scorecardTake a look inside a Boeing 737 plane that's been converted into a steakhouse
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Take a look inside a Boeing 737 plane that's been converted into a steakhouse

Grace Dean   

Take a look inside a Boeing 737 plane that's been converted into a steakhouse
Grace Dean/Insider
  • The Steakout, also known as Steaks on a Plane, is a restaurant in a converted Boeing 737 plane.
  • Its wings have been cut off and its insides largely gutted, but you can still visit the cockpit.

If you love dining on a plane but don't want to travel anywhere, you're in for a treat.

If you love dining on a plane but don
Grace Dean/Insider

A Boeing 737 fuselage has been converted into a restaurant selling steak, chicken, and fries in Bolton, northern England.

A Boeing 737 fuselage has been converted into a restaurant selling steak, chicken, and fries in Bolton, northern England.
Grace Dean/Insider

The restaurant is officially called The Steakout, but it also goes by the tagline "Steaks on a Plane." It describes itself as a "unique dining experience."

The restaurant is officially called The Steakout, but it also goes by the tagline "Steaks on a Plane." It describes itself as a "unique dining experience."
Grace Dean/Insider

This is the restaurant as you approach from the sidewalk. The plane is surrounded by cars, presumably owned by staff and diners, and the restaurant's planning permission included eight parking spaces.

This is the restaurant as you approach from the sidewalk. The plane is surrounded by cars, presumably owned by staff and diners, and the restaurant
Grace Dean/Insider

In a 2016 report, local planning officers said a restaurant in a converted fuselage would be "innovative" and an "unusual feature" that could improve the appearance of the area.

In a 2016 report, local planning officers said a restaurant in a converted fuselage would be "innovative" and an "unusual feature" that could improve the appearance of the area.
A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX 8200.      Boeing

The plane's wings have sadly been cut off. It had a large electronic screen on the side, but it wasn't turned on when I visited. The screen was originally intended to house digital advertisements, but the Highways Authority didn't support the plan, saying it could distract drivers. It's unclear whether it has ever been used.

The plane
Grace Dean/Insider

There was also this bizarre contraption, which looked like it may have been sending oil to the kitchen, or otherwise removing waste.

There was also this bizarre contraption, which looked like it may have been sending oil to the kitchen, or otherwise removing waste.
Grace Dean/Insider

This is what the restaurant looked like from the other side.

This is what the restaurant looked like from the other side.
Grace Dean/Insider

There were two flights of stairs up to the restaurant – one for dine-in customers and one for people buying takeout.

There were two flights of stairs up to the restaurant – one for dine-in customers and one for people buying takeout.
Grace Dean/Insider

Walking up the stairs for dine-in customers, you could turn right for the dining room – or left to enter the cockpit.

Walking up the stairs for dine-in customers, you could turn right for the dining room – or left to enter the cockpit.
Grace Dean/Insider

The cockpit was fun to see inside, with LED lights recreating the view from a plane window...

The cockpit was fun to see inside, with LED lights recreating the view from a plane window...
Grace Dean/Insider

... but it looked a little grubby up close.

... but it looked a little grubby up close.
Grace Dean/Insider

"Adults come in and play in the cockpit," its owner told The Manchester Evening News in 2017. "The adults love it more than the kids I think."

"Adults come in and play in the cockpit," its owner told The Manchester Evening News in 2017. "The adults love it more than the kids I think."
Grace Dean/Insider

But while I was there, the only other diners I saw venture into the cockpit were a young child and his family.

But while I was there, the only other diners I saw venture into the cockpit were a young child and his family.
Grace Dean/Insider

The plane's original interior had been ripped out and replaced with built-in booth-style tables and chairs. The open kitchen was located at the back, and there were no restrooms.

The plane
Grace Dean/Insider

The views from the windows weren't as exciting as they are when you're midair: Out of one side you could watch the traffic go past, while out of the other you could see cars come and go in the parking lot.

The views from the windows weren
Grace Dean/Insider

When the restaurant first opened in early 2017, the decor probably looked fun and modern.

When the restaurant first opened in early 2017, the decor probably looked fun and modern.
Grace Dean/Insider

But it had clearly endured some wear and tear over the years.

But it had clearly endured some wear and tear over the years.
Grace Dean/Insider

The restaurant had an extensive menu, though most dishes on it were variations of sliced beef or chicken, served with accompaniments like cheese, fries, a fried egg, and salad, or in a burger or wrap.

The restaurant had an extensive menu, though most dishes on it were variations of sliced beef or chicken, served with accompaniments like cheese, fries, a fried egg, and salad, or in a burger or wrap.
Grace Dean/Insider

The prices seemed really reasonable. It was £5.50 ($6.20) for a steak and egg burger, £4.50 ($5.10) for a chicken wrap, and £9.50 ($10.10) for steaks and fries. I went for a Philly steak, which came with fries, onions, cheddar cheese, and a small side salad. With a drink added, the total came to £11.50 (around $13).

The prices seemed really reasonable. It was £5.50 ($6.20) for a steak and egg burger, £4.50 ($5.10) for a chicken wrap, and £9.50 ($10.10) for steaks and fries. I went for a Philly steak, which came with fries, onions, cheddar cheese, and a small side salad. With a drink added, the total came to £11.50 (around $13).
Grace Dean/Insider

I'd never had a Philly cheese steak before, and it didn't look quite like I'd expected. The portion of fries was covered with thinly-sliced beef and sautéed onions, and then drowned in a mound of grated cheese.

I
Grace Dean/Insider

I personally don't like beef, but I felt like I should try The Steakout's namesake dish. The steak, sliced into very thin pieces, wasn't able to convince me. The fries were delicious, though, and the service was fast. There were a number of sauces dotted round the tables in large tubs.

I personally don
Grace Dean/Insider

And as I made my way through the meal, the cheese did start to melt. Despite opting to dine in, everything was served in the same polystyrene trays used for takeout customers, and I was given disposable cutlery to use.

And as I made my way through the meal, the cheese did start to melt. Despite opting to dine in, everything was served in the same polystyrene trays used for takeout customers, and I was given disposable cutlery to use.
Grace Dean/Insider

The restaurant is around 15 miles from the center of Manchester, just over the road from the University of Bolton, and is also close to a college. The Steakout was previously operated from a red double-decker bus on the same site the plane is now on.

The restaurant is around 15 miles from the center of Manchester, just over the road from the University of Bolton, and is also close to a college. The Steakout was previously operated from a red double-decker bus on the same site the plane is now on.
Grace Dean/Insider

There were other fast-food joints just over the road from The Steakout.

There were other fast-food joints just over the road from The Steakout.
Grace Dean/Insider

But The Steakout seemed to have a steady stream of customers when I was there. The other diners in the restaurant seemed to be largely students, probably lured in by the cheap prices and quick service.

But The Steakout seemed to have a steady stream of customers when I was there. The other diners in the restaurant seemed to be largely students, probably lured in by the cheap prices and quick service.
Grace Dean/Insider

Personally I'm not in a rush to go back to The Steakout, but that's mainly because I don't like steak.

Personally I
Grace Dean/Insider

I thought the cockpit could do with a bit of a clean, too.

I thought the cockpit could do with a bit of a clean, too.
Grace Dean/Insider

But I can understand why the novelty on dining on a plane in the middle of Bolton would appeal to diners.

But I can understand why the novelty on dining on a plane in the middle of Bolton would appeal to diners.
Grace Dean/Insider
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