The Blackbird group

The Blackbird Group is headed up by Andy James, a Manchester hospitality professional and chef whose cooking has built a cult following for big-flavour comfort food done properly, from award-winning pies and standout roasts to smash burgers and a “proper chippy tea”. He’s worked in kitchens since his teens and sharpened his craft across some of the city’s best-loved venues, including roles at Cane & Grain, Bunny Jackson’s and The Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats.

Best known as the founder behind Ate Days A Week, Andy helped turn a lockdown-born idea into one of Greater Manchester’s most talked-about independents, celebrated for music-themed menus and British Pie Awards success (including the much-loved “Pie of the Tiger”). That same creative energy now runs through The Blackbird Group, a family of concepts that share the same DNA: quality local ingredients, obsessive attention to the basics, and food that feels fun, generous, and unapologetically indulgent.

The Blackbird Group brings together five brands under one Northern umbrella:

  • Blackbird Kitchen at Gorilla, Manchester - the group’s current flagship kitchen, known for its award-winning pies and a seriously strong Sunday roast reputation, including being ranked 8th best in the UK by Good Roast Guides.

  • Blackbird Burger – the burger arm of the group, serving stacked, flavour-led burgers and comfort classics with a new venue coming soon!

  • Ate Days A Week – the original, music-themed concept that made Andy’s name, built on handmade pies and inventive specials that earned major local buzz and national pie-award credibility.

  • Smash & Dash – a high-energy smash-burger and loaded-fries concept that launched as a new project from the Ate Days A Week team and quickly became a go-to for late-night comfort food.

  • Len’s Chippy (Droylsden) – a classic British chippy done right, pairing fish-and-chips tradition with the group’s trademark pastry game (including the same award-winning pie pedigree).

Across every brand, the through-line is clear: Andy and The Blackbird Group are building modern Manchester institutions rooted in craft, driven by hospitality, and designed to make people leave happier than when they arrived.