Eats

Top Manchester restaurant ‘so chuffed’ after receiving glowing national review

'Intensely relaxed yet still ferociously fancy'

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 11th June 2026

Top Manchester restaurant Skof has received a stunning review from a national critic, with the team saying they are ‘so chuffed’.

The acclaimed NOMA restaurant, headed up by chef Tom Barnes, has rapidly become one of Manchester’s most decorated restaurants.

Not only does it proudly display its first Michelin star – earned in less than a year after opening – but it’s also been named the coveted AA Restaurant of the Year.

And now Skof can add a rave Guardian review to the list too, with critic Grace Dent heaping praise upon the business.

She said that Skof is ‘well worth the hype’, describing it (much like its parent restaurant L’enclume) to be ‘one of those intensely relaxed yet still ferociously fancy restaurants’.

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Dent praised ‘hugely scoffable’ snacks like a cheese biscuit topped with broad bean, pike roe and shiso, as well as a lightly set custard with truffle and mushroom dashi (‘a quiche filling on steroids’).

In her Guardian review, she also loved the final course always served at Skof no matter how much the menu changes with the seasons – the tiramisu served from a giant bowl, tableside.

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“The final hurrah: that scoop of Tom’s dad’s tiramisu, served from a big bowl,” Grace Dent wrote.

“It’s a clunky, sentimental and, ultimately, glorious end to the meal. Many Michelin-starred restaurants bookend your visit with a gift of seeds, teabags or fancy chocolate, but at Skof they send you on your way with this tiny taste of boozy stodge that’s both incongruous with everything that went before but at the same time is also symbolic of Tom Barnes’ life and everything that went before.”

Grace Dent heaped praise on Skof in a recent Guardian review
Grace Dent heaped praise on Skof in a recent Guardian review
Skof placed 29th in the National Restaurant Awards
Skof placed 29th in the National Restaurant Awards

The amazing review also said: “Fine dining can at times be truly maddening, and leave diners hungry and hoodwinked, but Skof is proof that this often precarious blend of pacing, staging and portion size can be properly magical.”

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She signed off by saying: “Skof is clever and emotional… It’s also well worth the hype, so do try to nab a table, if you can. It’s fancy, yes, but it also fills you up. This is fine dining that even a naysayer would like.”

Skof has said that it’s ‘so chuffed’ to receive the review, which landed in The Guardian on the restaurant’s second birthday.

They wrote: “Our 2nd birthday just got a quite a bit more special with an absolutely amazing review from @gracedent. We’re so chuffed with the write up. Hope the man from the traitors comes down, so we can serve him a crumpet.”

You can read Grace Dent’s full Skof review in The Guardian here.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Eats

The legendary Hulme community pub The Old Abbey Taphouse has been reborn

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The Old Abbey Taphouse will reopen as The Abbey next week

The closure of The Old Abbey Taphouse was a real blow for Hulme and the surrounding university district area; the community pub was a bit of a local institution thanks to its grassroots music and inclusive atmosphere.

But now it appears that the spirit of the venue lives on, under the new name of The Abbey.

Some of the city’s most experienced independent operators – who have been behind venues like YES and The Deaf Institute, and music promoters Now Wave – will be the new custodians of this beloved local landmark.

The pub, which closed early last year, has now been carefully and lovingly restored ahead of its big relaunch, which will start in true Manc vision with an exclusive opening night gig.

Glimpses of The Abbey's refurb
old abbey taphouse reopened
The Abbey is reborn. (Credit: The Manc Group)

The vision for its new chapter will be ‘Old Pub, New Music’, creating a new home for grassroots live music and emerging artists.

There’s also affordable, hearty pub grub, including Pieminister pies, and a huge range of beers from local breweries and beyond.

Bringing The Abbey back to life are a core team of four: Ruth Hemmingfield, Wesley Jones, Jonathan Wickstead and Gareth Butterworth.

Ruth, Jon and Wesley are co-owners of YES; Ruth previously launched and programmed landmark Manc venues including The Deaf Institute, Gorilla and Albert Hall; while Wesley and Jonathan, through Now Wave, promote hundreds of independent gigs and live events each year.

As for Gareth, he’s the founder of the multi-venue festival Manchester Psych Fest, meaning that all of them have plenty of hospitality, late-night, live music and events experience between them.

The team behind The Abbey pub. Credit: Piran Aston
The team behind The Abbey pub. Credit: Piran Aston

The rear of the site of The Old Abbey Taphouse will be extended to create a new dedicated live music and events venue, while the cherished beer garden is given a facelift with new decking and its own bar.

The Abbey has stood in Hulme since the 1890s, playing an important role in the area’s heritage – this is where activist Len Johnson managed to overturn the shameful ‘colour bar’ policies of the 1940s.

Its restoration and relaunch are part of the flourishing Manchester Science Park development.

Matthew Pazos, Senior Retail Commercial Manager at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Ruth, Wesley and Jonathan are the perfect custodians to breathe new life into The Abbey.

“Their reputation for running independent spaces in Manchester, alongside their live music expertise, will ensure this much-valued pub once again becomes a beating heart for Hulme and the wider neighbourhood.

“The reopening of The Abbey will create an inclusive new hub that welcomes everyone – from the Hulme locals who have looked after the pub over the years, to the Manchester Science Park community, university students, and the many residents and workers across the Oxford Road Corridor.

“We are delighted that such a culturally significant and important pub is set to open its doors once again.”

Ruth from the new Abbey team commented: “We love a good pub. With The Abbey, we’re excited about bringing a brilliant old pub back to life, protecting what people loved about it, and creating something special: a great local, alongside a vital grassroots music venue for the area.

“We’re honouring the pub’s history while building its future.”

the abbey beer garden manchester science park
the abbey pub university of manchester
pieminister menu manchester
Credit: The Manc

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

Eats

Michelin Guide neighbourhood restaurant WON’T be closing after all

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Restaurant Orme in Urmston has announced its shock closure. Credit: Instagram, @littlemcrhouse

Some unusual and good news from the restaurant world this week – beloved neighbourhood restaurant Örme won’t be closing after all.

The Michelin Guide restaurant over in Urmston announced earlier this year that the business was going up for sale and would be closing imminently.

The award-winning business’s founders had said at the time that it was becoming ‘unfeasible’ to sustainably run a restaurant in the current climate facing the hospitality industry, adding that a break in the lease had given them the opportunity to step back and reassess.

It’s not often we get to take back a closure announcement – but thankfully, this is one of those times.

Restaurant Örme has now confirmed it won’t be closing after all, and will instead be pivoting in a brand-new direction with a social dining concept.

That means a move away from its tasting menu format in favour of a more relaxed sharing concept, that will still focus on seasonality and modern British cooking.

Two of the original trio of founders – Jack Field and Rachel Roberts – will take over the running of Restaurant Örme, while Tom Wilson steps away at the end of the month.

The plan is to bring guests together over ‘seasonal small plates intended for sharing’, for a more casual experience.

Jack Field and Rachel Roberts will run the new-look Orme
Jack Field and Rachel Roberts will run the new-look Orme
Inside Orme in Urmston
Inside Orme in Urmston
Credit: Supplied

There’ll be snacks like salt’n’vinegar scampi with curry mayo, and smoked Lancashire cheese custard on fried bread with red onion jam.

Then for main plates, diners can expect the likes of cured Cornish mackerel, roasted onion dressing and english peas; and spring lamb, served with sweet and sour mint and BBQ cavolo nero.

Desserts include upside-down treacle tart, served with raspberries, lemon thyme and ginger; and a strawberry, balsamic and lime sundae.

There will also be a feasting menu comprised of a chef’s selection of seasonal dishes.

Rachel Roberts, Operations and Wine Director, from Örme, said: “We are excited to be taking Örme in a new direction, deepening our roots in the local community.

A glimpse of Orme's new menu
A glimpse of Orme's new menu
A glimpse of Orme’s new menu. Credit: Supplied

“We’ve always seen this as an extension of our home, and we want guests to feel like they are invited in for tea. With our extended opening hours, we will be welcoming walk-ins and drinkers.”

Jack Fields, Chef Director from Örme, said: “Our new menu allows us to collaborate closely with our suppliers and access highly seasonal produce with the freedom to change the dishes on a more frequent basis.”

“It’s a more paired back and comforting approach, but still highlights British ingredients using the classic techniques that Örme is built on. The relaunch will also introduce refreshed interiors, a renewed drinks offering and a continued emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients.”

Looking ahead, Örme will continue under the ownership and direction of Jack and Rachel, who remain fully committed to the restaurant’s future and are excited to build on the strong foundations that have been created over the past three years.

Restaurant Örme will relaunch on Wednesday 1 July 2026, with a full menu being announced in the coming weeks via social media channels and the restaurant’s website.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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