The new BBQ restaurant beneath a Manchester railway arch where meat is cooked very, VERY slowly

There’s a new BBQ spot beneath a railway arch in Manchester, and it’s cooking its meat very, very slowly.

Sandy’s Smokeshed has just opened in Castlefield, where Sam – and his smoker, Angela – are serving up serious Texas-style BBQ, with queues already stretching out the door.

The idea is simple: take great cuts of meat, cover them generously in seasoning, put them in the smoker and give them all the time they need.

That means beef shin smoked over oak and cherry for 10 hours, eight-hour smoked beef chuck and the Boston Butt, alongside brisket, short ribs, chicken and plenty more.

Sam has always been a fan of BBQ, but decided to take things rather more seriously when he bought the enormous smoker now sitting underneath the arch. It’s a serious piece of kit, cooking the meat from all directions and producing the kind of results where everything practically collapses in your hand.

And the location only adds to the atmosphere. While you’re eating, trains rattle overhead, giving the place an appropriately industrial Manchester soundtrack.

The BBQ comes with plenty of proper sides, too, including pit beans and slaw, plus garlic BBQ sauce for pouring over the top.

There are also some particularly good sandwiches, made with Holy Grain sourdough from next door and filled with pulled pork, steak, or braised ox shin.

Sandy’s Smokeshed kicked things off last weekend with a free food, BYOB feast, and judging by the queues, word has travelled quickly.

It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am – but only until they sell out.

Vegetarians, look away now. Everyone else, you’ll want to get there early.

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Featured image: The Manc Group