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 couldn't believe the MEN ran this shock, horror 'drugs' story about Cllr Pat Karney, MCC Councillor of Fun. Apparently in Amsterdam when Karney was 19 he had a joint. Hold the front page. Scoop.
Er no.
The information was discovered because Karney had written about it in a column for the MEN regarding the recent legalisation of drugs in Colorado - not investigative journalism's proudest moment.
Sleuth can only assume the MEN thought this was good enough to be a stand-alone article because Karney is a public figure and people might be DISGUSTED by a drugs story. DISGUSTED. In otherwords the whole thing was mischievous and spiteful.
But then again Sleuth can see the newspaper's point.
...and AmsterdamAfter all, nobody at the Manchester Evening News has ever had a joint, drank too much, taken cocaine, done anything they regret. Sleuth can confirm they all live with fluffy dogs and have weekend hobbies of litter picking and taking old people to the shops. Sleuth can also confirm that there is nothing so low, deceitful and hypocritical than newspaper folk trying to be holier-than-thou.
But then again Sleuth supposes Manchester is so quiet there aren't any real stories out there.
The MEN is better than this.
New American Brasserie To Open In The City Centre
Sleuth isn't massively sure what an 'American brasserie' is but the people behind Neighbourhood in Spinningfields are going to open one 'in a mystery location in the city centre in September' - presumably not the Arndale Food Court. Neighbourhood has been a huge success attracting a lively dress-up, big hair crowd who like to see and be seen - probably more of the latter than the former. The press release says that Neighbourhood bosses Guy Hitchen and husband and wife team James and Karina Hitchen are proud to have attracted both Manchester United and Everton football clubs to the restaurant for celebrations. Apparently Everton booked Neighbourhood to say farewell to David Moyes. Sleuth hears United have again booked the venue at the end of the present season - to say farewell to David Moyes.
Spinningfields
Speakeasy Too
The same team of Hitchens are also this year going to be opening 'a secret speakeasy in Spinningfields' at the end of March. Confidential's office is in Quay House in Spinningfields - which is referred to as 'Sleuth's secret speakeasy'. Hey this is our office. Hands off Hitchens. As if two new 'concept' venues aren't enough, also in March, the busy bunch will launch another Southern 11 in the former Brooks Brothers unit in The Avenue in Spinningfields.
New NQ Bar
There aren't enough bars in the Northern Quarter. Everybody knows this. It's ridiculous there are only four thousand bars on ten streets and only three times more cocktail variations than the whole population of the North West of England. What happened to choice? So it's welcome news that the Liquorice boys, who run the dandy little place on Pall Mall, are to open a bar in the old Paris Wholesale store on Lever Street. Mark Whyte, the charming boss of Liquorice, wants to deliver to the city 'a unique list of drinks and cocktails using fresh fruit, garden herbs, botanicals and premium spirits'. But not marijuana. So Cllr Pat Karney won't be interested.
Liquorice on Pall Mall, shakers at the ready
The Skeleton In The Cupboard
Confidential correspondent Ruth Allan forwarded Sleuth details of Alan Turing’s former house Copper Folly in Wilmslow which is up for sale for almost £1m. Turing is the famous computer pioneer and the key man behind the breaking of the German Enigma Code in WWII which speeded up the end of the war.
Copper Folly is a delightful house with five bedrooms and a gym. The Right Move estate agent blurb is perfectly delightful, the pictures lovely. But just a minute, in the paragraph about Turing isn't something missing? Doh, Right Move have forgotten to put in the fact that Turing committed suicide in the house.
The story's complicated but after this house was burgled Turing's homosexuality literally came out - which in 1952 was illegal. His punishments included chemical castration but also removal of his security clearance to the latest government research. He was found dead, according to the inquest from suicide, in Copper Folly, in 1954.
Strangely no matter how 'difficult' a property's past is, Sleuth understands there is no need for estate agents to reveal it, unless directly asked.
Hardly a happy ending for all this but in December 2013, Turing was, at last, given a Royal Pardon. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said Turing deserved to be “remembered and recognised for his contribution to the war effort” and not for his later criminal conviction.
Lovely Copper Folly with its melancholy past
Leeds Depressed But Realistic, Rochdale Rising
Sleuth made the wise decision on FA Cup weekend and went to Spotland where Rochdale FC beat Leeds United, two divisions higher, 2-0. It was a sparkling Dale performance including one of the goals of the season. This is a Youtube clip of the exquisite volley delivered in a typical Lancashire accent.
During the match Sleuth enjoyed the gallows humour of the Leeds' fans. They were singing, 'We're not famous anymore' and 'We're so shit and we're ashamed of it'. Meanwhile Rochdale fans hailing the manager of the club Keith Hill adapted the Chelsea song of Jose Mourinho to Baldy Mourinho in recognition of Hill's follically challenged noggin.
Keith Hill
Bee Here Now
Every seven days or so Sleuth is stopped in the street and asked by policemen, concierges, self-righteous hacks, Alan Turing, estate agents, secret speakeasys, American brasseries, Mark Whyte, both the Brooks brothers, Keith Hill and the fans of Leeds United, this question: "Where are the largest representations of the Manchester Bee, the animal symbol of the city."
"Why," says Sleuth, "that would be on the clock tower of the Palace Hotel, the old Refuge Assurance building on Oxford Road. Bees are used as the metre high quarters of the hour on the clock face."
And to prove this he showed all the policemen, concierges, self-righteous hacks, Alan Turing, estate agents, secret speakeasys, American brasseries, Mark Whyte, both the Brooks brothers, Keith Hill and the fans of Leeds United, this picture.
Bee time - on the quarters
