Review: Bay Horse Tavern’s new look, new owners & new menu

The team behind Cane and Grain, Crazy Pedro’s and The Liar’s Club have added another Northern Quarter venue to their assemblage of Manchester bars and restaurants. Following a massive refurb, Northern Quarter pub The Bay Horse Tavern has reopened – with a new, gastronomic bent. As a long-standing venue close to the hearts of Ross Mackenzie, Jobe Ferguson and Lyndon Higginson, the aim was to restore the pub to its authentic roots rather than transform it into another bar. The reclaimed tiles, wooden floors and commanding fireplace certainly achieve the cosy atmosphere, with playful elements included in the décor – there is something satisfying in seeing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band era Toby Jug versions of The Beatles nestled amongst the usual pottery suspects. Beer from local breweries such as ShinDigger, Cloudwater, Beatnikz Republic and company – plus a few visiting guests – are represented at the bar. There is also a creative cocktail menu and a wide range of gins with plans to keep growing the collection on a weekly basis. The downstairs restaurant includes a space to dine whilst gazing into the kitchen, surveying the culinary scene. The menu begins with a small plates such as faggots and spiced sausage, duck hearts with blackberry purée, wild mushrooms with goats cheese on toast, or Yorkshire pudding and chicken liver. Mains include pies such as fisherman’s, game, mushroom and leek as well as sandwiches, salads and sharing platters – but the real lure is the rotisserie oven. Roast chicken, ribeye of beef and suckling pig are all on offer as sandwiches or with served with mash and gravy or beef dripping chips. The Sunday roasts are a thing – with veggie mushroom wellington on offer too.

Now open: The Bay Horse Tavern, 35-37 Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1NA, Tel: 0161 669 5799, thebayhorsetavern.co.uk