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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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“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.
‘Classy, clever, confident’ – New Manchester restaurant receives glowing Guardian review
Daisy Jackson
Winsome, one of the newest restaurants on Manchester’s dining scene, has gone and received a seriously glowing review in The Guardian this weekend.
Legendary restaurant criticGrace Dent said that the British bistro ‘may well be my new favourite restaurant’, lauding chef patron Shaun Moffat’s ‘elegant but plentiful modern cooking’.
She said that there’s even a teeny touch of Toby Carvery in their Sunday offering, with meaty and saucy dishes and ‘cartoon-esque XL yorkshire puddings’.
Winsome opened back in March under the steer of three hospitality heavyweights – ex-Edinburgh Castle chef Shaun Moffat, former Schofields head bartender Tom Fastiggi, and Belzan founder Owain Williams.
It’s a beautiful, stripped-back space at the foot of the Whitworth Locke aparthotel and Moffat’s first venture as a chef patron.
Based on this Guardian review, he’s doing a pretty good job so far…
Grace Dent said of Winsome’s nostalgic yet modern menu (featuring dippy eggs and puddings that sound like school dinner puds): “This is Cool Britannia wearing a napkin bib with a side portion of rhubarb jelly and custard for pudding.”
Novelty crockery at Winsome. Credit: The Manc GroupChef patron Shaun Moffat at Winsome. Credit: The Manc GroupDippy egg and asparagus. Credit: The Manc GroupInside WInsome on Princess Street. Credit: The Manc Group
She also wrote that it’s ‘far from a novelty restaurant’ in spite of its animal-shaped crockery.
And Dent added that while there’s an element of fine dining, it’s unpretentious enough that you’re happy to smear it all over the tablecloths and, indeed, yourself.
‘Deeply nostalgic’, ‘forward-thinking fine dining without any of the faff’, is how she described her Winsome experience.
“This is confident, clever cooking that stays just the right side of earnest, or at least as earnest as a chef can be when he also serves up a dessert that is essentially a 1980s school sponge pudding with a scoop of milk ice-cream flecked with multicoloured sprinkles, or hundreds and thousands as they will for ever be known in my heart,” she wrote.
Grace Dent’s Guardian review concluded with: “Winsome may well be my new favourite restaurant, and it’s the new, big, generous beating heart of Manchester hospitality. It’s classy but come-all – bring your gran, bring your baby, no one need feel conspicuous.
“There’s something about the place that makes me want to use it as a canteen, not least out of sheer curiosity as to what Moffat will put on the menu next. Great cooking, and forward-thinking fine dining without any of the faff.
“Bring your appetite and don’t wear pale colours. Aaah, Manchester, you have so much to answer for. Winsome will seriously impact your waistline.”
Winsome said in a post on Instagram: “It doesn’t get much better than that! We’re over the moon, full of pride and could not be more grateful to the team who’ve worked so hard to help us deliver this dream.”
Hidden Manchester bar Mala to offer unique ‘movie night’ experiences inside private cabins
Thomas Melia
You can have your own private film experience inside little wooden cabins at a popular Northern Quarter bar this summer.
Manchester city centre secret garden spot Mala is hosting an event where you and your friends can enjoy a private movie night with food, themed drinks, and bucket loads of free popcorn.
Listed as the ‘Cabin Movie Night’, get ready to sit back, relax and watch a cult classic, all from the comfort of your own personal wooden hut.
The film you’ll be watching is very on-brand too, as it’s none other than none than ‘Labyrinth’.
This secret garden spot is hiding right in plain sight over on Dale Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, and as well as hosting events such as these, they’re also home to some top tier eateries too.
Currently El Jefe, Doodles, Wok Bros, Christakis, D&X Caribbean, and Gulf are all serving up some cross-continental delights for you to enjoy in this marvellous space.
Some mouth-watering scran from El Jefe.Wok Bros have some delicious noodle boxes. Credit: The Manc Group
The Cabin Movie Night’ is the perfect way to round up your friends and watch a classic with a cocktail in hand.
There’s a handful of group packages available too at an additional charge, ranging from £30 to £50, which includes themed cocktails for each guest in the booking, and the cost of the ticket.
Daisy Jackson -
3rd September 2024 
