A family-run pub in Levenshulme that’s been serving its community for 32 years is closing its doors for good tomorrow.
Fiddlers Green on Stockport Road, Levenshulme revealed it will permanently shut its doors after one last service on Tuesday 18 April, leaving regulars heartbroken and owners ‘overwhelmed’ by their response.
The very independently owned Irish boozer, formerly known as Dicey Reilly’s, has been sold and its owners are now preparing for retirement.
Sharing the news in an emotional Facebook post at the start of the year, landlords Bridie and James wrote: “We’re emotional, we’re happy, and sad, and probably confused, but we’re pleased that we finally made the big decision.”
They continued: “We’re overwhelmed with the response we’re getting from Levenshulme and the wider community.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Levenshulme has been our home for so long it’s going to be hard to breakaway. St.Mary’s Parish has always been our parish and will remain so.”
Owners then went on to thank their ‘amazing’ staff and regulars, saying they had been ‘our life for so long’ but they had now ‘made the right decision for us.’
ADVERTISEMENT
Image: Fiddlers Green
Image: Fiddlers Green
Adding that they were ‘always very lucky to have the best staff’ and that they were ‘very proud’ of their ‘staying with us to until the end’, the post then went on to thank their family, saying: “We’ve put Fiddlers before you for so long and you always understood. Xx Thank you xx”
The post then finished with owners thanking locals for their support since the news broke, describing it as ‘unbelieveable.’
The popular boozer recently hosted its last St Patrick’s Day and saw so many well-wishers coming down that it had a queue out the street from 1pm in the afternoon until close.
ADVERTISEMENT
As a result, quite a few didn’t manage to get in leading landlord Bridie to take to Facebook again on 18 March to remind punters that the pub’s final day of service is 18 April, writing “I hope people who would like to visit us will find the opportunity before then.”
She finished by saying: “It has always been priority for myself and James to keep the staff and customers safe and comfortable hopefully we achieved that yesterday. Once again thank you all and finally we will be very very sad to leave our home of 32 years but it’s the right time for us. ”
The original post has since been liked over 500 times, with loyal regulars and other pubgoers pouring into the comments to share their stories of the Fiddlers Green at the end of an era.
One person wrote: “So sorry to hear the news about you going Bridie. I use to be a regular a while ago with my dear late mate Bill, you will both be missed very much in Levenshulme. Wishing you and James all the very best in your forthcoming retirement.”
Another person said: “I have many good memories from my time spent in the Fids! The most Vivid memory is one from 1992. I was part of a group of recent school leavers. We were sat upstairs in the Fids looking inconspicuous…. when myself and several other 16 year olds were asked for ID. We all proudly presented our 16-19 bus passes, which clarified all our ages to be 18. (Job done!)….. Sadly you identified that all our IDs displayed the same name and date of birth….busted…I think the fact that we had also smuggled in cans of lager with us didn’t assist our situation…..out we went! Best of luck x”
Image: Fiddlers Green
Image: Fiddlers Green
A third said: “Well the end of an era, we have been going into this fantastic pub since we moved into the area and always found it to be friendly happy with great customers and fantastic staff. So many memories hard to remember them all quiz nights and discos with Andy Murphy, Live Music the Gaelic Games on a Sunday along with all the other sports.
“I remember also the great racing days especially Cheltenham Gold Cup days when all my friends came from far and wide to enjoy the fantastic hospitality.Yes we will be sorry Bridie and James are leaving but need to say their retirement is thoroughly deserved.We are going to make the best of these next 3 months and savour all the wonderful memories and what better way to end with a Final Cheltenham Gold Cup day in the fiddlers.”
A fourth added: “Well the end of an era, we have been going into this fantastic pub since we moved into the area and always found it to be friendly happy with great customers and fantastic staff. So many memories hard to remember them all quiz nights and discos with Andy Murphy, Live Music the Gaelic Games on a Sunday along with all the other sports.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I remember also the great racing days especially Cheltenham Gold Cup days when all my friends came from far and wide to enjoy the fantastic hospitality.Yes we will be sorry Bridie and James are leaving but need to say their retirement is thoroughly deserved.
“We are going to make the best of these next 3 months and savour all the wonderful memories and what better way to end with a Final Cheltenham Gold Cup day in the fiddlers.
Featured image – Fiddlers Green
Food & Drink
Inside The Black Friar as Salford pub unveils incredible floral display
Daisy Jackson
Spring has really sprung in Salford – legendary pub The Black Friar has just revealed a sensational makeover, with gigantic flowers sprawled across its frontage and a new seasonal menu to go with it.
The historic pub is celebrating the changing of the seasons with both a striking floral installation and a menu that celebrates spring and Salford in equal measure.
Most Mancs will by now have spotted the 4,000 flower-strong installation that now adorns the front of The Black Friar, with bright pink, yellow and purple flowers spilling from a gigantic pink tap.
And all those florals continue inside, with the pub’s Tavern – previously a cosy winter hideaway – now filled with trailing blooms and woodland installations, just off their award-winning garden.
Cheshire-based artist Kelly Louise Chapman is the woman behind this sensational transformation of the much-loved gastropub.
As for the pub’s kitchen, they’ve crafted a new very seasonal and very British menu, with plenty of nods to Black Friar’s Salford roots.
There are dishes like a Boddingtons braised ox cheek (the pub still proudly displays its Boddingtons sign outside), aged beef tartare, butternut squash and ricotta tortellini, and pan-roasted cod fillet.
Spring small plates at The Black Friar pubDelicious spring drinksInside The Tavern at The Black Friar
A popular item from the Valentine’s Day menu – the Cornish crab vol-au-vent – will be sticking around on the spring menu, along with an enhanced grill section that includes a lamb Barnsley chop cooked over coals.
Then for desserts, you’ll be spoilt with a banoffee knickerbocker glory, and passionfruit panna cotta.
And for drinks (because this is a pub, after all), The Black Friar has put together a range of seasonal drinks like a rose sangria sharer, and non-alcoholic sodas like kaffir lime and coconut.
Ben Chaplin, head chef at The Black Friar, said: “This new menu is all about celebrating the best of spring produce.
“We’ve carefully crafted each dish to highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients and bold flavours, adding new depth to our offerings while still delivering the comfort that will always be associated with The Black Friar.
“My top recommendation and personal favourite dish is the Slow-Cooked Boddingtons Braised Ox Cheek.”
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, commented: “We wanted to bring a taste of spring to The Black Friar, inside and out. This floral installation will transform the space and bring sunshine and smiles, whatever the weather!
“My top recommendation on the new menu is the Cumbrian Spiced Lamb Scotch Egg. It’s EXCEPTIONAL.”
To find out more about The Black Friar and to book a table, visit HERE.
You can now get a Pot Noodle as part of your Tesco meal deal
Danny Jones
If you ask us, a big key to a happy life is all about celebrating the little wins as much as possible and in this case, when we heard that you can now get a Pot Noodle as part of your Tesco meal deal, we nearly did a cartwheel.
Are we exaggerating? Only a little bit, to be fair. Is this still kind of a big deal (pardon the pun) for the millions of Brits whose lunchtime meal regularly consists of a Tesco butty, beverage and perhaps some crisps? We think so.
We only heard the joyous news through word of mouth, but it looks as though the rumours are true after being not-so-quietly confirmed via the official Pot Noodle social media channels last week, revealing that you can indeed get your flavour of choice as part of your meal deal.
That really is the headline here, let’s be honest; the fact that you can now get a Pot Noodle – something many people have for their tea or a more than satisfying late-night snack – as the bonus side along with your main item at Tesco it an absolute result.
With meal deal prices having steadily crept up across the nation over recent years, no matter which supermarket, Tesco Extra, Asda Express, Sainsbury’s Local, convenience store and so on you seem to look in, getting an extra bit of value for money like is a big win for those on a quick dinner dash.
This is just like when we figured out you could get a proper Ginsters sausage roll, Cornish pasty or steak/chicken slice as your snack too. Just as buzzing then as we are now.
The brand also recently revealed what the UK’s most popular meal choices were last year, and some of the selections might surprise you.
Once again, it’s all about enjoying the little things, and put it this way, if we’re overreacting, then so are plenty of others.
Now accepting donations so One Drunk Redneck can get to the #UK and experience a #Tesco meal deal. I only need to raise enough for a one way ticket. I'm not too worried about how I'd get back home.
Oh, I probably should take my spouse. Ok, enough for two, one way tickets.
The only slight downside is that right now, as you might have spotted in the Instagram post above, this offer has only been rolled out at select Tescos.
As for those in Greater Manchester, there are just two local shops: the Tesco Extra in Walkden in Salford, as well as the Extra on Huddersfield Road in Bolton; the next closest after that is Warrington.
Nevertheless, you would expect that if the popularity of this new deal takes off – Tesco’s lunchtime package being one of the most popular in Britain – it’s likely that they will expand their plans up and down the country at large.
Speaking on the launch in an official press release, Pot Noodle’s senior brand Madeleine Boulton said: “We know our fans are always looking to get the most bang for their buck, so our move into the Tesco Meal Deal as a side is our way of giving customers the ultimate ‘snackisfaction’ and for some, the perfect hack that will ensure their meal deal sees them through the day.”
Can’t lie, we do rather fancy a Bombay Bad Boy now.
Georgina Pellant -
17th April 2023 
