Eats

Historic Manchester pub issues apology for ’embarrassing’ toilets and asks for support

'Please help us stay afloat'

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 1st September 2025

One of Manchester’s most iconic pubs, Mr Thomas’s Chop House, is finally undergoing a major upgrade after admitting its building has become an ’embarrassment’.

The historic Cross Street boozer has shared a public apology for the ‘deteriorating’ state of its stunning building.

Mr Thomas’s Chop House is now pleading for support from punters as it undergoes the weeks-long scheme of improvements.

Visitors will find a reduced menu while renovations are taking place.

The pub said that it’s aware that the Grade II-listed pub has been in need of improvement for a while, but explained these works have been hampered by leasing issues.

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Mr Thomas’s Chop House explained that it’s been ‘existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord’.

It’s left them unable to invest into the building – until now.

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The pub will be adding brand-new toilets downstairs (they said the old ones were ‘an embarrassment’), as well as improving the kitchens and adding a new beer cellar.

In their statement, Mr Thomas’s Chop House said: “First of all, we owe you, our loyal customers, an apology.

Mr Thomas's Chop House is undergoing a refurb
Mr Thomas’s Chop House is undergoing a refurb

“Over the past few years bits of our stunning building have deteriorated. The toilets have become a bit of an embarrassment. We are sorry.

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“The fact is, we (The Victorian Chop House Company) have been existing on over 30 short-term lease extensions for 8 years while our landlords negotiated with the superior landlord.

“As a result of this uncertainty we haven’t been able to invest into the fabric of the building.

“But now the wait is finally over. And together with our landlords we are finally beginning a scheme of renovations which will return Tom’s to the state it should be in!”

Work began last week and is expected to last for around three weeks.

They also wrote: “Things will be slightly different but we are so excited. Please help us stay afloat while we work to restore Tom’s.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

The modest and unassuming Chinese restaurant serving some of the best dim sum in town

Danny Jones Danny Jones Chef Diao Northern Quarter Manchester Chinese food review

Do you have those same few places that pass all the time, but for one reason or another, you never end up actually walking in and simply keep repeating “Oh, I’ve been meaning to go there for ages” whenever it comes up in conversation?

Because we certainly do, and it’s becoming a somewhat chronic problem at this point.

So much so, in fact, that we’ve now declared war on this foolish and completely self-imposed culinary inertia, because we recently took the plunge and finally visited a Chinese spot in the Northern Quarter that we’ve been meaning to try for ages, and we’re more frustrated with ourselves than ever.

Put simply, it did not disappoint.

This is Chef Diao over on Oldham Street in the NQ Quarter, and it might just be up there with our newest favourites in the entire city centre.

Eponymously named after head chef Zhenwen Diao himself, whose CV spans more than three and a half decades working in fiery kitchens all over the world – and it shows.

He and his talented cooks aren’t just self-proclaimed ‘dim sum experts’; they’ve well and truly earned this title through consistently good albeit deceptively quiet trade over the course of nearly a decade now.

Chef Diao is a master of everything from dumplings and hand-pulled noodles to traditional Cantonese specialities, more contemporary takes on Chinese classics and everything in between.

But besides a pretty feature wall and a nice bar, the interior is simple and straightforward – they just want to get you sat down at your table to enjoy the area in which they really shine: the scran.

Our order featured multiple recommendations from the extensive dim sum menu, one noodle main and one rice-based dish, as well as a smattering of other selections.

Here’s a closer look at what arrived at the table.

cantonese restaurants manchester
Chef Diao menu
The star of the show, for our money.
baozi manchester chinese
Slightly rude looking, we know…
Chef Diao NQ Manchester
(Credit: The Manc Eats)

What you’re looking at is not only an incredible selection of dumplings, gyozas, pork and prawn siu mai, among many other siu mai, but an incredible saucy and sizzling Cantonese steak dish, that incredible red rice paper number (top right), just to spotlight a few.

There were also these super flavourful boiled ribs over steaming white rice, which packed a lovely amount of succulent flavour when eaten off the bone with a touch of soy sauce; a very solid chow mein-style chicken dish centred around noodles with the perfect amount of chew.

Chef Diao‘s soup dumplings were a standout, too, done so soft and delicately, helping round off a wonderfully authentic spread of bamboo steamers and perfectly portioned plates.

Not a bad mouthful in sight.

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Bringing a wealth of experience from his time in the likes of China and Vietnam, as well as the likes of local restaurants such as Ocean Treasure over in Middleton for a time, Chef Diao and his team opened back in 2021 and have gradually grown a loyal following.

This is not to say that they’re unheard of or that busy isn’t steady, by the way; they’ve certainly been on the radar among plenty of those more in the know, although it’s no way near as busy as it should be given the sheer quality and skill on show.

So if you’re looking for a new Chinese restaurant that can pull out all the stops in central Manchester, we urge you to give the understated but undeniably impressive Chef Diao a try.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

Eats

Manchester newcomer Skof named Restaurant of the Year in prestigious awards

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Tom Barnes and the Skof team outside the restaurant. Credit: Cristian Barnett.

Skof has just been named the best restaurant in England at the prestigious AA Awards, just 18 months after opening in Manchester.

The newcomer already has a dazzling collection of awards, having scooped a Michelin Star within its first year, and being named the Best New Restaurant at the Good Food Guide Awards (the Good Food Guide described Skof as being ‘as close to a perfect restaurant as you can get’).

And now Skof has won big at the 2025 Awards, winning the coveted AA Restaurant of the Year award at a ceremony in London last night.

It was also given three AA Rosettes.

Skof has been the first solo project from chef Tom Barnes, who cut his teeth at the three Michelin Star L’Enclume in the Lake District.

It opened last May in an old textile warehouse just a short stroll from Manchester Victoria.

Since then, it’s earned place in SquareMeal’s T100 for 2025 as the highest new entry at number eight, collected two accolades at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards, and was highlighted in Condé Nast Traveler’s Top New Restaurants 2024.

Tom said of the award: “This really is such a wonderful way to be recognised for what we do at Skof. I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to achieve in such a short space of time.

“I’ve got an incredible team who are so dedicated, we work hard but we do it together. I’m also grateful for Manchester’s warm welcome, and for the guests who support us – we’re so lucky to now have both new diners and regulars coming through the doors.

“We will continue to push on from our amazing first year across all levels of the Skof experience, from dish development and drinks pairings, to the overall guest journey. There’s a lot of exciting things to come in the Skof story.”

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Featured image: Cristian Barnett 

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