A Salford pub has opened their viral Christmas Tavern for its third year in succession.
The Black Friar, on Blackfriars Road, is being praised on social media for its cosy atmosphere and elaborate Christmas decorations.
Now, the pub is being hailed as the “top spot” to visit over the Christmas period.
Separate to the central pub area, the ‘tavern’ hides behind a door at the back of the restaurant, revealing the iconic seasonal decor.
This year’s theme is ‘Apres-Ski’, filling the space with snow-covered fawn, blankets, fairy lights and an open fire, emulating a winter ski cabin.
The decorations take an entire year to plan and execute, says The Black Friar’s General Manager, Rob. The pub is set to start designing for Christmas 2027 in the coming weeks.
Rob said: “Neil, the owner of the business, and [designer] Kelly Louise are the two masterminds behind it all… between her and Neil, they’re absolute geniuses.
“They take an empty space, and they bring it to life and make it magical.”
The pub sees “thousands of customers” entering through its doors and the traction on social media factors into their large popularity.
He said: “I think it would be wrong to say it doesn’t impact us, [but] it’s not the reason we do it.
“It obviously helps for more people to discover and know about us and come see the beautiful pub, but also come to Salford.
“Maybe leave the markets of central Manchester and just discover a little bit more of the wider area.”
Regardless of their online popularity, The Black Friar wishes to prioritise its role in the Salford community over anything.
He said: “We always want to be a local fixture of the community. Even though we’re working with fresh food and everything… we don’t want to compromise on quality. We still want to be approachable for absolutely everyone.
“It’s such a community feel in the pub, and that’s why I love working here.”
