The Black Friar, the grade II-listed pub and all-round Salford favourite, has confirmed the return of its popular Pie Festival for 2026, offering a winter-long celebration of hearty comfort food.
Now in its fourth year, the festival aims to ‘beat the January blues’ with a lineup of generously filled pies priced at £10 each.
This year’s fixed menu will feature four new combinations, including a Mushroom Keema Pie topped with an Onion Bhaji, a Confit Garlic Chicken and Leek Pie, a Truffle Dauphinoise Pie, and a traditional Meat and Potato Pie, alongside a rotating selection of daily specials such as Lasagna Pie, Spanakopita Pie and Pigeon Pie.
For larger groups and celebrations, The Black Friar is introducing super-sized sharing pies that serve up to four people and are available to pre-order from £65, with options including Ox Cheek and Bone Marrow Pie and Confit Garlic Chicken Pie; these must be ordered at least 24 hours in advance to ensure preparation and availability.
Sweet-toothed guests are catered for too, with returning dessert pie favourites including Treacle Pie, Mississippi Pie and Lemon Meringue Pies on offer throughout the festival. The annual event was first launched in 2022 after national food critic Jay Rayner praised head chef Ben Chaplin’s creations as ‘pies done proper’, helping to establish the festival as a winter staple for pie lovers across Greater Manchester.
Neil Burke, owner of The Black Friar, said: “We’re excited to be kicking off our fourth year of the Pie Festival. It’s become a real favourite and it’s easy to see why.
“Hearty, warming, proper-northern pies for £10 are exactly what’s needed to get through the cold winter months. Ben’s specials are going to be extra special this year and I can’t wait to welcome everyone back.”
The pastry-encased festivities run from 5 January through Friday 27 February.
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