Collaborating with authentic Japanese spirits brand, House of Suntory, historic pub, The Black Friar, located on Blackfriars Road just a 10-minute walk from Deansgate, has transformed its outside tavern into a captivating Japanese-inspired cherry blossom garden, just in time for Sakura season.
House of Suntory has also crafted an exclusive cocktail menu featuring their authentic spirits that start from £12 and include the following: Coco Roku – a mix of Roku gin, Blackfriars Pilsner, Angostura, honey and lemon; Suntory Spritz – a mix of Haku vodka, watermelon soda, mint, strawberry and lime; and the Zensen Boulevardier – a mix of Toki whiskey, Campari, Dom Benedictine and Martini Rubino.
The cocktail menu is available every day in all areas of the pub and during exclusive Suntory Sessions held every Saturday between 3pm and 5pm with live music, and guests can enjoy specialty Suntory drinks for just £8.
The Suntory Garden also features a new vibrant à la carte menu, offering enticing options such as braised beef shin cannelloni, lamb shank kleftiko with moussaka potatoes, curried line-caught hake and red lentil dahl and Creedy Carver duck with confit leg, breast and bubble and squeak. All mains can be complemented with a choice of sides including triple-cooked chunky chips, hasselback potatoes with truffle and chive cream cheese or charred hispi cabbage. The menu also includes daily changing market fish dishes and the renowned Black Friar daily pie specials.
We enjoyed a meal for two on a Saturday evening in the Suntory Garden. Following baked sourdough and whipped butter, we ordered chargrilled hispi cabbage with crispy Burford brown egg and Shetland seared king scallops, followed by the main event of curried hake, and lamb shank kleftiko. The lamb just fell off the bone. Delish!
We were pleasantly full, but decided we needed to try the desserts, so we finished with a raspberry and lemon drizzle knickerbocker glory and rhubarb custard trifle.
All dishes were delicious, but the king scallops, kleftiko lamb and rhubarb trifle were our absolute favourites. The Suntory Garden is a great area for any occasion, with twinkling lights, heaters, blankets and great staff; the ambiance reflects “a perfect blend of British charm and Japanese elegance”.
The Suntory Garden is open every week from Thursday to Sunday for drinks or dining and is fully covered and heated.
The Black Friar is open every day from 12pm, and if you’re looking for the perfect spot for an after-work tipple, Happy Hour runs from 4 to 6:30pm every weekday and offers £4 pints, £15 bottles of wine and £6 classic cocktails.
Tel: 0161 667 9555 | www.theblackfriarsalford.co.uk
