SleuthSleuth is a sideways glance at the city every week, it's the truth, but Sleuth's truth. He's several people all at once. We give £25 for every story/rumour and piece of absurdity you find for us to publish. Sleuth sometimes even gets serious. We ask for the money back if any legal action follows. Follow Sleuth on twitter @mcrsleuth
Black Lion To Close
This Saturday there's going to be a wake for the loss of a charming and occasionally brilliant pub. The Black Lion, boozer, artspace, theatre, movie house, is overstretched financially and the charming tenants are having to turn off the lights. The problem is that the classic Victorian boozer at the junction of Blackfriars and Chapel Street isn't turning over enough moolah. Sleuth hopes to get to the wake to pay his respects. But what Sleuth suspects is that Enterprise Inns, one of the pubcos blighting modern British life, has not been helpful. Pubcos control the drink supply and charge tenants a fortune for each barrel. Each pint sold results in only a rattling tin of twopenny bits making its way back to the tenants. This is largely the reason so many pubs are closing. Very sad.
Black Lion
Elixir Opens
As one pub closes its doors another bar opens their's. Elixir on Deansgate, opposite John Rylands Library is now operating. Escapade Bars who operate a drinks and bar consultancy across the country have now a proper permanent showcase for the type of thing they offer. The bar is a funky space on two levels, with the DJ behind a booth on the wall. "We want the place to feel distinctive and different," said Jaime of Escapade. Sleuth loves the originality of the drinks. Check out the La Petite Voliere on the menu below. There's a small food menu too. "We want to give this part of the city a top end Northern Quarter bar, something maybe with an indie metropolitan vibe," said the other owner, Dan. Sleuth wishes them luck.
Interesting drinks menu
Shaun Ryder De-Sweared
Sleuth was chatting round the city on Monday. He loved the story he heard about Shaun Ryder's latest book, What Planet Am I On? Ryder believes in aliens, he's even got a TV show taking him around the world trying to find evidence of extra-terrestrial visitations. Anyway the ghost-writer (or should that be alien-writer?) Luke Bainbridge produced text based on Ryder's voice as it was recorded. Thing is Shaun wants this one to be appreciated by his family, so he asked for the text to be "de-fucked". The book is now expletive bare. Shame as when people see the entertaining book the usual reaction is, "What the fuck!"
Sleuth suspects Ryder's ears have been made a bit more Spock-like in this pic
Big Banker Man In The News
Sleuth, earlier this year, met Paul Flowers (main picture above), the arrested and disgraced ex-Chair of the hapless Coop Bank, once the pride of this city's financial sector. He was still in post at the time and talked of his methodist ministry and his former life as a Bradford Councillor. He even gave Sleuth his business card. Sleuth thought he was a big man massively in love with himself but Flowers never offered Sleuth drugs or access to illegal downloads nor did he invite Sleuth to an all expenses paid luxury lunch. Clearly Flowers was a bon viveur but nothing wrong with that. So is Sleuth. Odd how quickly fortunes change, how debts have to be paid. Flowers has withered in winter.
Card of a disgraced banker
Honest Hotelier Of Hotel Gotham
Sleuth was talking to Robin Sheppard about the his Hotel Gotham idea above Jamie's Italian in Lutyens' glorious Midland Bank. He said: "Ive got an excellent company Squid Ink to do the interior design. I've told them to think outside the box, really go for it." Sheppard paused: "I also said I'll be an over-bearing client that will interfere constantly. It seemed best to be upfront."
Hotel Gotham at 100 King Street
Crispy Squirrel And Vimto Trifle
Sleuth was at the charming launch of Robert Owen Brown's book Crispy Squirrel and Vimto Trifle on Monday in the Mark Addy. Sleuth loves the book. "Excellent stuff this," he said to Owen Brown, "loads of accessible recipes but some are a bit more problematical. How for example does one source the squirrel of the title? Never seen it in a butcher's." "Trap them yourself," came the reply complete with a cheeky grin. "Grey squirrels are horrible you'd be doing the country a favour," Owen Brown continued. "They pushing red squirrels to the verge of extinction. I have a soft spot for red squirrels because of my red hair. I'm probably genetically related." Squirrels and chefs. Complete nuts. 
He's part squirrel
Butcher Humour
During the above launch Owen Brown's mate Big Louie did a five minute stand-up routine. "It suprised me to see in a book by chef here, some vegetarian recipes. Very good I hear too. Are there any veggies in the room tonight?" Several hands were raised. "Surprised you had the energy to lift your arms," quipped Big Louie. There were several chuckles but one person choked on his beer, spluttered and then howled with uncontrollable laughter. This was Lee Frost, the well-known teetotal (Is that right, Ed?) butcher of Chorlton. Sleuth was tickled by a butcher creased up by a vegetarian joke.
Sleuth's View Off
Twitter had a face off for views over city on Thursday. As a good Confidential member Sleuth thought @JonathSchofield's city view was best. Although the @MCRHouse's offering was good. Sleuth had to laugh at @AngryBeetham's pic though which simply said: ME LOOKING AT MY FEET.
@JonathSchofield's busy skies
@MCRHouse's sunset view
@AngryBeetham looking at his feet
Big Umbrella Boat Of The Week
Every seven days or so Sleuth is stopped in the street by policemen, concierges, Paul Flowers, Owls and Pussycats, sad Black Lions, Elixirs of Life, Grey Squirrels, Red Squirrels and all the aliens in Shaun Ryder's head and asked: "Where can we find an upturned umbrella that might substitute as a pea green boat should we decide to go to sea and get married in the land where the Bong Tree grows?"
"Why," says Sleuth, "that would be in Spinningfields after a very windy night."
And to prove this he showed the policemen, concierges, Paul Flowers, Owls and Pussycats, sad Black Lions, Elixirs of Life, Grey Squirrels, Red Squirrels and all the aliens in Shaun Ryder's head, these pictures.
If you should wish to go to sea...
