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
Caffe Grande To Open
The Individual Restaurant Group is expanding at last into the empty unit on Albert Square. This will connect to existing IRG restaurant, Piccolino, on Clarence Street. Cards are being kept close to the chest at present but Sleuth hears the place will be more of a bar type venue but with lots of beautiful pastries and cakes to suit the impressive location facing Manchester Town Hall. It will be open in time to take advantage of the Christmas markets.
The Favourite View Of The Manchester Town Hall
The architect of Manchester Town Hall was Alfred Waterhouse. All Mancs are reminded of this because Wetherspoons have thoughtfully opened a pub on Princess Street behind the Town Hall commemorating the long dead architect. Sleuth thinks teetotal Waterhouse's spirit will surely approve of the range of budget beers and two for one spirits on offer. Anyway Waterhouse's favourite view of his own building was the one from the pavement just outside Caffe Grande. He thought it got all the best bits in.
The architect's favourite view of the Town Hall from Caffe Grande
Ask Want Lots Of New Restaurants
Property developer Ask is apparently in talks with 'occupiers for nine restaurant/cafe units, ranging in size from 1,000-7,000 sq ft, and wants to feature a mix of independents and established brands'. This welcome news comes from Business Desk and concerns the First Street development anchored by under-construction Home arts centre between Whitworth Street West and the Mancunian Way. The biggest unit is said to have attracted 'a national player' wanting to launch in Manchester. Sleuth really hopes in the end there'll be no bleeding Cafe Rouges and other franchise yawn involved.
HOME arts centre at First Street as it may look
Sleuth's Keeping-Your-Options-Open Quote Of The Week
Sleuth loved how the First Street development director Leon Guyett in the above story is quoted as saying: "We need to make sure that whatever we put in will be attractive to students, white collar workers, people coming in the evening, theatre-goers, business travellers staying at the hotel and people who live in the area." Sleuth feels Guyett could have edited himself down in that quote to a simple emotional appeal, "We want everyone to come. Just everyone...anyone...we love you all and we need al the help we can get."
Sleuth Meets Four Lolitas
Sleuth was on a Manchester tour this weekend. There were people from all over the world and four young women dressed exotically. "I love your costumes," said one guest. "They're not costumes, they're what we always wear. We're part of the Lolita groups," came the rebuke. Sleuth was alarmed by this, "What the Vladimir Nabokov novel?" "No, no," the girls said, "it's a Japanese thing where you dress in Victorian costume." Sleuth looked it up here. Lolita fashion is a way of showing individuality and rejecting the sexualisation of fashion. The world is a very interesting place, thought Sleuth.
Group and Lolitas
Scottish Steaks Come South Before Referendum
Sleuth hears The Scottish Steak Club at the Macdonald Manchester Hotel has just re-opened. The restaurant in the London Road Hotel, between Piccadilly Station and the Mancunian Way, has been renovated with an open-plan kitchen. The restaurant boasts 'Scottish and Argentine steaks' which finish ageing in the hotel for as long as 35 days. Sleuth isn't sure in which part of Scotland Argentina is located within but is assurred it's probably in the extreme south west.
"We're voting to stay in the United Kingdom, we like being eaten all over Britain."
Bus-stop Fails Test
A Twitter botherer posted this picture on Twitter below and got a bit stuffy about it. Sleuth thinks it's funny as a one-off. Another Twitterer pointed out that the spelling was not the only incorrect thing. The sign in Whalley Range should have read William Hulme Grammar as Hulme Grammar is in Oldham. And also GMPTE no longer exists, it's now TFGM.
How are you spelling that?
Rare Beast Spotted In Manchester
Sleuth felt dizzy and nearly fell on his head after spotting this rare beast on a Sunday morning in Sackville Gardens.
Wow. An empty bin
Normal Service Resumed
Fortunately Sleuth was pleased to see in Castlefield on Monday that normal service had been resumed.
Castlefield and it's back to normal
Man Overwhelmed By Birthday Greetings
When you're bronze and with a pigeon often perched on your head it's easy to be overlooked. So Sleuth was happy that Alan Turing in Sackville Gardens has been showered with cards over his June birthday. Apparently there's no cake left because the greedy science pioneer ate it all in minutes through his bronze cakehole. With assistance from his friends, the pigeons.
Alan says thanks
Sleuth's Lies To Tell Tourists
These bees that have occupied this bird box on a tree in St John's Gardens in the city centre. Wisely they've been sponsored by Farrow & Ball paints, as they are a better class of city slicker buzzers, who appreciate the good things in life.
Farrow & Ball sponsor bees
