Historic Salford pub, The Black Friar, has announced the return of the hugely popular Pie Festival for 2026, set to warm up winter once again from Monday 5th January – Friday 27th February.
Now in its fourth year, the festival celebrates everything great about hearty, homemade pies and offers some of the best comfort food in the city for just £10. Designed to beat the January blues, the festival showcases expertly crafted fillings and crisp pastry.
This year’s menu features four fixed pies, with four brand new combinations including a Mushroom Keema Pie topped with an Onion Bhaji; Confit Garlic Chicken and Leek Pie; Truffle Dauphinoise Pie; and a traditional Meat and Potato Pie. Alongside these favourites, diners can enjoy a rotating selection of special pies including Lasagna Pie, Spanakopita Pie and Pigeon Pie.
For those celebrating, the Pie Festival also introduces super-sized sharing pies, serving up to four people and available for pre-order from £65. These show-stopping centrepieces are perfect for sharing and include a line-up of options including Ox Cheek and Bone Marrow Pie and Confit Garlic Chicken Pie. Sharing pies must be ordered 24 hours in advance to allow for preparation and ensure availability.
Sweet-toothed guests won’t miss out either, as The Black Friar brings back a selection of dessert pies, including gooey Treacle Pie, Mississippi Pie and Lemon Meringue Pies.
The annual Pie Festival was first introduced in 2022 following a glowing review from national food critic Jay Rayner, who praised Head Chef Ben Chaplin’s creations as ‘pies done proper’. Since then, the festival has firmly established The Black Friar as a must-visit destination for pie lovers, serving generously filled classics and inventive daily specials.
Neil Burke, Owner of The Black Friar, said: “We’re excited to be kicking off our fourth year of the Pie Festival. It’s become a real favourite and it’s easy to see why. Hearty, warming, proper-northern pies for £10 are exactly what’s needed to get through the cold winter months. Ben’s specials are going to be extra special this year and I can’t wait to welcome everyone back.”
The grade II listed Black Friar dates back more than 200 years. Originally known as the School inn, the pub was rebuilt and renamed in 1886 after a fire, before suffering another blaze in 2001. Today, the beautifully restored venue boasts a cosy traditional pub, a grand glass dining room and a huge award-winning beer garden with outdoor tavern.
The Black Friar is located on Blackfriars Road, just a 10 minute walk from Deansgate. To book a table for the Pie Festival, head over to The Black Friars website at https://www.
