Sleuth 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
AUMBRY 'TO LET'
Sleuth could feel this one in his water. Aumbry, the twee cottage restaurant that's been cooking above its station in Prestwich since 2009, looks doomed. At least, it's bags are packed and by the back door. Yesterday the 'To Let' signs went up outside the restaurant. Sleuth isn't overly surprised. Half owner, head chef, Great British Menu finalist and Queen of Aumbry, Mary Ellen McTague, popped up at the back end of NQ's Teacup in late-September to open a 'temporary' restaurant - 4244 (reviewed here) - for a few weeks while Aumbry was under 'renovation'. She's still there...
Sleuth thinks Aumbry's closure is a shame, but means McTague's very British, very Bury cooking will likely stay in the city centre. Sleuth isn't one to spread rumours (much) about the next move, but Sleuth recently caught McTague snooping around Old Granada Studios...
Aumbry looks doomed
MCR'S ORIGINAL ITALIAN GETS... WELL, A NEW ITALIAN
Back in 1977 the first Apple computer went on sale, Elvis died on the khazi and United sacked manager Tommy Docherty for taking extra training sessions with his physio's missus... and Italian restaurants were still 'far-out, man'. So when Manchester gained Pizzeria Italia on 31 December 1977 on Deansgate (beneath Manchester's truly terrible Renaissance Hotel and Premier House) the beige suits, wing collars and peacock frocks descended, slinging back Pina Coladas, blowing smoke into each others hair and staring at spaghetti bolognese in confusion. Folk moved on, the restaurant stayed in 1977.
Soon to be Dom's on the corner of Deansgate and Blackfriar's
Pizzaria Italia became Rustica. Rustica became Italia. Italia became closed. Now closed is becoming, you guessed it, a new Italian. Sleuth hears the new Italian gaff will be called Dom's (Dominoes was taken) and comes from the lot behind Al Bacio's Italian Restaurant... Al Bacio... you know... the one on South King Street... just up from Pizza Express... the Pizza Express opposite 2 Kozy restaurant... 2 Kozy... the one above South... South... oh forget it.
Al Bacio... yeah that one
SPEAKING OF NEW ITALIANS...
At the other end of the Italian spectrum comes San Carlo's Fumo, which Sleuth reckons will be worth slipping ones slacks on for. Fumo, a San Carlo brand only open in Birmingham until now, will open within two weeks (Tues 25 November'ish) and occupy a 5,500 sq ft space at the handsome new One St Peter's Square (also the new home of accountancy big'un KPMG). Fumo will mix full San Carlo restaurant with Cicchetti lighter bites and a late-night bar (2am licence), and is likely to be as popular with all The Suits as the other brands are with flash footballers and popstars. Accountants are the new footballers, after all. Confidential knows this because we've played CLB Coopers accountants at 11-a-side footy and we won 2-1. In a Ukranian kit. Writers are the new footballers, after all.
One St Peter's
Fumo CGI
ADRIFT EXISTS AND COMES TO REST
Just about Sleuth's favourite statue is Adrift which was cast Adrift during the Central Library/St Peter's Square refurbishment. It shows a doomed family adrift on a raft in heavy seas: an adolescent boy and girl seem close to death. The mother is trying to protect the baby, the father is raging against the dying of the light. They're all just about naked. It's a faintly ridiculous, 1907 work, by John Cassidy: an allegory about life's struggles. It's ridiculous but marvellous. Sleuth loves it, especially as the man's torso is modelled on Sleuth's.
Modelled on Sleuth's torso
Not modelled on Sleuth's torso
SLEUTH WILL BE NICE
Sleuth thinks the most ridiculous, bloody-minded, counter to common sense, waste of public money is the Library Walk glass blob: Confidential's been banging on about that for months and months and the obstruction is presently the subject of a public inquiry. Yet Sleuth also thinks the landscaping, benches, the paving around much of Central Library is superb, top-notch, uplifting and inspiring. Dear Manchester City Council, you've been naughty over Library Walk, but this is brilliant.
Nice space even in the rain
SLEUTH AND TRUE ENTRE-PEE-NEURSHIP
Gold splashes the bucketSleuth was on a coach tour the other day stuck in traffic. "This reminds me of the worst time ever, a few years ago," said the driver. "High winds had closed the Barton viaduct on the M60. It took me nine hours to get from Urmston into town." "Nine hours?" said Sleuth. "Some people did ok from it though. There was a guy on Regent Road with a bucket and a blanket. Made a fortune," said the driver. "I don't follow," said Sleuth. "He was charging £1 for people to relieve themselves in the bucket while he held a blanket round them. Then he emptied the bucket into the drainage grills and moved to the next vehicle. Very entrepreneurial I suppose."
BREAKING BEZ NEWS
Sleuth mentioned weeks ago that to tackle the constant stream of Bez news pouring into his inbox, Sleuth would give over a special spot in his column to see what the jelly-legged, maraca-man had been up to...
This week: Bez gets on a boat...
'Happy Mondays star Bez is set to showcase his many talents aboard the Teesside Princess this Saturday night. As well as his signature dance, Bez is set to DJ and has promised to provide percussion at the house and techno rave down the Tees - as well as dropping in some ‘Madchester’ beats.' - Teeside Evening Gazette
Sleuth's tried to bag tickets on SeatWave but didn't have a spare £1.37. Stockton-on-Tees is going to go wild.
Bez: coming to a boat in the Tees
SLEUTH'S LEAST LIKELY ADVERTISING HOARDING TO SELL ANYTHING AT ALL...
Sleuth happened across this half-arsed thing attached to Arndale Food Courts at the bottom end of Market Street this week. Now that could be an ad for a cruise, a phone, or SPAM. Sleuth ain't the foggiest...
