The Black Friar, perched on Trinity Way in Salford, opened in 1886 as a Victorian pub near the site of a long-gone friary. Its mock-Tudor facade and cozy interior nod to Salford’s monastic past, serving ale to workers from nearby docks and mills. Revamped in the 21st century, it’s a modern gastro-pub with a nod to history. Its quirky roots brew Salford ghost stories that linger in its nooks, just a stone’s throw from Manchester’s bustle.
The pub rose as Salford boomed with industry, its bar a refuge for laborers and travelers along the Irwell. Tied to tales of Black Friars who once roamed nearby, it’s a survivor—some say with spirits in residence. The Black Friar fuses Salford’s past with a haunted charm, luring fans of Salford ghost stories and pub haunts.
One chilling tale tells of The Hooded Friar, a monk from the 1400s who cursed the land after his order’s fall. His robed figure glides near the bar, a faint prayer trailing—patrons feel a chill brush their necks. Another story spins The Drunken Docker, a 1900s worker who drowned in the Irwell after a night here. His slurred song drifts from the back, and glasses slide an inch. These Salford ghost stories pour The Black Friar a spectral pint, blending faith and folly.