Down at Sam’s Chop House with a night Mr Sam would have approved of

Now I think Mr Samuel Studd would have approved of the party held in his famous Chop House on Back Pool Fold.

There was a selection of fine food from the new menu, some brilliant musicians and the sort of atmosphere that everyone there will remember with fondness.

It was less a re-launch and more a celebration of the restaraunt’s history which goes back over 140 years.

And as part of that celebration, Sam’s commissioned a special souvenir edition of the book Manchester Pubs, The Stories Behind the Doors, which carries Peter’s painting of the Chop House on the front cover.*

Mr Samuel Studd opened his restaurant under the grander name of Sam’s London Chop House in 1872.

Back then it was situated in Manchester Chambers on the corner of Market Street and Pall Mall and moved to its present location in the 1950s.

We told its story in the book and the entry stretched to four pages and seven images ranging from Peter’s painting to some nice contemporary photographs of the interior with a couple from the past.

And that entry was just one of the 78 which featured many of our most iconic pubs running from the Northern Quarter down to All Saints.  

Most date back to the 19^th century with the odd one which could claim to have been selling pints when King George 111 lost the American colonies and a few that have not yet celebrated their 21^st birthday.

But in writing about them we wanted to tell their story, from the people who worked in them, drank in them, to the houses, factories and warehouses that surrounded them.

In that respect it has become as much a history of our city as it is a record of the 78, and has been seen by many as a celebration of a unique British institution which the owner of Sam’s warned was at risk, with on average twenty-seven closing each week.

All of which made the night at the Chop House even more special, and one to remember.

And for any of the other pubs in the book who want to have their own souvenir edition with their own painting on the front cover it can as they say be arranged, by contacting us on the link or the phone number below.

You can get a copy of the commemorative edition the book from Sam's Chop House or order the original book at www.pubbooks.co.uk or the old fashioned way on 07521 557888 or from Chorlton Bookshop

Location; Sam’s Chop House, Back Pool Fold

Pictures; on the night, 2017 from the collection of Andrew Simpson, cover of the souvenir Sam’s Chop House edition from Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures, www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk

**A new book on Manchester Pubs, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20Manchester%20Pubs