Eats

Tom Kerridge and Gary Neville to part ways, and The Bull & Bear restaurant is ‘no more’

'Tom, thanks very much for the last three years'

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 10th November 2022

Tom Kerridge and Gary Neville have agreed to part ways with their acclaimed restaurant, The Bull & Bear, here in Manchester.

The high-end restaurant is situated on the ground floor of the grand Stock Exchange Hotel on Norfolk Street, co-owned by Neville, Ryan Giggs and hotelier Winston Zahra.

In a video shared on the hotel’s social media channels, the pair appeared to be in good spirits as they explained the reason for stepping away from The Bull & Bear.

Michelin-starred chef Kerridge insisted that ‘there is no falling out’ while giving the former Manchester United legend a friendly shake on the shoulders.

The duo aaid that the restaurant isn’t operating as a seven-day business, but the Stock Exchange Hotel is – and so The Bull & Bear will ‘be no more’.

Gary Neville and Tom Kerridge were cheerful in a video statement released about The Bull & Bear. Credit: Supplied

In a statement, Kerridge said: “Gary and I have jointly agreed to end our partnership at The Bull & Bear within the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester and will part ways on the 31st December 2022.

“It follows a three-year successful partnership with GG Hospitality which has seen the hotel go from strength to strength with consistently high occupancy rates.

“We feel the need to concentrate on our Marlow and London sites and this allows us to look at further opportunities within these areas, therefore we have mutually decided to part ways.”

You can watch their full video statement below:

Kerridge’s written statement continued: “We would like to thank all our guests for the amazing support they have given us, and all staff have been offered roles elsewhere within the business and Head Chef Connor Black is returning to Australia where he worked for several years.

“We wish GG Hospitality and The Stock Exchange all the success in the future.”

Gary Neville added in the video: “I’ve been able to wake up for the last three years every single day knowing that there’s world-class food being served in this restaurant by an incredible team with Tom and Warren coming up to make sure that everything’s being looked over.

Read more:

“Tom, thanks very much for the last three years, it’s been one of the best experiences. I’ve enjoyed every single minute of it.”

To cut a long story short, we are going ot be announcing this week that the partnership we’ve got here with The Bull & Bear will end in January.

Kerridge added: “From our point of view, we’ve been made to feel incredibly welcome, loved and a huge part of the Manchester scene for the last three years.”

He continued: “It’s ensuring the strengths of both businesses are looked after. There is no falling out.”

Kerridge and Neville said that The Bull & Bear would be ‘no more’, but didn’t reveal and more information about what will happen to the restaurant space.

Featured image: Supplied

Eats

The brilliant Persian cafe in disguise as a greasy spoon that’s just had a star turn on TV

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Majid and Alex Polizzi on The Hotel Inspector

A family-run, often-overlooked restaurant in Chorlton had a star turn on TV last night, when The Hotel Inspector paid a visit to the Chorlton Metro Cafe.

From the outside, this place looks very much like your run-of-the-mill greasy spoon, and it sort of is, with fry-ups and breakfast sandwiches up for grabs.

But beyond that, this is the spot to come for an authentic, hearty, home-cooked Persian food.

And it’s this strange dual identity that has caught the attention of Channel 5 this year, and given the business a full episode of The Hotel Inspector.

Alex Polizzi and her crew headed to Chorlton earlier this year to assist husband and wife Majid and Zahra in a rebrand to become The Persian Stop (the sign still hasn’t changed, but bear with them here).

During the episode, The Hotel Inspector tackled everything from a menu overhaul to a spruce-up of the restaurant’s frontage, and ran a cost evaluation, hoping to help Majid and Zahra to increase custom.

A full spread of the new Persian dishes
A full spread of the new Persian dishes
Majid at Chorlton Metro Cafe with his new pancake dish
Majid at Chorlton Metro Cafe with his new pancake dish
Fantastic pancakes at Chorlton Metro Cafe
Fantastic pancakes at Chorlton Metro Cafe

And there were other familiar faces involved too – Channel 5 called on social media experts The Manc (oh wait, that’s us!) to help Majid understand the power of social media.

The couple moved to the UK from Iran more than 20 years ago, and Majid ran a successful construction business – until the financial crisis of 2008.

The pair then poured their life savings into the Metro Cafe, a greasy spoon just across the road from Chorlton tram stop.

Behind the scenes of The Hotel Inspector
Behind the scenes of The Hotel Inspector
Behind the scenes of The Hotel Inspector

They kept the full builder’s breakfasts and mugs of tea, but added a new string of Persian stews and fragrant rice dishes to the menu.

Now, with the help of The Hotel Inspector, the menu puts these ancient dishes front and centre.

Expect slices of syrupy baklava for only £2.80, and traditional stews like khoresh bademjan (slow-cooked aubergines with split peas and lamb) and khoresh fesenjan (saffron, ground walnut and pomegranate chicken).

This is a small business, run by a fantastic local couple, and one of those hidden gems that deserves to be a little less hidden.

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

The Michelin Guide adds THREE new Greater Manchester restaurants

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Chef patron Shaun Moffat at Winsome. Credit: The Manc Group

Three brilliant Greater Manchester restaurants have been added to the prestigious Michelin Guide this week.

All three new additions to the guide have been open for less than a year, and join an impressive roster of 15 other local restaurants.

Manchester also now boasts two Michelin stars after going decades with none, thanks to the opening of Skof last year.

While stars remain the most prestigious accolade in the hospitality industry, Michelin also dishes out Bib Gourmands, and Michelin Guide entries to recognise excellent restaurants at lower price points.

Greater Manchester now has 15 entries to its name, with a new trio added yesterday.

Up first is Winsome, a restaurant from former Chef of the Year award-winner Shaun Moffat.

Winsome has also made it into the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
Winsome has also made it into the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside WInsome on Princess Street. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside WInsome on Princess Street. Credit: The Manc Group
Winsome has also made it into the Michelin Guide. Credit: The Manc Group

The modern British bistro, which stands on a corner of the Whitworth Locke hotel building, features playful and classic dishes like asparagus with dippy eggs, gigantic pies with gravy served in cow-shaped jugs, and soft bread rolls with lashings of butter.

The Michelin Guide said: “Manchester’s industrial history feels like it’s had an overt influence on this buzzing brasserie with a large kitchen counter and a stripped-back look.

“The cooking has an admirably gutsy, straightforward quality to it, with hints of nostalgia. Think cold cuts, whole fish, hearty homemade pies and a mixed grill. It’s all executed with skill and the ingredients are of obvious quality, resulting in no shortage of flavour.

“The young and enthusiastic service team are a perfect fit for such a fun place.”

Winsome said: “Today is a good day! We’re absolutely chuffed to tell you that we’ve made it into the Michelin Guide!”

Across town, the next Manchester entry into the Michelin Guide is Pip, a new spot from acclaimed local chef Mary-Ellen McTague.

Pip by Mary-Ellen McTague has been added to the Michelin Guide
Pip by Mary-Ellen McTague has been added to the Michelin Guide
Pip by Mary-Ellen McTague has been added to the Michelin Guide

Pip, at the foot of the Treehouse Hotel, opened earlier this year and has already received glowing national reviews thanks to its seasonal, proudly local dishes.

There are pies, oysters, British charcuterie, sardines on toast, cheese and onion tarts, chops, hot pots, and plenty more, with suppliers including Littlewoods Butchers, Organic North, Courtyard Dairy and Kindling Farm.

Speaking on the recognition, Mary-Ellen McTague, chef partner at Pip, said: “We’re over the moon to be included in the Michelin Guide so soon after opening!

“It’s an incredible honour, made possible by the dedication of our amazing team and the support of our wonderful suppliers. Working with them to showcase the very best of the North West is a daily joy.”

And completing this month’s entries to the Michelin Guide is Cantaloupe, an achingly stylish new local restaurant for Stockport.

Inside, it’s all white brick walls, wooden furniture, and bold art, with a frequently-changing menu built around the best produce they can get their hands on.

The Michelin Guide wrote of Cantaloupe: “There’s a fresh, clean feel to both the décor and the cooking at this welcoming little wine bar and restaurant. The concise but appealing wine list will appeal to traditional oenophiles, with quality established growers to the fore.

“The menu has a Mediterranean leaning, so whilst it changes daily, it will likely include a pasta dish and possibly some whole fish. This is cooking that relies on simplicity and skill, with immense care poured into dishes like peri peri octopus and duck fat crisps, so that the natural flavours shine.”

Congratulations to all the new entries!

Read more

Featured image: The Manc Group

More Eats

Adam Reid at The French is one of Manchester's Michelin-recommended restaurants. Credit: The Manc Group

City Centre

All the Greater Manchester restaurants included in the Michelin Guide

Business

Feel Good Club becomes Manchester’s latest independent cafe to announce ‘heartbreaking’ closure

Bottomless brunch in Manchester city centre

City Centre

The very best and booziest bottomless brunches in Manchester city centre

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches