Skof

British·
££££
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Gold Award
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SquareMeal Review of Skof

Gold Award

When former L’Enclume executive chef Tom Barnes decided to leave the comforts of the Rogan stable, his next stop was always destined to be hot property. Aside from holding three Michelin stars at L’Enclume, Barnes is also a Roux Scholar and a Great British Menu finalist. Chefs of his calibre don’t hit the open market often, so for Tom to land in Manchester with his debut solo restaurant is quite a coup for the city.

As a result, expectation for Skof shot through the roof and headed into the stratosphere. To live up to that is some feat, but Skof is proof not just that Barnes is a prodigious talent, but also that Simon Rogan truly has the Midas touch as a mentor as well as a chef.

A lot of work has gone into turning Manchester’s iconic Hanover Building into a slick, spacious restaurant that still pays homage to its roots as an Edwardian drapery warehouse. An open kitchen is demarcated by gleaming burnt red tiles, and combines with the soft orange of the original brickwork and amber floor tiles to present a sunset of terracotta tones. Tables are very generously spaced, which allows the whole room to breathe with natural light and really shows off the pared-back beauty of the space.

Barnes arrived in Manchester with a CV to match anyone in the country, but Skof couldn’t feel more down to earth. The service is L’Enclume-esque (no surprise as many of them came with Tom from Cartmel); warm and welcoming, with every small detail covered with genial pleasure.

There’s a great deal of food to talk about, but here’s the headline: Barnes and team are turning out some of the best food in the country. Immaculate bites emerge at perfect intervals, from a dinky cured mackerel flatbread with fermented gooseberry, to an astonishing glazed langoustine, which reclines majestically on a sourdough croustade, dripping in langoustine emulsion. Every bite is perfectly balanced, as delicious as it is beautiful. There’s even room for clever, comforting things, as Barnes comes around the room at the end of the meal to serve a bowl of his signature tiramisu - a dish close to his heart that he made for his late father. If you're worried that all this excellence comes at a price, there's an outstanding lunch menu at just £50 a head, and it doesn’t skimp on portions either.

There are other restaurants that can match the level of cooking at Skof, but few do it with the same exceptional balance and warmth. If there were doubters, they can be silenced now - Skof has instantly put itself in the conversation as one of the UK’s very best restaurants.

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Good to know

Average Price
££££ - Over £80
Cuisines
British
Ambience
Cool, Fine dining, Luxury
Awards
SquareMeal UK Top 100
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch
Special Features
Gluten-free options, Vegan options, Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Skof is the newest venture of Tom Barnes, former executive chef of L’Enclume and Rogan & Co, showcasing seasonal dishes and local ingredients in the heart of Manchester. Barnes is widely regarded as one of the most exciting chefs the UK has to offer. After being awarded a Roux Scholarship at the age of 25, he went on to nab a Michelin star as head chef of Simon Rogan’s Cartmel restaurant, compete on The Great British Menu, before returning to the Rogan group as executive chef and gain a third Michelin star for L’Enclume. Skof forms part of the next step for the group now branching out into Manchester’s growing restaurant scene.

Barnes’ menus, though seemingly uncomplicated, are masterfully crafted and bursting with flavour. At Skof, seasonal dishes and local ingredients take centre stage in the form of a tasting menu aiming to remove some of the inherent seriousness of the tasting menu tradition. Working hand in hand with Rogan’s regenerative farm in the Cartmel Valley, Skof receives responsibly produced ingredients produced by chefs for chefs.

Skof is located within the Hanover Building, an Edwardian terracotta tiled property dating to 1904 in the NOMA district. The thirty-six cover restaurant has been designed by Blacksheep to reflect the contrasting elements of Tom’s Cumbrian upbringing, his new residence in Manchester and the city’s industrial past. Taking account of the building’s unique character, the design blends natural and urban aesthetics. Guests can expect a welcoming atmosphere, plenty of natural light, and restored original features with a sophisticated modern touch.

Manchester is currently experiencing a surge in luxury dining and Skof is a firm competitor, serving global expertise, unpretentious but ambitious style, and an ‘element of surprise and joy’ in the UK’s Northern food capital.

Images: Cristian Barnett

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FAQs

What is the closest station?

Manchester Victoria is closest.

Helpful? 0

Who is behind the restaurant?

Former executive chef of L'Enclume, Tom Barnes who is backed by the UMBEL restaurant group.

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Does the restaurant accommodate dietary requirements?

Let the restaurant know at the time of booking and it can accommodate most dietary requirements and choices, but they may not be able to accommodate short notice requests on the day.

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Skof is featured in

Location

3 Federation Street, Corporation Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 4BF

0161 669 1961 0161 669 1961

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu 12:00-13:30
Fri 12:00-13:30
Sat 12:00-13:30
Sun Closed
Dinner
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 18:30-20:00
Thu 18:30-20:00
Fri 18:30-20:00
Sat 18:30-20:00
Sun Closed

Reviews

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2 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Matthew C

31 January 2025  
Food & Drink 5
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
No doubt one of the best restaurants in the country in the coming years

As close to a perfect restaurant as you can get, fits the Manchester scene perfectly whilst doing modern, interesting cookery with some incredible ingredients. Will no doubt be one of the best restaurants in the country in the coming years.

Anon

07 January 2025  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Perfect food, tempo and service.

We enjoyed an evening at Skof and we can honestly say as foodies and michelin junkies it was our highlight meal of 2024. 
From the moment we walked in , the timing balance and connection between chefs, front of house and customer flowed perfectly and made the whole meal enjoyable so much so we remarked that it felt like a 1 star that had been established for 6/7 years.

All the staff seemed invested in the the whole service and the restaurant buzzed and made all the guests feel like we knew eachother. 

I dont remember smiling as much as we did through a dining experience as much as we did.

The food was impeccable and obviously came from deep within the passion of Tom Barnes and his team. Not one course failed us and we cant wait to go back.

Its the first restaurant on our 2025 list  

 

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0161 669 1961 0161 669 1961

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