Only opening back in May 2024, Skof has already hit the ground running and tonight (February 10) at the 2025 Michelin Guide ceremony the Manchester restaurant has been awarded its first Michelin star. Roux Scholar, Great British Menu winner and former executive chef of three Michelin-starred restaurant L’Enclume in Cartmel, Lake District, Tom Barnes, was awarded the accolade at the ceremony held at Kelvingrove Museum and Gallery in Glasgow.
Skof was one of 22 restaurants in the UK and Ireland that received one Michelin star on the evening, with the dining spot now becoming the second Manchester restaurant to hold the prestigious award. Mana in Ancoats received its first star in 2019, just one year after opening and marked Manchester’s first Michelin Star restaurant in 40 years.
Situated within the terracotta tiled Hanover building, built by the Co-operative Wholesale Society as a drapery warehouse in 1904, Skof is located just a stone’s throw away from New Century. Even before receiving a Michelin star, both locals and visitors from afar have being trying to bag themselves a table at the Manchester restaurant, yet Skof is almost completely booked out with reservations for the next three months.
The modern British restaurant has already won praise from the National Restaurant Awards just days after opening and landed in the Michelin Inspectors’ Favourite New Restaurants in August last year. Plus, just last week it won ‘Best New Restaurant’ in the Good Food Guide Awards.
After 12 years with Simon Rogan at UMBEL Restaurants, notably, as head chef at Rogan & Co when it received a Michelin star, and executive chef at L’Enclume when it gained its coveted third star, Tom has moved away from The Lakes yet remains closely linked to the group. Skof is owned and operated by Tom Barnes but forms part of the next iteration of UMBEL Restaurants, where the group will support talented individuals in opening their own restaurants and businesses.
Alongside Skof receiving a Michelin star, it’s worth mentioning that Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume has once again retained its three Michelin stars, but has now been joined by another North West restaurant. Moor Hall in Aughton, just under an hour’s drive from Manchester and known for their new garden rooms, has now achieved three Michelin stars in this year’s Michelin Guide.
Furthermore, Plates in London, run by Kirk Haworth who represented the North West region in last year’s Great British Menu competition, was the first fully plant-based restaurant in the UK and Ireland to receive a Michelin star. You can find the full list of winners here.
Skof serves 12 course or 16 course tasting menus for £120 or £165 in the evenings, or there is also a £50 lunch option of four courses. You can book a table here.