Trof, one of the Northern Quarter’s most familiar and well-loved pubs, is set to reopen this week – as The Trof Pub & Dining Room – following a full refurbishment led by the team behind Stow (who, in a somewhat circular situation, were also the team behind Trof).
Opening its doors again at midday on 1 May, the Thomas Street standard is stepping into its next chapter with a fresh look and a new menu.
The kitchen will lean into British pub classics and strong local sourcing. Starters will include hogget mince on dripping toast, dressed Devon crab salad, roast lamb with gentleman’s relish, and English asparagus with a soft-boiled egg.
For mains, there’s ox cheek pie with Ratte potato mash, salmon with trout roe beurre blanc and mussels, a beef burger in a milk bun, and pork collar with cabbage and bacon.
Puddings keep things traditional too, with sticky toffee pudding and a pistachio and cherry Bakewell tart, a nod to co-owner Jamie Pickles’ Peak District roots. Sundays, as you’d hope, will revolve around a solid roast. Expect rump of beef, porchetta, roast chicken and Knutsford lamb, all served with roast potatoes, seasonal veg and gravy for the table.
Behind the bar, you can expect cask ales from Bakewell brewing icon Thornbridge alongside a tight, considered wine list.
Inside, the refurbishment leans into the building’s character, with pine wood finishes, a central bar and even an upright piano giving it that proper pub feel.
The Trof’s history in the Northern Quarter goes back decades, with the red brick building dating to the 1880s and the bar itself becoming a fixture of the area’s nightlife in the early 2000s. Over the years, it’s played host to countless first dates, late nights and long afternoons, earning its place as a go-to for generations of Mancunians.
Matt Nellany, co-owner and Landlord of The Trof, said: “It’s nerve wracking to make such a big change to a venue which is so significant to so many people! Ask anyone in Manchester and they’ll have a Trof story – we seem to have hosted a LOT of first dates here over the years – but we felt that it was time for the next chapter in this beautiful building’s history.
“We love pubs, and we’ve always wanted to do that elegant, city centre pub which you see so much across London – being able to do that with fabulous northern produce including cask ales from Thornbridge and meats from Marcus at Littlewoods right in the heart of the Northern Quarter is a privilege we will take very seriously!”
Jamie, co-owner and heading up the food, added: “The Trof sits right in the heart of what was Manchester’s market district and hopefully the menu pays homage to that – fabulous veg, great quality meat, excellent bar snacks – all served with well cellared cask ale and a great wine list – this will be a pub truly for Manchester’s people and we can’t wait to get it open.”
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