A historic Salford pub has announced the return of its annual pie festival in a bid to help “beat the January blues.”
The Black Friar, a grade II-listed watering hole on Blackfriars Road, has begun its yearly celebration of the hearty, homemade pie and is hoping to lure in hungry customers from across Greater Manchester with a revamped menu.
This year’s line-up features a mushroom keema pie topped with an onion bhaji, a confit garlic chicken and leek pie, a truffle dauphinoise pie, and a traditional meat and potato pie, all priced at £10.
A rotating selection of special pies, including lasagna, spanakopita and pigeon fillings, will be available throughout the month, with the festival running from 5 January to 27 February.
Back for its fourth year, the Black Friar’s pie showcase has introduced super-sized sharing options which serve up to four people and are available to pre-order from £65.
Sweet-toothed Salfordians are being catered for by a selection of dessert pies, featuring a gooey treacle pie, a Mississippi pie and lemon meringue pie.
The annual Pie Festival was first introduced in 2022 following a glowing review from national food critic Jay Rayner, who praised Head Chef Ben Chaplin’s creations as “pies done proper.”
Owner of The Black Friar, Neil Burke, celebrated the return of the traditional Salford pub’s New Year highlight.
He said: “We’re excited to be kicking off our fourth year of the Pie Festival. It’s become a real favourite and it’s easy to see why.
“Hearty, warming, proper northern pies for £10 are exactly what’s needed to get through the cold winter months. Ben’s specials are going to be extra special this year and I can’t wait to welcome everyone back.”
More information aboutr The Black Friar’s pie festival is availible here.
