For Pub of the Week, we visit a Boddington’s icon that’s been visited by the Kray Twins and Jay Rayner
The Black Friar pub in Salford is our Pub of the Week(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Is there a pub that’s more festive than the Black Friar? The answer is most likely to be a resounding no.
The Salford pub, on Blackfriars Road, has become known over the years for its extravagant winter displays and for going all out with its Christmas celebrations. This year’s has been no different with an over-the-top-in-the-best-way set-up co-created by Cheshire-based floral artist Kelly Louise Chapman and featuring more than 3,000 baubles.
But, year round, the pub also has a reputation for its cosy setting and its very good food selection – most notably their pies, which are as show-stopping as the baubles. Having been praised by top food critic Jay Rayner, they feature a range of rotating flavours, including n’duja chicken fajita, duck & orange and lamb tagine. They even sell a huge pie recommended to be shared between four people.
The Black Friar pub has been all decked out for Christmas(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Tables often get booked up quickly, and their recent Christmas menu has included the likes of stonebass fillet, roast chestnut and mushroom lasagna, chickpea and lentil meatloaf, seared sea trout, and a fairly impressive turkey Ballotine – made up of a boneless cut of turkey filled with chestnut and sausage meat, with roast fondant potato, shredded sprouts, carrot puree and gravy.
Led by Neil Burke, the pub first opened in 2021 following an extensive refurbishment of the 1886 building its set within. Earlier this year, Neil also took over the Horse and Jockey gastropub in Chorlton which has also been firmly establishing itself with a top reputation in recent months.
For this week’s Pub of the Week, we headed over to the Black Friar to find out more about Neil and what makes the venue stand out not just at Christmas but all year round.
How did you get into the pub industry in the first place?
The chance came up to meet with the builders Domis and Salboy, and it led to me finding out that The Black Friar was available and that they needed someone to get it open. It had been empty for 21 years after a fire, and they’d bought the land to build the apartments. Initially, I was only meant to come on board for six months to get it up and running. Fast forward to 2025, we have grown from strength to strength and are now an award-winning pub loved by the community.
Owner Neil Burke has helped establish The Black Friar as ‘an award-winning pub loved by the community'(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express)What is the significance behind the pub’s history and name?
The Black Friar is one of Salford’s most historic pubs, with a tavern on the site since the 13th century. Historically its been called The School In and it later became the closest Boddington’s pub to the Strangeways Brewery. Today, its the oldest remaining Boddington’s pub in the world.
After falling into derelict following a late-20th-century fire, the pub was carefully restored by us in 2021 and has reclaimed its place at the heart of the community. It’s been called The Black Friar since 1886, so it was never going to change. Names are overrated, if a place is good, people will come regardless of what it’s called.
What’s your best-selling drink?
The Salford Dock. It’s made with local Salford Rum, infused with coffee, vanilla, and caramel, taking inspiration from Salford’s coffee-trading history. It’s our take on an espresso martini.
What’s an unusual thing that’s happened at the pub?
We’ve unfortunately had a couple accidents and car crashes on the busy road outside the pub, which haven’t ended well for some people. That’s been tough. But overall, our guests are incredible and honestly the best part of the pub.
The Salford pub’s building dates back to 1886(Image: Manchester Evening News)Have there been any famous or notable guests who have visited?
Historically, the pub hosted the Kray twins during their visit to Manchester. In recent years we have welcomed Jay Rayner who said he would be ‘rather chuffed’ if the Black Friar was his local.
We’ve also had a few footballers and some TV stars, but nobody gets special treatment. Anyone who walks through the door is treated exactly the same – with loads of love.
What is it about your local community that you love?
I love how proud they are of the pub, how on board they are with our events and activations and how many locals have supported us since day one. This is an iconic building that could easily have been knocked down. It’s been saved and not by me, but by the people who come in and support it.
The Black Friar’s pies are mighty and have their own reputationHave there been any spooky or haunted encounters in the pub or area?
Not that I know of. As mentioned, there have sadly been lives lost on the road outside, it’s a busy junction, and some people drive like absolute idiots, which is really sad.
How can people support their local pub?
By visiting and not forgetting about us. Not just when it’s busy at weekends, but during the weekdays too. We’re 100% independent and trying our hardest to be the best we can be. Choosing us over a big chain or a Manchester city centre venue means a lot.