Having sat disused for nearly two decades, The Black Friar in Salford joyously reopened its doors in 2021 after a £1.4m refurbishment of the historic pub. Nestled among modern Salford’s gleaming towers, The Black Friar has retained a sun-drenched beer garden that serves as an idyllic spot to enjoy a cold beer on a hot day. The interior splits between the classic charm of the pub – carefully preserved – and a contemporary open plan dining section with a checkerboard flooring, a skylight-styled ceiling and an exposed kitchen.

At the helm is Head Chef Ben Chaplin, who has curated diverse menus catering to different patrons and their chosen areas. Thus, you’ll discover traditional pub favourites such as pies and sausages, wood-fired flatbreads with gourmet toppings in the beer garden, and the kind of sophisticated yet unmistakably northern fare that garnered Jay Rayner’s description as “ambitious, big and bullish” in the main dining room. And did we mention the exceptional Sunday roast they serve as well?