Three Greater Manchester restaurants have made it onto a list of the top 10 Sunday roasts in the UK, and one city centre business came in first place – proving once and for all that no one does a gravy dinner quite like us.
The Bull and Bear in Manchester’s Stock Exchange Hotel was awarded the gong by reviewers Rate Good Roasts, topping the list of 10 and even beating London’s 12:51 restaurant – run by Great British Menu winner James Cochran – to the top spot.
Sharing the news to their social media pages over the weekend, the restaurant, which features a menu created by chef Tom Kerridge (the man behind the only pub in the UK with two Michelin stars), said they were feeling “pretty proud” and thanked the team behind the scenes that had helped make it happen.
Celebrity chef patron Tom Kerridge pictured inside The Bull and Bear
The dry-aged Hereford sirloin of beef roast dinner
Credit: The Bull and Bear
Tom Kerridge also took to his own personal Twitter to share his pride in Isobel, Connor and the team, adding that it was “great to see them getting recognition for all the incredible work they do.”
The restaurant’s set Sunday roast menu, priced at £39.50 for two courses or three for £46.50, currently features indulgent mains like salted aged pork belly, dry-aged Hereford sirloin of beef, and confit autumn mushroom tart.
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Each dish comes with its own selected sides, with additional add ons like crushed black pepper swede, buttered sprout tops, and cauliflower cheese all available for no extra cost.
Puddings, meanwhile, feature the likes of chocolate orange choux with hazelnut, Baileys ice cream and salted caramel sauce, “lemon meringue pie” with blackcurrant sorbet, and a cheese plate of truffled Baron Bigod, quince tart and truffle honey.
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So proud of Isobel, @connorgblack and the team at @bullandbearmcr for coming top of a new survey of the best Sunday roasts across the UK Raising hands
Two other Greater Manchester restaurants also made it into the top 10 list this year, with The Bank in Delph featured at number six and Ancoats’ Edinburgh Castle ranking just behind at number seven.
Further afield, the north west performed very well overall with further high performing local entries including The Wheatsheaf Inn in Brigsteer, Cumbria and Crosby’s Mustard and Co.
Ten different elements are considered when rating each restaurant, with that then converted into a percentage overall. As you can see, the Bull and Bear did extraordinarily well with a whopping 95% rating over all.
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The only thing that saw them marked down was the price of the roast, but as we know you get what you pay for. – and value is arguably subjective when it comes to eating good quality, well-sourced food.
To see the full Bull and Bear roast menu click here. When the news was shared the restaurant said they still had a few spaces left for this Sunday, but we expect you’ll want to move fast.
Greens hasn’t shared as much detail about its Sale closure.
Simon Rimmer’s Greens restaurant in Sale has announced its immediate closure. Credit: The Manc Group
They wrote: “It is with deep regret that the board of directors and shareholders have decided to close the doors permanently on Greens Sale with immediate effect.
“We’ve done everything possible to make this work, but it is now clear the business is untenable.
“We’d like to thank everyone, team members & guests, who have been on the Greens journey with us.”
It’s another blow to the Manchester’s famous vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene, which has lost the likes of Wholesome Junkies, Vurger Co, and V Rev all shutting down in the last couple of years.
Wholesome Junkies shut down because of ‘skyrocketing costs’, writing at the time of their closure in July: “The figures just don’t add up, it’s no joke and it’s devastating the hospitality industry.”
Northern blocks access to dating apps and websites on-board trains
Emily Sergeant
Access to dating apps and websites is now blocked on-board trains travelling across the north, it has been revealed.
Northern says there’s “good reason” for taking this decision.
This is because the WiFi provided by the train operator on-board its services travelling across the north of England is delivered under the ‘Friendly WiFi’ scheme, which blocks access to certain categories of content – including those associated with dating.
Websites and apps related to video streaming, gambling, alcohol, adult content, pornography, and nudity are also blocked.
Northern has blocked access to dating apps and websites on-board its trains / Credit: Northern
The company says ‘Friendly WiFi’ – which it has been signed up to since 2017 – ensures its on-board internet service meets “minimum filtering standards” given the fact that children could be present around passengers at all times.
The decision to ban dating apps and websites comes after Northern also urged passengers to stop viewing content that’s “not suitable for work” on its trains and stations in Greater Manchester and beyond, and pleaded for them to “wait until you get home” instead.
Content that Northern considers ‘NSFW’ can range from inappropriate jokes and bad language, right through to offensive topics and explicit material.
The train operator has explained the “good reason” for its decision / Credit: Northern
Northern’s Chief Operating Officer, Matt Rice, said access to “safe and reliable” internet is part of passengers’ expectations.
“Whilst some dating websites and users will operate with appropriate levels of self-moderation, some might not and it’s important that content not suitable for everyone to see or hear, particularly children, isn’t viewed on our trains,” Mr Rice explained.
“It’s simply about ensuring that there is sufficient bandwidth for all our customers to use while they’re on the go.
Georgina Pellant -
4th January 2022 
