The 200-year-old venue will reopening as a gastro-pub and led by chef who has worked in some of the world’s best kitchens
The pub on Chorlton Green(Image: Nathan Cox)
One of Chorlton’s most well-known pubs will reopen its doors next week following an extensive renovation under new management.
Following a new partnership with Manchester brewery Joseph Holt, The Horse and Jockey, a 200-year-old landmark, has been leased to the team behind The Black Friar in Salford, who are reimagining the pub as a gastropub with a focus on seasonal cooking, heritage charm and community spirit.
The Horse & Jockey has stood on Chorlton Green since the late 18th century, serving as a central part of the community ever since.
It’s distinctive Tudor-style frontage, added in 1908, remains a local landmark, and the recent renovation has carefully preserved its character while giving the interiors a softer, stripped-back feel with a palette inspired by the building’s history.
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Leading the kitchen is Head Chef Paolo Bianchi, whose career has spanned working under famed chef Alain Ducasse at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, leading kitchens at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai under chef Jean-Georges, and later opening Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat in Manchester.
Bianchi’s menus for the Horse & Jockey will make the most of seasonal produce sourced from local northern suppliers. Diners have been told to expect elevated British pub food reimagined with touches from Paolo’s Italian heritage and his French and Asian influences, with everything made fresh in-house.
The Horse and Jockey Inn, Chorlton Green(Image: Manchester Libraries)
Highlights from the launch menu include starters such as Pickled Shetland Mussel & Palourde clam crumpet with dill yuzu aioli, while mains feature Berkshire pork neck, mustard, apple & pancetta strudel, whiskey jus; hand-carved honey roast ham and Alpine cheddar toastie with a slow-poached egg.
Pub classics will also be on the menu, including a Chorlton Pale Ale battered haddock with triple-cooked chips and The Jockey Burger with aged beef, Alpine cheddar and house pickles.
The Horse & Jockey will also continue The Black Friar’s tradition of exceptional roasts, offering a Sunday Service menu of two courses for £30 or three for £37.
The pub on Chorlton Green(Image: Supplied)
Diners can choose from half spatchcock chicken, 35-day dry-aged beef, stuffed roast pork or a vegetarian mushroom wellington, all served with roast potatoes, sweet potato mash, roasted root vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and plenty of gravy.
Paolo Bianchi, Head Chef at the Horse & Jockey, added: “The Horse & Jockey is an iconic part of Chorlton’s history and I’m proud to be leading its kitchen with the brilliant Black Friar team.
“After gaining years of experience in Paris, Dubai and London, it feels great to be rooted in Manchester, a city I’ve really fallen in love with.
“My vision is simple, to serve British classics that people know and love, elevated with seasonal local ingredients, touches from my Italian heritage and international experience. The menu will be ever-changing, so guests can expect something fresh every time they visit.”
At the bar, guests will continue to enjoy Joseph Holt’s award-winning ales, now joined by a curated wine list, a refreshed cocktail offering with a planned happy hour, and updated bar snacks.
Horse and Jockey in Chorlton Green
The new venture builds on the success of The Black Friar in Salford, which was reopened in 2021 following a major restoration of the vacant Grade II-listed building on Blackfriars Road.
Since then, the pub has earned a reputation for balancing refined food with heritage, character and neighbourhood warmth.
Owner Neil Burke, who formally acquired The Black Friar two years ago, added: “I have a personal history with the Horse & Jockey and it’s always held a special place in my heart.
“It’s such a beautiful building, but it hasn’t been shining the way it should in recent years. As a local myself, I felt Chorlton deserved a proper foodie pub – somewhere that delivers brilliant food in a setting that does justice to the building’s history.”
The Horse & Jockey is officially open from Monday, 20 October. Tables can now be booked via the website here and walk-ins are welcome.
9 Chorlton Green, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9HS.