Neale and I spend a lot of time in Manchester on photography shoots. Whilst there we enjoy discovering new foodie places. Mackie Mayor is a new discovery and rather a good one, located in the edgy Northern Quarter. The Grade II venue dates from 1858 when it was the meat market. After several re-incarnations, more recently as a skate park and then lying derelict for years it was recently completely re-vamped and re-opened as Mackie Mayor in 2017. It is a hive of top-end food and drink operators, all under one huge glass roof – and it holds almost 500 people.

It’s a great fun, buzzy place to hang out even if you don’t want to eat, although with the choice on offer there should be something for everyone. The food on offer is from regional independents and range from wood fired pizzeria Honest Crust, steakhouse Tender Cow and its fish side-line Fin, Nationale 7 who do French rotisserie using British free range meat, bakery Katie’s Cakes and Asian eatery Bao House to name but a few.

Whilst there I had the most delicious Porchetta & Duck Egg Bap with a Caesar Salad side and Neale a delicious sour dough pizza with Spicy ‘nduja sausage, tomato & mozzarella- heaven! Sitting next to us were some very game lads who were tackling the Special of the Day – a whole Pig’s Head although they looked like a Sheep’s Head to me. Considering it was a Monday I was very impressed to say the least!

Porchetta & Duck Egg Bap with Caesar Salad side.