A couple of weeks ago, we posted that the Mechanics 1855 Bistro & Bar had had a makeover and was back open with a delicious-sounding menu.
When you think of dining at the Burnley Mechanics, you may believe it’s open for pre-theatre dining only. However, it’s actually open 11am-2.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and for pre-theatre dining two hours before most performances.
Burnley.co.uk decided to take our lunch break to the next level and headed there to see what the menu was like – and we left completely full and impressed.
We ordered from the lunch menu and chose the Bury black pudding and smoked cheese bons bons and smoked haddock and leek fishcake with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce for starters. They were beautifully presented and tasted incredible.
Next up were Korean sticky udon noodles with tempura king prawns, which came with a side of prawn crackers and braised shin of beef served with champ mash. Handily, the menu explains that champ mash is an Irish side dish of mash with spring onions, diced smoked bacon, salted butter and parsley. It was the perfect warming meal when the weather outside was very wet and cold.
The service was efficient, friendly and professional, whilst the new interiors made us feel as though we were dining in a city centre restaurant, but without the price tag.
Did you know that Burnley Leisure & Culture, which is behind 197 Bistro & Bar at Towneley Golf Course, 1955 Kitchen & Bar at Prairie Sports Village, 1855 Bistro & Bar at Burnley Mechanics Theatre and the Boathouse Café in Thompson Park, is a non-for profit registered charity? When you spend money here, it is reinvested into Burnley, from stroke and cardiac rehabilitation to swimming lessons for children, plus much more.
We also like that the cooking oil is turned into green energy and biodiesel – we love it when things are kept as local and environmentally friendly as possible.
We had eyed up desserts such as Bakewell traybake and Manchester Tart with jam and double cream but had to admit defeat. Children can also dine for £6.50, including a drink and ice-cream.
After our lunch, we spoke to Mark Dempsey, Head of Culture & Hospitality at Burnley Leisure, who told us that £130,000 has been spent on refurbing the facilities, with £80,000 alone put towards upgrading the toilets.
“The building is beautiful, but the toilets hadn’t been updated since 1986 so it was well overdue, we especially love the Neal & Wolf hand soap and moisturiser, a real touch of luxury. There is new seating and lighting in the bistro, and we feel the changes have elevated both the dining and theatre experience for customers.”
It follows the more than £85,000 invested by Burnley Leisure into the Prairie Sports Village, with a huge refurbishment of the 1955 Kitchen & Bar, interiors and hospitality facilities.
A big thank you to Burnley Mechanics for our delicious lunch and allowing us to have a look round the facilities, it’s fantastic to see the theatre back open and a transformed town centre dining offering.