Greater Manchester pub is creating a magical 'medieval winter tavern' in its beer garden

With the evenings drawing in fast, thoughts turn to open fires, animal pelts and mead. Well, for some at least, and for those among us, there’s a new spot to spend those cold winter nights.

The historic Black Friar pub in Salford has turned its sizeable beer garden and garden bar area into a ‘medieval winter tavern’ as we head into the festive season. The decor will boast guttering candles, real fires and furs.

It has also developed new Highland Park whisky cocktails to go with the new garden transformation, and a whole new winter drink menu, including warm apple and cinnamon toddies. The garden can be hired out for small or large groups and fits 45 people seated and 55 people standing, aiming for the Christmas party crowd.

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It can be booked from November 21 onwards. The pub’s chef Ben Chaplin, an alumnus of Aiden Byrnes’s 20 Stories, has also been working on a new Christmas menu to accompany the pub’s new festive enclave.

It will feature a range of new a la carte items, as well as canapes and sharing dishes. The Black Friar re-opened in the summer of 2021, after a huge refurbishment.

The pub, on the corner of Trinity Way and Blackfriars Street in Salford, had been closed for almost 20 years, and was gutted by a fire 15 years ago.

It was then redeveloped alongside the huge residential blocks which have sprung up alongside it. The pub’s food has received national attention too, thanks to reviews by the likes of The Observer’s Jay Rayner.

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