by Neil Sowerby
Any excuse for a party, but when you have had your first proper makeover in over a century why not? General manager and acclaimed sommelier Jo Twentyman relaunched Mr Thomass Chop House with a jolly bash to celebrate £400,000 spent on: A new roof; new rainwater goods, so water doesnt run down the walls; new windows, so the wind doesnt get in; new pointing throughout; and fresh terracotta cladding to replace every damaged tile on the exterior all hand-made in the Potteries. So the scaffoldings finally gone from Manchesters first iron-framed building.
Oh and theyve also got an array of iconic Manchester pictures by Paul Wolfgang Webster, whose images are such a feature of stablemate Alberts, and a new chef, the youthful James Mellor. We are promised new menu of comfort food with a classic twist but what impact his presence will have on the tried and trusted Chop House formula is not clear yet. At the party TOM stuck to the tried and tested Steak and Kidney Pudding (£13) a dish that will never require a revamp! And the Victorian surrounds are perfect for Christmas parties.
Mr Thomas's Chophouse, 52 Cross Street, M2 7AR. Tel: 0161 832 2245, www.tomschophouse.com