Tender

As a restaurant, Tender has quite the pedigree; it sits within Manchester’s Stock Exchange hotel, an elegant conversion of the original building which was, as you might guess, Manchester’s Stock exchange.

The hotel has become one of the region’s finest, owned by Peter Lin, the billionaire, and Gary Neville, the ex-Manchester United footballer and current football commentator.

The main stock exchange hall has been turned into an elegant dining room, called Tender, which is now governed by Niall Keating, the remarkable young chef who previously won Whatley Manor two Michelin Stars. It looks like he should be gaining more plaudits here; his cooking is elegant yet homely, suitable for date nights, family celebrations and negotiations with your football agent.

WAGs (the very upmarket ones) pass you by, with legs so long they only need three strides to cover the room, whilst this writer, of a certain age, is hypnotised by Keating’s superlative scallop dish. The rib of beef was another high point, and the pastry department should be declared illegal.

The Sunday Lunch is becoming a solid favourite of Mancunians, a hard bunch to please in this department. Some would say it’s better than their Mum’s. But not when she’s in earshot.

Well worth a visit.