Tom Barnes’ hugely-anticipated Skof to open its doors in Manchester next month

The hugely-anticipated new restaurant from Tom Barnes, formerly of L’Enclume, is set to open its doors in Manchester this May.

Skof will open on Wed 29 May, and be situated within the terracotta tiled Hanover building, originally built by the Co-operative Wholesale Society as a drapery warehouse in 1904.

Designed by London-based studio Blacksheep, the restaurant promises to be an inviting space bathed in natural light, which combines carefully restored original features with a refined, modern edge.

Ahead of the opening, Tom has revealed a taste of what’s to come with the release of a sample menu. At both lunch (Thu – Sat) and dinner (Wed – Sat), he will serve two variations of his tasting menu, one 12-course and one 15-course which will be priced at £120 and £165 respectively. At lunch, Skof will also serve a four-course offering, priced at £50 per head.

Dishes on the first set of menus include Roasted Sladesdown duck, peach leaf, Ibis celeriac, wholemeal bread and Isle of Mull cheddar, broad beans, whipped roe and verbena.

The sourcing for the menu reflects both his experience and background working with some of the best chefs in the world and the new path he has taken at Skof. Alongside daily deliveries of produce grown specifically for him from Simon Rogan’s Our Farm in the Cartmel Valley, Tom will work with small-scale suppliers like Cinderwood Market Garden in Nantwich and Lake District Farmers.

Tom, alongside his restaurant manager Sean Oakford and assistant restaurant manager Max Lawrence (both ex-L’Enclume), have created a range of drink options to include alcohol-free or mixed-alcohol pairings, or matching wines to complement the menu, with a particular focus on small-scale producers. Local brewing favourite Track has also lent its expertise to create Sidney — a light beer intended as an alternative to kick off the meal.

Speaking about the new opening, Tom said: “It’s been a long time coming, so I’m excited to be able to finally release our reservations. I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on and to return some of the incredible hospitality I’ve received from the people of Manchester.

“With Skof, my purpose is to create an incredible experience that focuses on great quality ingredients but above all, puts a smile on people’s faces.”

Reservations are open now, book your spot using the button below.