Where to eat in September

The Black Friar stood empty and unloved for almost 20 years before reopening in summer 2021 after a substantial renovation project. Now a modern British restaurant and a traditional pub, it has two distinct settings with menus to match.

Beeswing is a casual wine bar with a menu designed to complement the curated drinks list. Wines are carefully chosen with a combination of natural and conventional bottles on offer that changes regularly. Food is a selection of excellent tapas dishes courtesy of the folks behind Levanter and Baratxuri.

Found in the former E & A Auto Services garage depot on Swan Street, Firehouse is the sister restaurant to Ramona’s Detroit-style pizzeria. It’s part restaurant, part bar and part performance venue where tables are available to book for dinner and “after dark drinking”. The space is open and airy with a real laid-back feel. White shutters, bleached brick and glitter balls hanging from the high ceiling complete the chilled out party ambience.

The Jane Eyre is a self-styled ‘neighbourhood bar’ offering seasonal food, classic cocktails and local beers. Presided over by Eyre siblings Jonny and Joe, it is, mildly disappointingly, not a Gothic homage to the Yorkshire based tragic-heroine but actually named after their late mum. 

Maray Manchester is the fourth of its kind, but the first to sprout outside of Liverpool. Inspired by Le Marais quarter in Paris, where founders Tom, Dom and James tried “some of the best falafel in the world” on the streets of Rue Des Rosiers.

“Dim sum, roast meats and big plates” promises purpose-built Kampus gaff Yum Cha’s bespoke Insta-friendly neon sign – but there are small plates too, perfect for group sharing, and loads to tempt the veggies and vegans of the party: this menu is sizeable without being scary.