Gotta check out this 1556 building and the English pub. The building is old timber with really neat…read morewindows. It's a narrow and tall building with separate floors for dining. We dined on the second floor for lunch on a Sat. We did not have reservations-but they are recommended. My friend dined on a lively chicken bacon avo salad. I had the chicken bacon cheese sandwich. We added halloumi fries which were delish! Our waitress was MIA most of the time-needing to go to the bar to ask for check and to order.

The Old Wellington was a great choice for our first meal in Manchester. I had been scoping out…read moreplaces to eat in the area prior to our visit, and with it's unique facade and close proximity to the day's activities, it made for a memorable meal. The food itself was delicious. I had a carrot soup. It was fresh and not overly salty. The sourdough bread and butter was the perfect complement and I enjoyed my meal immensely. My husband had a salmon bowl which looked incredible, but I didn't sample. One of the things we really liked about The Old Wellington was the high caliber of food quality. Being that we had just embarked on our UK trip, it was nice to have a meal that was healthy. I was really blown away by how great the food was and extra happy that I didn't have to settle for something overly rich that would've weighed me down for the days of walking ahead. While the atmosphere and the food were 5 stars all the way, I am deducting one star for the length of time it took to get the food. We scanned the QR code on our table to place our order (a relic from Covid times I suppose), and it took nearly 40 minutes for our food to arrive. We noticed other people going in and placing their orders, but this was confusing since our drink order arrived in a somewhat timely manner. We had timed tickets for an attraction nearby, so I had to leave part of my meal behind. Kind of a bummer since the food was so good and an hour should've been plenty of time to not feel rushed. Of worthy mention is the conveniently central location in Manchester. Literally less than 5 minutes walk to great shopping, Chetham's Library and Manchester Cathedral. We loved our time in Manchester, and someday we'll be back to try more from the Old Wellington. Next time, we'll place our order inside :-)

Middle of nowhere, casual dress, Michelin-starred…read more My husband and I went out of our way to eat and stay here. Was it worth the 3 hour journey from London (2-hr train ride, 1-hr by car) to make our reservation from 6-months earlier? Absolutely. Courses are small, but plenty. Staff are immensely courteous and thoughtful (they made a custom menu for our dietary needs and even had the chefs sign it before we left). And the setting couldn't be more idyllic. I'd suggest getting the wine pairing as it really completes the meal. Go ahead and stay the night as breakfast is included the next day. Just make sure to work out your travel from the train station to the restaurant. It really is out in the sticks.

An absolutely fantastic experience enhanced by the charming and beautiful countryside that The…read moreBlack Swan at Oldstead is nestled within - an area that I wouldn't have visited otherwise but am grateful for having done so. Make sure to make a small detour to Kilburn to see The Kilburn White Horse which stands firmly in the hillside. The Black Swan is a beautiful picturesque old pub full of warmth and charm. Upon arrival you are welcomed into the bar area for aperitifs where a log fire crackles and glows. Make sure to notice the Robert Thompson mouse carved into the bar. Great selection of small batch gins - I enjoyed a glass of Sir Robin of Locksley from Sheffield with tonic. Amuse bouche are served here before moving upstairs to the restaurant. The Smoked Eel and Apple Tartlets were light and well balanced in their flavours whilst the Chicken Dumpling was rich, satisfying and would sit well on the finest of dim sum plates in Hong Kong. The restaurant is more modern in decoration with an "open kitchen" where some of the dishes are prepared with a clear artistic love and attention to detail. Service is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive without being intrusive. Good selection of wines for most palates and wallets. I had the 10 course tasting menu which, at £85, felt like a bargain compared to the price of Michelin starred food in major cities. To start, a Mussel with Oyster Leaf canapé - so perfectly decorated that it felt wrong to eat it, but so tasty. Next up Langoustine with Caramelised Whey, served like a lollipop with a twig to hold it with - lovely textures and cooked to perfection. Venison Tartare followed - a small dish but rich in flavour and beautifully prepared and decorated. Sour Bread and Sour Butter was distinctive and a good filler in preparation for the main courses. The Monkfish with Asparagus and Onion, although delicious, was probably the weakest dish. The sauce tasted like heavy sweet soy sauce and was a bit overpowering in its saltiness for the delicate flavour of the fish. Still very enjoyable though. The Slowly Cooked Crapaudine Beetroot was the star of the menu. Cooked in beef fat (I believe), the beetroot takes on a heavier composition and is chewy and almost glutinous with all of the accompanying decorations providing broad and bold flavours. Absolutely fantastic! Scallop Cured with Rhubarb was another standout with the smoothness of the slightly charred scallops countering the tartness of the rhubarb, all tied together with a rich and balanced sauce. Herb-Fed Chicken with Wild Garlic from this Year and Last was another amazing creation with a blanket over the chicken in the form of a garlic leaf. The chicken was more warm than hot but extremely tasty. The first dessert was ice cream (or iced yoghurt?) Lollipops which were wonderfully innovative with their unique flavours. The Sheep's Milk with Douglas Fir Oil was also an memorable dessert with natural tastes of the season. The final dessert, served with coffee was Cake made from Artichoke, Chicory Root and Thyme. The combination worked well although the chicory root (?) was slightly bitter. A great end to a fantastic meal and experience. For most who visit The Black Swan at Oldstead, a significant journey will be involved but don't let that put you off...It's well worth the effort and will be one of those great food experiences.

This place is amazing. The most unbelievably friendly staff, great beer on draft, an interesting…read morecheese menu.... and perfect fish and chips. I came here with my 8 year old daughter last night and we were welcomed very warmly with amazing food and amazing service. Now I completely understand why this place has so many great review. They are well deserved. Hopefully I can return in the next few days.

Great classic pub. Delicious beers and good looking food. Back patio had lovely seating for when…read morethe small pub area fills up. Staff handled the crowd very well. I would highly recommend.

This pub has been under new ownership since 2015 and had a much needed makeover last year. The new…read moreowners have truly reinvented the traditional English country pub, it has been sympathetically renovated to the highest standards and ties in wonderfully with the existing features and country surroundings. The new extended restaurant is a stunning light space, Chef Gareth Ward continues to produce innovative menus and consistently delicious food - trust me, you will be spoilt for choice! The bar serves excellent cask ales and craft beers and an impressive drinks menu - 3 pages of speciality gins, Monkey 47 a particular fave of mine - this alone is worth the 5 stars!!

Great food, very well priced for such a high calibre. Nicely located with quaint furnishings and…read morefine cask ales. A reccommend

Oooh this pub is looovely, especially on sunny days when you can sit outside in their garden…read more They seem to cater to both locals (lots of old folks) and people like us who were driving though. The staff were all very welcoming, and we were all really impressed with the friendly, efficient service. The menu was full of English comfort foods...and they executed everything beautifully. Just look at my photos to get an idea...I tried the goats cheese and caramelised onion strudel, which came balanced on potatoes and perfect ratatouille. If you ever find yourself in this part of the country, it is definitely worth popping in here for some lunch! *Pro tip: It sounded like they get very booked up in the evening, so ring ahead to ensure you get a table!!

A very busy Old English pub doing Great food and Great Beer(Cask Marque)…read moreYvonne and Gary run a first class pub and have a great team working with them. If going for a meal ring and book it gets busy at the weekend!! always a good sign.

Magical? Chemical?…read more The alchemist is not only a nice surrounding to sit in but the service and food are great and delicious. When we checked in and were asked if there were any allergies we made jokes about my husband's allergy to cinnamon - that we would not need to worry about out it before desert. We ordered a few items from the menu - which is a very delicious mix of classics with some twists (tempura fried fish and chips for example). Order was taken and a couple minutes later the manager came and said "I am sorry - but the sauce to the fish contains a bit of cinnamon" wow! We change the order of course and the manager came back to the table asking if we would be worried about cross termination. We have been not and everything went well after that. Great service. The food itself plays with the alchemist theme for example the chorizo meatballs come with a syringe to inject your own amount of cheese (what you think? Yes of course o injected the whole Syringe into the little delicious meatball duhh). The menu consist of a lot of small items which makes me so happy since I can have so many bites of different things and at the alchemist they are all worth it! And of course classics like burger, salads and sandwiches alongside their mains. The menu is not too big but literally has something for everyone. You have to try the crispy pork skins! After we had been told that the crispy fish contains cinnamon my husband learned they offer their "chicken in a basket" as a vegetarian version as well and that is what he got. Damn that is so good: A bed of chips (fries for our American friends) are surrounded by one of the best coleslaw I had in a long time (almost as good as Guy Fieri's if not even better) then slightly pan seared onions and peppers layer on top of the fries. Ready to be mixed in. Then of course a generous amount of chicken or in this case plant based chicken smothered in a sweet chili sauce. Not to forgot to mention that it came with an extra little bowl of dipping sauce. Delicious! We also had a mocktail which name I might not be allowed to recite here let's named it "virgin adult film star" what a perfect combination of fruit, creme and sweetness. Yummmmmm To end the night I had coffee and Choclate - any serving of coffee comes with a set of three pralines. What a way to end the night at the alchemist. Great atmosphere perfect service and delicious food and drinks.

The Alchemist is a really trendy restaurant and bar in Spinningfields. They have a lot of variety…read moreon the menu, the fusion of Asian and western cuisine is really nice. The interior is lovely, seems like a great place for evening drinks with a full bar. I came for lunch and enjoyed the food. Service was efficient and prices are reasonable. Overall a chic and trendy place for food and drink in Spinningfields.

Food was EXCELLENT!!!! So tasty and generous portion. We…read moresat around waiting for a friend to meet us so we had a few cocktails and lunch while we waited. The staff was very friendly and the restaurant itself was lovely. It had this old underground train station feel. I didn't check out the upstairs but I suspect it had as much character as the downstairs.

Mr Thomas's Chop House is to older male relatives what Mr Cooper's House and Garden is to older…read morefemale relatives: perfect. Actually I found it pretty perfect too. We shared a tasty starter of whitebait and corn beef hash then I had bubble & squeak for my main, while my dad & friend tried the Manchester Steak (which is kind of like a very advanced burger) and my sis had regular steak and some excellent giant chips. Everyone liked their food and enjoyed the beautiful Victorian setting. We also enjoyed the house red, a cabernet sauvignon. Service was attentive and friendly. Highly recommended for a classic English meal. I note other reviewers have disparaged the English food - don't come here if you think you're not going to like it, I would venture to suggest! It's not as refined flavour wise as many other cuisines, but if you want hearty comfort food, it's a great option.

A real icon of the Victorian greatness of Manchester, Sam's opened in the same location over 150…read moreyears ago in the quaintly named Back Pool Fold location This is the place where the businessman of the day would eat when the City was known as King Cotton, but with the interior more recently updated to acknowledge artist LS Lowry who often frequented the establishment in the 1950s and 60s Framed photographs of the artist adorn the walls and a life size bronze sitting at the bar work so well It's an English pub, so unless you book yourself into the dining room, you buy your drinks and the bar and then find a seat The bar service is prompt and efficient The menu is classic North of England; steak and kidney pudding with mushy peas and mashed potatoes were just like I remember as a kid in these parts more than 50 years ago A tribute to Lowry on the menu is Lowry Lamb Cutlets - presumably a favorite of the artist back in the day; thick cut lamb chops on a bed of rocket was absolutely top notch This place is a classic and I can't believe that anybody would be disappointed

I've ordered Sam's Chop House a couple of times now on Deliveroo and the experience really has…read morechanged from good quality food, to not as good. I really do think I've caught them more than once at an odd day and the food is generally quite good. My recent order of the bacon chop restored my faith in the restauraunt, it was a high-quality, perfectly cooked chop of meat. The peppercorn sauce style gravy made it even better, again fresh with freshly cooked and seasoned chips. They also serve some of the best gluten-free fish and chips I've tried. There are occasionally issues with Deliveroo which means I look forward even more to trying out this place by dining inside when the current climate and government legislation allows. The biggest improvement they can make is consistency with orders, I've had more than one order which isn't as good but that must have been an off day, they are more than capable of delivering spectacular food and I think they just need to make sure they prioritise quality over speed of delivery, right now the food comes out of the kitchen so fast it's impressive but I'd happily wait a few minutes longer if they can deliver food the quality which I know they can do. 4*

Ah, the Friendship how I love thee, let me count the ways:…read more 1. Just look at you, your imposing facade set back from the road puts other pubs to positive shame 2. You are a cheap enough pub to let us get merry without breaking the bank ... much, but thats my fault 3.Your barmaids are lovely and young, and went to my high school and I know that you treat them well 4. You remind me of a cross between a travellers' half way house and where Elrond from Lord of the Rings might live 5. Your magic extends to the skies as on a sunny day it is lovely to sit on those well placed benches of yours out front FIN

Turned up here tonight at 8.30 the staff were very welcoming and friendly the food was really fresh…read moreand generously portioned with extremely reasonable prices I have been looking for an alernative to the beefeater which used to be my chosen place to eat the last two Times I have been There the food has been dire the manageress served me a plate of bloody steak when I asked well done that can be excused as a mistake but the hair on the plate as she brought it was the final nail!!The friendship inn is as we all know a part of the Joseph holts chain the standard of care in the food is top resteraunt quality the staff are helpful and friendly you are not rushed or pushed in any way the waitresses are always close to hand if needed but don't hover around while you are eating as has been The case many times in many other places I definately recommend this place to anyone wanting a lovely meal in a relaxed friendly environment and shall be recommending this place to all my family and friends keep up the good work and congratulations to the manageress and the team who run this pub

Nice pub for authentic England's food. Able to eat steaks, pies, pizzas, etc…read more.. Clean, but have a traditional attire. Good spot for lunch and dinner.

When I first encountered T'English Lounge, it was for one reason only - pub quizzage. Now, there's…read morea strange phenomenon that comes with local drinking. Have you ever found that once you have your local, and your pub quiz, you kind of feel like you're cheating on it if you attend another pub quiz? Well, I had this situation with the Crescent. Large's pub quiz only came around once a month so it's wasn't that bad. And I wouldn't be a good little Yelper if I didn't use it as an excuse to check out this pub. Situated on the edge of the Northern Quarter conveniently close to the Arndale and Shudehill, The English Lounge is a cosy, traditional-looking boozer that serves down-to-earth pub grub and provides a bit of respite from the quirk and hipsterville of the NQ and the ostentatious tackiness of the Printworks posse. The homey cosiness of the place is exemplified with dark wood, leather sofas and quintessential Englishness - bookshelves in a pub anyone? I'm to be found at the Cityco meetings here and I always enjoy popping in. Sometimes I'll treat myself to a little wine beforehand and chat with some business owners, and that's always been lovely. The wine that is, not the business owners. Although for the most part they're alright, as it goes. There are all sorts of vouchers and offers associated with this pub so you could save a pretty penny too, especially with the meal deals. The food's on until 9.30pm and it's run by lovely people - aces, no? Note: no wifi! Laptops to be left at home...