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
Sleuth Hears Of John Lewis
So Sleuth was digging around underneath the Renaissance Hotel on Deansgate. It wasn't long before a rumour surfaced. The whole 70s concrete caboodle will be demolished if, to go along with John Lewis interest, another couple of pre-lets can be achieved. Apparently John Lewis really like the site. It's over the road from Harvey Nichols and a stroll fromv M&S and Selfridges.The city desperately needs a retail boost, let's hope those pre-lets arrive soon.
Renaissance Hotel block
San Carlo Booth Bother
Some people seem concerned about the San Carlo refurbishment, that it's not quite regained its allure. Sleuth can tell you it's not finished. The booths on the left as you enter will be put back, the toilets placed downstairs and more room created for diners plus a private dining room inserted. Meanwhile the standards of food have been maintained. This Pesce Veneziana dish below was delightful, lovely clams thought Sleuth, lovely sauce too, soaked the bread up beautifully. San Carlo has always excelled at fish. And celebrities of a football and soap style. Expect them back soon with the full refurb.
Pesce Veneziana
Sleuth Hears Of Space Travelling Barmen
Sleuth remembers Ten, at 10 Tariff Street, from back in the early nineties. It used to get loads of 'name' DJs that Sleuth's forgotten and was a real 'Madchester' bar. But nothing much happened round it for years and it finally closed. Now it's re-opened as Kosmonaut with real ales, cocktails, good wines, light meals and aimed at the over 25s as a bit of a speakeasy. Here are some pictures of some interesting chairs: half-cut with a haircut perhaps? As we all know the Northern Quarter is a bit livelier now so Sleuth really hopes that Kosmonaut takes off.
Kosmonaut, nice chairs
Sleuth's Solicitor Name Of The Week
Here is the onomatopeic signboard of a Bolton solicitor that specialises in personal injury. Sleuth understands the name represents the anguished cry of town councils being taken to court over wonky paving stones, rather than the howls of people too stupid to look where they're putting their feet.
The name says it all
Sleuth Recommends: Drinks For A Break-up
Sleuth's always been childishly amused by the red wine in Salvi's, the finest deli-bar in the North of England in Exchange Square. This is called Cunto. Now from Denmark he's been sent a picture of this drink called Skum. Cunto and Skum, the perfect bottles for that final dinner before a rancorous break-up.
To be served with sour grapes
To be served with hard cheese
Sleuth's Bargain Of The Week
In an unrelated story to the above drinks one Sleuth was walking down Withy Grove the other day when he couldn't help but notice this sign on the side of Arndale Exchange. Aside from a finger of Fudge what else can you buy for 40p these days?
Fruity forty pence worth
Sleuth's Diver For RVP
Sleuth received a breathless press release this week titled 'Breaking News - Robin Van Persie'. It was about 'toy company, Character Options producing a limited number of Robin Van Persie micro-figures, depicting the star player in both Home and Away kit'. Sleuth appreciated the name of the managing director quoted in the release: Jon Diver. Not the best surname thinks Sleuth for a company rushing out a model of a centre forward.
V.Persie - something like him anyway.
Sleuth's Things You Don't See On Manchester Pavements - Usually
So Sleuth has a Longsight correspondent, The Hyperopian, and she sent him this. 'Walking past Manchester Pets & Aquatics (Ardwick) I saw a member of their staff stood a little farther down the road. He had a very large tortoise ambling beside him. Apparently, the tortoise is called Hercules, is eighteen years old, weighs nine stones, and likes to go for a walk'. Presumably a slow one thinks Sleuth. Still it'd make a change in a TV news report if a presenter said: "Today a man walking his tortoise found......"
Hercules
