Historic Salford pub announces major milestone following £1.4million restoration

Historic Salford pub The Black Friar has announced that the team is taking full ownership, making it one of only a few independently run pubs in Greater Manchester. The pub reopened in 2021 for the first time in two decades following a £1.4million restoration.

Having been redeveloped by Salboy & DOMIS, the pub was led by managing director Neil Burke with the support of head chef Ben Chaplin. Since then The Black Friar has gone from strength to strength and now employs 45 local staff, has doubled its weekly covers from 700 to 1,500 and has even received rave reviews from food critic Jay Rayner.

The restoration of the Grade II listed building was undertaken as part of the Local Blackfriars development in Salford. Neil was brought in as an experienced hospitality operator to advise on the pub fit-out, and to operate the business once open.

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As part of the refurbishment the pub was extended to create a modern glass restaurant with open kitchen, private dining room and a dining courtyard, as well as a traditional pub area. The Back Friar’s beer garden has recently been awarded best landscaping in the beer garden category in the 2022 BALI National Landscaping Awards and the award for Commercial Garden of the year 2023 in APL Awards.

The venue has gained a reputation for its bespoke seasonal menu, created by Chef Ben Chaplin, previously of 20 Stories, with Rayner describing the food as “big, bullish, and beautiful”. During the festive season The Black Friar is offering a Christmas menu with the beer garden