There are as many people of Indian heritage living in the UK as there are Irish, and the impact of this over the past century has been huge. Not least in terms of what we eat. Several surveys have shown curries to be the number one dish of choice among modern day Britons, although you’re unlikely to find anything close to what Ale & Aloo do. The North West’s first Indian gastropub, it offers fusion food inspired by the celebrated kitchens chef and owner Xavier has worked in, run, and set up from scratch, in locations across the Middle East and closer to home. He now has 13 openings under his belt, and 22 years experience.
If that’s not enough to tempt you, maybe he can do better. “We’re serving a variety of British-Indian dishes including small plates and pub classics with a crossover. So burgers and pizzas, Indian style, and curries, Lamb Seekh Kebab or Chicken Tikka Loaded Chips. An explosion of flavour in your mouth,” says Xavier, whose vision speaks for itself.
Other highlights at Ale & Aloo include Chicken Biryani with cinnamon and rose touch, a particularly smooth, buttery and floral Rogan Josh, and more traditional Butter Chicken “to warm you up on a rainy day,” he continues. And then there’s dessert. Indian Inspired Sticky Toffee Pudding with cardamom and star anise, Tiramisu with pistachio and saffron, to name just two. The unique food is matched with the setting itself, which is an ode to authentic British pubs. Table numbers, ordering at the bar, and an expansive selection of draught, bottled and corked drinks available, turning this into a real destination for extended stays. And that’s before we mention the pool table and darts area, which really sends the message home.