Standing on the corner of the busy crossroads of Blackfriars Road and the ring road, in Salford, the Black Friar pub is a building that really doesn’t look like it belongs with its towerblock backdrop. From the front, the pretty, historic pub looks frozen in time, having been the only building to survive the 60s slum clearances, but inside it’s a completely different story.
The venue has quite literally risen from the ashes in recent years. Built in 1886 by William Ball, its interior was gutted by a fire 16 years ago, and it lay derelict until last summer.
Now, the pub is bigger and better than its previous incarnation, boasting a glass extension, gorgeous beer garden and outdoor bar. The venue pays tribute to the Salford building’s original features, but brings them to life with a modern finish. It feels very Mancunian, and a little bit biblical, marrying the old with the new.
