavour, fun, and local pride’.
Organised by Love Urmston and hosted by Urmston resident and food and drink presenter, Matty White, this community celebration will bring together top local street food vendors, artisan producers, and drink retailers, alongside live cooking demos, family activities, and loads of entertainment.
Now in its second year, YUM! continues to shine a spotlight on Urmston’s indie food scene and the passion of the people behind it, but as well as local residents, it also invites the rest of Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester community to come together.
So whether you just live down the road, or you are discovering the town for the first time, everyone is welcome to pop down.
“Bringing YUM! back for a second year is incredibly exciting,” commented Fred Davids, who is the Chair of the Love Urmston committee.
“It’s a brilliant way to celebrate what makes Urmston special – its community, and fantastic food and drink scene, welcoming people from near and far to experience the town at its best.
“And as a committee, we’re proud to support our incredible local independent businesses who put their heart and soul into everything they do.”
YUM! is returning to Urmston for another delicious festival this month / Credit: Emma Boyle (via Supplied)
Just some of the independent businesses you’ll find at the festival throughout the day include English Rose Bakery, Inforno Pizzeria, Dan’s Cookies, Banga Curries, JJ’s Caribbean Kitchen, The Greek Village, Pomona Island Brewery, Kelder Wines, and so many more.
The festival is also proudly sponsored by Gecko Homes – a north west property developer that specialises in creating affordable and shared ownership homes across many of Manchester’s most popular suburbs.
You can read more about what Gecko Homes is doing across the region here.
YUM! – Your Urmston Matters is back this month on Saturday 21 June, and will be getting underway from 11am through to 5pm.
Featured Image – Emma Boyle (via Supplied)
Eats
The Stables – A brand-new Manchester pub on the site of the Rovers Return
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new pub is set to open in Manchester city centre net month, with treats in store like complimentary bowls of crisps, an outdoor terrace, and a games parlour.
The Stables Tavern is taking shape in the St John’s district, poetically on the same site that was once home to Coronation Street’s iconic Rovers Return pub.
They’re promising this will be a ‘historic tavern reimagined for today’s lover of a proper pint’.
The pub will come from Shiko Group, which is also behind Courts Club, where you can play tennis or basketball followed by court-side pints, and Side Street, a bar-restaurant-events space with a mid-Century interior.
Neighbouring the Bonded Warehouse, The Stables Tavern will join this rapidly blossoming new creative district, just across the yard from Caravan, The Trading Route and Aviva Studios.
Inside, punters will find multiple beer taps with local beers, served with complimentary bowls of crisps as well as a menu of pub snacks like handmade sausage rolls and local pies.
The pub will be split into three sections – an outside terrace, a main bar, and a parlour area at the back of the pub for live entertainment, old school games, and rounds of whiskey.
The Stables pub in Manchester
The Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in ManchesterThe Stables pub in Manchester
This might be a new district but it’s a historic area for the city – the same building was a busy watering hole back in the early 19th century for workers, merchants and visitors who made use of the nearby canals and cobbled streets.
It was then the home of the Rovers Return, back when this area was the home of Granada Studios.
Hayley Sammé, Marketing Director, said: “We’re so excited to bring The Stables Tavern back to St John’s. The area’s extensive historical backdrop and burgeoning hospitality scene provides the perfect landscape for a traditional British pub.
“It’s the perfect addition to the existing scene, and we hope it’s going to become a popular spot in our new creative district.”
The Stables Tavern will open at St John’s on Friday 6 June – you can sign up for one of 1,000 free pints HERE.
Danny Jones -
11th March 2024 
