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