Blacklock, a brand-new chop house for Manchester, has announced its opening date AND a hefty discount ahead of its big launch.
The highly-anticipated restaurant, a popular name down in London, is currently transforming a Grade II listed building on Peter Street.
When it launches, Blacklock will bring its beloved and meat-heavy menu of reasonably-priced British classics, as well as affordable cocktails.
The modern take on a traditional British chop house promises ‘hearty fare and rowdy comfort’ and will open right in time to provide shelter from the typical Northern winter.
Ahead of its opening in a former textile merchants, Blacklock has announced a 50% off soft launch period from 20 September – and all you need to do is sign up here.
ADVERTISEMENT
On the menu you’ll find dishes like Blacklock’s much-loved ‘All In’ platter, where chops are piled high on charcoal-grilled flatbread which soaks up the meat juices.
There are also cuts of steak that use the whole animal, such as the ‘Sixth Rib-eye’, a cut they’ve worked to develop with long-time farmer and butcher Philip Warren, which is packed with flavour at a snip of the price.
ADVERTISEMENT
The huge platters of chops on offer at Blacklock. Credit: SuppliedBlacklock white chocolate cheesecake is scooped and served tableside. Credit: Supplied
And a real crowd favourite is their white chocolate cheesecake, which is generously scooped out of the dish tableside and plopped onto your plate, served with berry coulis on the side.
You’d be a fool to leave without a visit from their vintage cocktail trolley and a hearty old fashioned to end your night with.
On Mondays the restaurant offers Butcher Price Monday deals, where their ‘Big Chops’ are priced the same they would be in the butchers.
ADVERTISEMENT
You’d be right to assume that a chop house will take roast dinners seriously – Blacklock’s will feature whole joints roasted over open coals, served with Yorkshire puddings, duck fat roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables and an unsparing amount of Blacklock gravy.
The new lovingly restored Manchester restaurant – its first outside of London – will have space for 115 customers including spacious booths, as well as a 25-seat cocktail bar.
Original features like Accrington brickwork and a striking factory-beamed ceiling are being revealed as part of the building’s transformation.
Blacklock was founded in 2014 by Gordon Ker, who abandoned a corporate life to pursue his love of hospitality, launching the first restaurant in an ex-Soho brothel in 2015.
Gordon said: “Getting to know the City more and more over the past six months we’ve all totally fallen for the place and cannot thank everyone enough for the support and welcome so far.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We can’t wait to warmly welcome Manchester to Blacklock and become part of this great city and its amazing hospitality scene.”
Blacklock Manchester will officially open on Friday 27 September, following the soft launch from 20 September. Sign up for your 50% off here.
Inside Manchester’s new padel club with a Pot Kettle Black cafe and courtside cocktail bar
Daisy Jackson
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, and it’s really picking up speed in Manchester now too with another city centre club opening this month.
The Pollen Club is a little different to the others, in that it’s fully undercover and protected from Manchester’s less-than-favourable weather.
And another thing that makes it a must-visit is the cafe attached to it – a third site for the beloved Pot Kettle Black.
The Pollen Club and Pot Kettle Black have both taken over a prominent city centre spot just off Deansgate, at the foot of the recently-opened Treehouse Hotel.
There are two state-of-the-art padel courts inside, with a mezzanine terrace for enjoy Pot Kettle Black’s offerings.
In summer, there are plans to launch a bar downstairs too, where you can sip spritzes courtside from loungers and swing seats.
The exciting new Manchester padel club will host pop up events, DJ takeovers and an extended evening food offering.
Pot Kettle Black are part of the new padel clubInside Manchester’s new padel club, The Pollen ClubPot Kettle Black are part of the new padel club
And even if you’re not heading inside The Pollen Club, Pot Kettle Black has a grab-and-go hatch facing onto Blackfriars Street, making their delicious coffees, sandwiches and pastries (from their own bakery Half Dozen Other) even more accessible.
Commenting on the opening of the new site, Pot Kettle Black co-owner, Mark Flanagan said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have opened our third Pot Kettle Black site at The Padel Club. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.
“After ten years in the city we’ve been enjoying seeing some familiar faces stopping by for a coffee and we can’t wait to get started on our programme of summer events!”
Insomnia Cookies is giving away FREE cookies to anyone with these two names
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s late-night sweet treat spot Insomnia Cookies is dishing out freebies this week… but there’s a catch.
You have to be called one of two specific names to get one.
With the long bank holiday weekend upon us, those in-the-know will also have noticed that this Sunday isn’t just Easter Sunday, it also happens to be 4/20… and that means Insomnia Cookies is back with its ‘blazing’ £4.20 deal, giving you the chance to bag a box of four warm cookies while saving nearly £7 at the same time.
But even better still, if you happen to have either the first or middle name ‘Mary’ or ‘Jane’, then you can also get yourself a warm tasty cookie for free.
To mark both 4/20, and celebrate the launch of its newest strain of mouthwatering cookie, the Mary Jane, anyone called Mary or Jane can pop into either of Insomnia Cookies’ two Manchester city centre sites – Cross Street and University Green – show their valid ID with their name on, and walk alway with a cookie free of charge.
If you want to try the new Mary Jane cookie, then this limited-edition special is made up of a cookies n cream dough base, packed with rainbow sprinkles.
The freebie deal has been running all week, and you have up until 3am on Monday 21 April to take advantage of it.
Customers will be limited to one free cookie per day.
Insomnia Cookies is giving away free cookies to anyone with these two names / Credit: Insomnia Cookies UK
If you aren’t lucky enough to be called one of those two names though, then thankfully you can still make some great savings on a classic four-pack of cookies over the spring bank holiday weekend, and for every four-pack sold, £1 will be donated to Groundwork – a charity helping make Manchester greener for nature and for local people.
“We’re calling for Marys and Janes to join us to live the high life with free cookies all week,” commented Millie Ralston, Head of Marketing at Insomnia Cookies.
Daisy Jackson -
3rd September 2024 
