Review on The Bull & Bear
The Bull & Bear presides at the heart of football legends, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville's new Stock Exchange Hotel that opened in the centre of Manchester in November 2019. A stunning Grade II-listed Edwardian built in 1904, it operated for nearly a century as the Stock Exchange before closing in 2000 and becoming Stock, an Italian restaurant. Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge is behind the restaurant and together with Executive Chef Dan Scott they have devised a menu influenced by the Coach in Marlow.
The interiors have been lovingly restored paying homage to the building's history, with The Bull and Bear occupying the old trading room, accessed by its own entrance tucked away on Norfolk Street. It's a beautifully orchestrated room with a magnificent domed ceiling and impressively embellished ornate plasterwork. Taking centre stage is a bronze sculpture of a headless, handless and footless figure created by Kerridge's talented wife and artist, Beth Cullen-Kerridge. The room is decked out in a palette of gold and green, with the gold acting as a nod to Manchester's symbol, the worker bee which dates back to the industrial revolution of the 19th Century.
Smoked chicken and ham hock terrine with piccalilli gets the ball rolling followed by main courses like rib of Dovecote beef, roasted shallot, Yorkshire pudding and horseradish cream or from the sea spiced Cornish cod with caramelised cauliflower and golden raisins. Racking up the comfort factor are desserts in the shape of beef suet sticky toffee pudding paired with toffee sauce and vanilla ice cream or banana custard with dates, honeycomb and pistachios.
There's a comprehensive wine list to accompany the food, together with local brewed beers and cocktails like Fair Verona, limoncello, pomegranate juice, elderflower cordial and prosecco.
Cuisine
British
Chef
Tom Kerridge and Dan Scott
Restaurant Opening Times
Breakfast: 7.00 - 10.00am (8.00 - 10.30am Sat & Sun)
Lunch: 12.00 - 2.30pm
Dinner: 5.30 - 10.00pm (9.30pm Sun)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express