The Black Friar team to take on historic Chorlton pub the Horse and Jockey

The team behind The Black Friar in Salford are taking over one of Chorlton’s best-loved pubs, the Horse and Jockey.

Following a new partnership with Manchester brewery Joseph Holt, the pub will close in September for a full interior redesign, with plans to relaunch as ‘Chorlton’s first gastropub’ later in the autumn.

The Horse and Jockey stands at the heart of Chorlton Green and has been part of the local community since the early 1800s, though its current Tudor-style frontage was added in 1908. The site has hosted an inn or tavern since at least the late 18th century.

It became part of the Holt estate in 2012, following a substantial refit in 2009 that introduced a small on-site brewery and reworked its internal layout with a tap room, lounge and outdoor terrace facing the green.

Now, under the stewardship of The Black Friar’s operators, the Horse and Jockey is set for a new chapter. Black Friar restaurateur Neil Burke and executive chef Ben Chaplin will oversee the redesign and relaunch.

The new look will respect the pub’s heritage, retaining original features while introducing a softer, stripped-back feel and a heritage-inspired colour scheme.

The menu will take a similarly thoughtful approach. “The offering will be traditional British in nature with an ever-changing menu of pub classics, elevated à la carte dishes, weekly specials, and of course, our now-infamous Sunday roast,” said Chaplin. There will also be a wine list designed for food pairing, a cocktail selection, and bar snacks with a focus on quality sourcing.

The new venture builds on Burke and Chaplin’s success at The Black Friar, which they reopened in 2021 following a major restoration of the long-vacant Grade II-listed building on Blackfriars Road in Salford. Since then, the pub has built a strong reputation for its balance of refined food, heritage charm and neighbourhood atmosphere.

Speaking on the new Chorlton project, Burke said: “Ben and I are chomping at the bit to get the Horse and Jockey living up to its full potential. We want to create a pub that heavily focuses on great British produce in a beautiful environment. We’re over the moon to be taking on a true suburban gem that’s all about the community.”

Joseph Holt CEO Richard Kershaw added: “Neil and Ben have created something really special with The Black Friar. They’ve brought fresh energy and an amazing food experience to a historic site—and we’re excited to see that vision come to life at the Horse and Jockey, creating a pub that’s both rooted in the community and a place for destination dining in its own right.”

The Horse and Jockey will close for works in early September and is expected to reopen before the end of the year.