The Black Friar
📍 2.2 miles from Old Trafford
About this Pub
Why it's great for Matchdays
The Black Friar is a stylish gastropub located approximately 1.5 miles from Salford City FC's Peninsula Stadium. Its central location makes it a convenient pre-match stop for both home and away supporters. The venue offers hearty pub classics and modern British dishes with seasonal menus, including options like Boddingtons braised ox cheek and Cornish crab vol-au-vent. The pub also hosts live acoustic music every Tuesday from 6pm, creating a lively atmosphere for fans. Additionally, its proximity to the Dirty Old Town Distillery, just a 5-minute walk away, allows fans to enjoy a two-course meal at The Black Friar following a spiced rum experience at the distillery.
Recent Fan Reviews
Great services and atmosphere. Scotch egg was delicious. Rib eye could be slight more fatty but overall flavour is beefy and well seasoned. Bass fillte was tasty as wel, however, I think cod fillet would suit the sauce and overall flavour better. Mull spiced soda was a suprise! It was my birthday so I got a free small dessert cake which was not overly sweet and really suit my pallet.
The Black Friar was the perfect venue for a Thursday event. We were given our own private room, beautifully set up with a nicely decorated table and a stunning interior. Having the entire space to ourselves, along with a private washroom, made the evening feel relaxed, exclusive and very well looked after. The service was absolutely outstanding. We were hosted by Mark, who was incredible throughout the evening. His energy, natural charisma and genuine warmth made such a difference. From greeting everyone to keeping the flow of the evening smooth, he connected effortlessly with the whole group. There were 16 of us, essentially 16 strangers and Mark’s coordination played a huge part in helping everyone feel comfortable, engaged and connected. As it was a singles dinner, he thoughtfully rotated people around so everyone had the chance to chat, rather than staying in static bubbles, which was incredibly important. Hats off to Mark for that. All the while, food and drinks were flowing perfectly, adding so much to the overall experience. The food was excellent, beautifully presented and really enjoyable. This was my first Thursday event and I was genuinely impressed. Even without a Thursday host present (which was a shame), Mark stepped up and hosted the evening brilliantly, making it feel seamless. I’m very much looking forward to attending more events at The Black Friar and I truly hope Mark will be hosting again. Highly recommended.
Came here for the first time after wanting to come for ages. Very impressed with the building and decor its got a very cool feel. We had a private function upstairs and was really great venue. Food was all great too, everyone seemed to really enjoy the food. Because we had a large group we had to put our food orders in advance to speed things up. But this was a bit disappointing as starters took an hour still and main was an hour after that. Drinks service also quite slow. Despite big group, slowing us down overall the place is still great. Ill definitely be back but would suggest small groups better for this place.
The Black Friar is a fantastic spot, especially if you want to try a thoughtful and well-executed seasonal menu. The food was excellent, but what really stood out was the service. Victor was wonderful throughout our visit. He took the time to clearly explain the menu and was incredibly polite and attentive when letting me know that my dish would include prawns instead of mussels. That level of care really makes a difference. I also noticed a table of regulars who clearly knew him well. He brought over their usual drinks without them even having to ask, which says a lot about the kind of atmosphere and relationships this place has built. Moments like that are why I will definitely be coming back. A great local pub with great food and genuinely thoughtful service.
Had a lovely dinner at The Black Friar as part of their January Festival of Pie. The service was excellent - special thanks to Xavier for looking after us so well. We all went for the Confit Garlic Chicken and Leek Pie, which was delicious, and the curry sauce that accompanied it was especially tasty. The mash and peas arrived lukewarm, but this was handled brilliantly and replaced straight away with hot, fresh portions. Dessert was a real highlight. The Mississippi Mud Pie was probably our favourite, and being seated near the kitchen made it even better watching it being prepared. We also tried the Cherry Clafoutis, Treacle Tart, and Crème Brûlée, all of which were very enjoyable. We made the most of happy hour at the bar beforehand, great value with £17 for a bottle of Tempranillo, £7 cocktails, and £4.50 pints. Can’t wait to come back. Thank you for a great evening!