As of Monday 17 May Manchester will have officially entered ‘Step Three’ of the roadmap out of lockdown.
This means new rules permitting indoor drinking and dining for the first time in months, as well as the reopening of some long-shuttered local businesses like cinemas and museums.
For the roughly four in five Manchester hospitality businesses left unable to trade during the strict nationwide lockdowns, this is welcome news indeed.
The majority have been unable to open since before Christmas. Others have been closed for the best part of a year.
Lockdown saw us lose some real city centre gems, with casualties including city centre favourites Nexus Arts Cafe, Bock Biere, Teacup Kitchen, Lunya and Earth Cafe.
We’re very sad to announce that Nexus has not been able to weather the Covid-19 storm. As a not-for-profit organisation, our margins were always very small, and even with your help we didn’t have the reserves to keep us going. pic.twitter.com/ZRA3dNhOQ3
Now, with the next few months set to be pivotal for the success of many local hospitality businesses, we are at risk of losing more if they don’t get the support they need.
So, as the city takes one more step back towards normality, we thought we’d put together a list of the places that will reopen for indoor drinking and dining from May 17.
Let’s go and show them some support.
This piece will be regularly updated as new information becomes available.
Manchester bars and restaurants reopening the week commencing May 17:
Albert Square
Reds True BBQ Slug and Lettuce Speak In Code The Allotment Vegan Wood & Co. Armenian Taverna
Ancoats
Blue-Eyed Panda Second City Erst Jub Thai Street Urchin (Wednesday, 19th May) Sugo Viet Shack Cha-ology
https://www.instagram.com/p/CG7x5_mgIe7/
Bridge Street
Dishoom Mason’s Restaurant and Bar MOJO
Castlefield
Albert’s Shed The Wharf Cafe Istanbul Cibo The Wharf
Central
American Pies The Bank Crown And Anchor Circle Tavern The Flying Monkey Annies San Carlo Bottega Browns The Bull & Bear Chish & Fips Harvey Nichols Second Floor Bar and Brasserie Mamucium The Restaurant, Bar and Kitchen Peru Perdu TGI Fridays Sam’s Chop House Three Little Words The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes City Arms
Chinatown
Little Yang Sing Phetphalin Teppanyaki Chinatown Yang Sing Yuzu The New Emperor Seven Oaks
Corn Exchange
Pizza Express Pho Vapiano
https://www.instagram.com/p/COx_NNsDkXr/
Deansgate
Be At One Las Iguanas Slug and Lettuce The Knott Ark Bem Brasil San Carlo Cichetti Cloud 23 Dimitris Taverna Gaucho Hawksmoor La Vina Evuna Dirty Martini
First Street
Junkyard Golf Club Indian Tiffin Room HOME
Great Northern
Vesper cocktail bar James Martin Manchester Platzki Fat Hippo Siam Smiles Cafe
King Street
Flight Club Grand Pacific Kala Rosso Honey at Gotham King Street Tavern
Northern Quarter
63 Degrees Allotment NQ The Abel Heywood Bem Brasil Band on the Wall Behind Closed Doors Bar 21 Castle Hotel CBRB Cottonopolis Dusk Til Pawn English Lounge Herd NQ Junior Jacksons NQ64 Noi Quattro 33 Oldham Street TNQ Restaurant & Bar The Lost Cat Night & Day Turtle Bay Restaurant & Bar SoLIta NQ Chakalaka (?) Ciaooo Pizzeria Pen and Pencil Penang Evelyn’s Cafe & Bar Ply Seed and Cherry Sicilian NQ
Oxford Road Turtle Bay Restaurant & Bar Joshua Brooks Dog Bowl Temple Bar One Plus Oishi Q Navarro Lounge The Refuge
Peter Street
Asha’s Don Giovanni Don Marco Ezra & Gil The French at The Midland) Mount Street Dining Room and Bar at The Midland Peaky Blinders The Blues Kitchen Manchester (20th May) Peter Street Kitchen
Piccadilly
Brasserie Abode Bundobust Chez Mal Ducie Street Warehouse Franco Manca The Green Waldorf Hotel Escape to Freight Island
Printworks
Bierkeller Chiquito Frankie & Benny’s Hard Rock Cafe Nandos Wagamama Wasabi O’Neills Walkabout
Shudehill
Lower Turks Head The Pasta Factory
Spinningfields
Fazenda Tattu BLVD
The Village
Jasmine Grill Habesha Arnero Napoleon’s bar and Chinese restaurant Yizhichuan Samsi
Food & Drink
The team behind Salford’s beloved Black Friar set to take over popular Chorlton pub
Danny Jones
The talented culinary team behind the stunning Black Friar pub in Salford are set to take over a new site at a historic old pub in Chorlton: the beloved Horse and Jockey.
As one of the longest-standing and most charming spots on Chorlton Green, The Horse and Jockey public house dates all the way back to 1512 and has remained a regular watering hole for native boozers since the 19th century.
Having been operated by legendary local beermasters, Joseph Holt Brewery, from 2012 onwards, it’s remained a popular spot for generations of punters and ‘The Inn of the Green’ is still the go-to for so many of those who live and work nearby.
Nevertheless, The Horse and Jockey is now set to be taken over by the duo who rebooted a fellow site of Manc hospitality heritage are turning their attention to a new gastropub project.
The Horse and Jockey Inn on the Green, Chorlton-cum-Hardy (Credit: Adam Bruderer via Flickr)
Announcing the redevelopment plans at the start of this month, owner Neil Burke and Executive Chef Ben Chaplin is set to oversee the next chapter for the 200-year-old community pub.
The current Black Friar team has been in place for just over four years now and has very quickly turned what used to be a casual working men’s boozer into a lovingly restored English pub and restaurant with a beautiful outdoor terrace and back garden.
Known for classic but elevated pub grub, proper homemade pies, regularly rotating seasonal menus, a carefully curated cocktail and drinks menu, along with the elegant updated interior, it’s come a long way from its rebirth in 2021.
Having proved their revitalising powers with the Grade II-listed building, which had sat derelict for more than a decade and a half, Burke is using his experience and knowledge as a local resident of the central Manchester suburb to bring a new lease of life to The Horse and Jockey.
Formerly a regional manager of the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group, before teaming up with Chaplin to take on their own challenge, Chorlton Green’s treasured public house has been something he’s dreamed about for some time.
Speaking on the upcoming overhaul, Neil said: “Myself and Ben are champing at the bit to get the Horse and Jockey living up to its full potential. As with the Black Friar, we want to create a pub that heavily focuses on great British produce in a beautiful environment.
Neil and BenThe Black Friar stunned this past springCredit: Supplied/The Manc Eats
“We’re over the moon to be taking on a true suburban gem that’s all about the community. The Horse and Jockey will be a place where everyone is welcome, whether they’re popping in for a pint, having a roast after a leisurely Sunday walk, or throwing a bash to celebrate a milestone.”
Set to reopen following a major revamp this autumn, Joseph Holt will continue to run the cherished Chorlton pub in the interim while the refurbishments are completed.
Those passionate about keeping that authentic, traditional feel will also be glad to hear that original features like the bright white visage, wooden beams will be kept intact and complemented by a stripped-back decor, heritage colours and more cosy furnishings.
Looking to make this a more dining-led venue than just another bar that happens to serve food, they promise all the usual pub grub favourites, premium á la carte dishes, weekly specials and “a fresh take on The Black Friar’s legendary Sunday roasts.”
Better yet, there’ll still be Holt ales to be enjoyed as well as a new dedicated wine list designed specifically to pair with the new foodie lineup.
We can’t wait to see how it turns out, and you keep your eyes peeled HERE for more updates.
Featured Images — Adam Bruderer (via Flickr)/Press shots (supplied)
Food & Drink
Tiny Manchester pub brilliantly condemns ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech
Daisy Jackson
A micropub in Manchester city centre has spoken out about an ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech.
The Victoria Tap, a tiny little boozer at Manchester Victoria train station, strongly condemned any racist, homophobic or sexist conversations taking place in its venue.
The pub said ‘there is absolutely no room for it’ within its walls.
In a statement – which has been met with praise from customers and followers – they added that anyone bringing hate speech to the pub ‘can let the door kick you on the way out’.
The Victoria Tap wrote: “We’ve noticed an alarming rise in racist, homophobic and sexist slurs/comments/conversations lately and we just want to say that there is absolutely no room for it here.
“This is a safe space for everyone.
“If you, or someone in your group, want to disturb this philosophy, you can let the door kick you on the way out.”
The Victoria Tap has brilliantly condemned ‘alarming rise’ in hate speech
Praising their statement, one person wrote: “Great to read this. There is NO place for this. All public spaces should be welcoming.”
Another said: “Pubs should be welcoming environments for people of all walks of life. There’s no room for misogyny, racism or discrimination of any kind. Those who espouse those thoughts need a good hard look in the mirror.”
Someone else commented: “That’s how I see the Vic Tap. Great place for a safe quiet pint. Keep up the great work guys as it’s a fantastic venue.”
The Victoria Tap opened at Manchester Victoria back in 2023, completely transforming a space that was previously a bin store.
As well as its cosy interior, it has a small beer garden which overlooks the tram tracks in and out of the train station.
It’s operated by the same team behind the Piccadilly Tap and the even newer Oxford Tap.
We know exactly where we’ll be heading for our next pint now. Good work, Victoria Tap.
Georgina Pellant -
17th May 2021 
