City spotlight: The history of the Victorian Chop House Company
We look at the rise, fall and rise again of the northern dining institution that has been part of the city's DNA for more than 150: the Victorian Chop House Company now has three local restaurants under its belt, Mr Thomas's Chop House, Sam's Chop House and Albert Square Chop House.
Mr Thomasâs Chop House (est 1867)
Manchester, 1867. Cottonopolis is is booming and a young London-born chef named Thomas Studd has created a new venture in the heart of the cityâs power base. Opposite the original Town Hall, Mr Thomasâs opens â and a Manchester institution is born.
As the gastropubs of their day, chop houses were a meeting place for movers and shakers â somewhere to exchange ideas over meaty dishes. At times, theyâve hung on by a thread, but these days theyâre in rude health. Thatâs largely down to the owner of The Victorian Chop House Company, Roger Ward. Today, his three restaurants â Mr Thomasâs, Samâs and Albert Square â are thriving. Mr Thomasâs was Wardâs and his business partner Steve Pillingâs first restoration, which carefully preserved the exterior and original floor.
Fun fact: Mr Thomasâs wife ran the show Thomas married Sarah, a Yorkshire farmer's daughter, when he was 20. When Thomas died in 1880, aged 45, Sarah took over the business (while raising seven children).
Samâs Chop House (est 1872)
Samâs was also opened by Thomas Studd, named for his son. Opening on Market Street in 1872, it moved to its current premises, on a backstreet just off Chapel Walks, in the mid