The Bull & Bear

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
British
Ambience
Fine dining, Glamorous, Luxury, Traditional
Food Occasions
All day dining
Perfect for
Celebrations, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

As if the excited chatter surrounding the grand opening of Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Winston Zahra’s new Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester wasn’t loud enough already, it’s just been announced that chef Tom Kerridge will make his northern debut here. Housed on the former trading floor of the old Stock Exchange beneath a spectacular domed ceiling, Kerridge’s The Bull & Bear intends to blur the lines between sophistication and informality, with a menu that reflects the chef’s signature style of refined British comfort food.

Heavily influenced by his pubs in Marlow, Kerridge and his executive chef Dan Scott have created a small-plates menu that encourages diners to sample a variety of different flavours and combinations.

Divided into the usual three stages (but named ‘First’, ‘Second’ and ‘Third’), the menu will start with the likes of smoked chicken and ham hock terrine with piccalilli, and duck liver parfait with plum chutney, before moving on to dishes such as fish fritter of the day with pease pudding and tartare sauce, and crispy pig’s head with celeriac rémoulade and spiced date sauce. To finish, there will be desserts including hot chocolate tart with hazelnut ice cream and The Coach profiteroles with soured vanilla cream.

When it comes to drinks, Kerridge has once again enlisted the help of his Marlow staff – this time Antony Peart, bar manager at The Hand & Flowers – to design a menu of cocktails that champions British distilleries. These will sit alongside a selection of beers from Manchester’s brewing scene and Marlow-based brewery, Rebellion.

We’ve yet to see any prices, but given the opulence of the surroundings – which include green banquettes, leather armchairs and lots of gold – we’d wager that dining here won’t come cheap. That said, if the food here is any bit as good as Kerridge’s other outfits, it’ll be worth splashing the cash.

Location

4 Norfolk Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 1DW
Website

Opening Times

All day
Mon 08:00-22:00
Tue 08:00-22:00
Wed 08:00-22:00
Thu 08:00-22:00
Fri 08:00-22:00
Sat 08:00-22:00
Sun 08:00-22:00

Reviews

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5 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Anon

28 August 2022  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Just incredible, calm and refined. The service you get from everyone in the building is the best I've ever experienced. 

Andrew B

05 July 2021  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 4
Lovely Ambience

Had a good meal everything was cooked as requested service was good exceptionally helpful Staff

Ambience was lovely 

 

Anon

06 January 2020  
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Outstanding food and service

Firstly, ignore anything you've heard about

1. The TV screens - unless you have dull dining partners, they really don't detract from the dining experience at all)

2. The portion sizes - yes they are as you'd expect unless you have no experience of dining in this type of establishment, so I don't understand why some people are surprised.

My wife took me yesterday for my birthday, and I have to say it was outstanding on all levels, from the way we were greeted and had our coats taken at reception, to our wonderful waiting staff, and, most of all, the food.

I had the pollock scotch egg with shellfish bisque, the crispy pigs head with celeriac remoulade, the steak and blue cheese 'demi' pie with roasted onion and ale gravy, with a side of rotisserie pomme boulangere.

All of it was outstanding and my wife thoroughly enjoyed her cheese scones with ham hock butter, chicken viev with maple glazed butternut squash and B&B chips with gherkin ketchup.

With drinks & service charge, it came in at just over £100 which was well worth it.

I'd thoroughly recommend that you try the Bull & Bear if you like fine dining or just want something a bit special.

Anon

21 December 2019  
Terrible experience over priced very small portions

I attended a Christmas business unchanged on Thursday with four colleagues.In previous years we have visited The Ivy & 20 Stories & enjoyed a wonderful meal, service etc.On this occasion we decided to try the Bear & Bull.Upon first arrival our initial response was muted, why would a premier restaurant have TV screens in the main eating area? .Moving on to the table itself the choicet of large round "lad " friendly (tables)  is strange to fathom.In terms of the actual menu it's confusing & over priced.That we all ordered our food & were fully expecting to.be impressed.This was not the case the mussels were served in a tiny pot.To follow the main courses were equally bewildering the pie should be described as a corner of a pie whilst the burger bun I must be  the smallest available on the market in Manchester.No veg extra for chips & you are beginning inga to get a clear picture.Last but not least the bill arrived £310 plus £31 pounds service charge.Did we pay yes did we pay the service no.Would we return & or recommend it to our combined business associates &/or friends,family definately not.Gary Neville you are a decent man you know about value - as such this MUST be sorted & quickly otherwise the end will be nigh. PS Season ticket holders are Salford City & Manchester Utd so no agenda whatsoever apart from a good cultural experience with great food. Way off the mark!

Anon

21 December 2019  
Food & Drink 0.5
Service 1.5
Atmosphere 1
Value 0.5
Terrible experience over priced very small portions

I attended a Christmas business unchanged on Thursday with four colleagues.In previous years we have visited The Ivy & 20 Stories & enjoyed a wonderful meal, service etc.On this occasion we decided to try the Bear & Bull.Upon first arrival our initial response was muted, why would a premier restaurant have TV screens in the main eating area? .Moving on to the table itself the choicet of large round "lad " friendly (tables)  is strange to fathom.In terms of the actual menu it's confusing & over priced.That we all ordered our food & were fully expecting to.be impressed.This was not the case the mussels were served in a tiny pot.To follow the main courses were equally bewildering the pie should be described as a corner of a pie whilst the burger bun I must be  the smallest available on the market in Manchester.No veg extra for chips & you are beginning inga to get a clear picture.Last but not least the bill arrived £310 plus £31 pounds service charge.Did we pay yes did we pay the service no.Would we return & or recommend it to our combined business associates &/or friends,family definately not.Gary Neville you are a decent man you know about value - as such this MUST be sorted & quickly otherwise the end will be nigh. PS Season ticket holders are Salford City & Manchester Utd so no agenda whatsoever apart from a good cultural experience with great food. Way off the mark!

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