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. Sleuth sometimes even gets serious @mcrsleuth
ED'S STRIKES AGAIN
You remember Ed's? The retro American-themed diner that was supposed to be opening in the fine Grade II-listed mock Tudor building on King Street. Yes, yes they had a wrangle with the City Council over the size of their signs, or windows or burgers or something, threw the toys out the tram and packed off back to Park Lane. Well, according to Sleuth's tuned-in pals on the skyscrapercity forum, Ed's are planning another run on Manchester, this time in... Debenham's. At last. Wing tips and wings'n'chips.
Ed's for Debenhams?RETAIL’S GRIM REAPER SCYTHES KING STREET
Sleuth hears on the rumour mill that not only is high-tone gents retailer Crombie closing on King Street but also Jaeger at the Deansgate end of the street and Tommy Hilfiger at the Cross Street junction. Big shame. Sleuth loved matching his pure white fitted shirts from Jaeger, his grey and beautifully fitted suits from Crombie and his bright red Vantage sneakers from Tommy Hilfiger. For the record Tommy Hilfiger closes at the end of this month and Jaeger probably immediately after Christmas. Poor King Street and poor Sleuth.
Gonney Hilfiger
Later Jaeger...
The city centre's retail future?NEW BEER CAF'
Sleuth hears Northern Quarter beer merchants, Beermoth, are planning to open a new 'modern, Belgian style, beer cafe' on Brown Street - near Panama Hatty's. The design statement reads: 'Our aim is to provide a comfortable, relaxed space to enjoy a carefully curated selection of beer and coffee'. The new Beermoth caf' - open from 7.30am to 1.30am - will feature an 'extensive, high-quality beer menu' and 'quality coffee from local roasters'. You can see the various planning docs here. This is good news. Though Sleuth hopes it doesn't get overrun by self-satisfied 'aren't we cool' beer swillers. The last thing beer needs is the same extremes of artifice that mark the wine market.
Proposed Beermoth site on Brown Street (image credit: Google Street)
Beermoth shop on Tib StreetSLEUTH AND THE SWOLLEN CHARLIES
Following on from Sleuth’s cycling stories last week it’s time to talk saddles. Sleuth was in a cycling shop this week when a dapper gentleman came in and said: “May I have a man’s saddle?” Sleuth didn’t realise there were male and female saddles. “You see,” continued the man, all elegant moustache and tweed, definitely more Brompton than lycra, “those leather saddles have hospitalised me once already you know. No give in them. Last time my charlies swelled so much one nearly burst, hence the hospital.” Charlies? Sleuth thought he was joking and laughed. The man pointed out that swollen charlies are no laughing matter. True. True also for those cycling specialists there are indeed male and female saddles. The world is weird.
Sleuth's guide to saddles...
Bad for the charlies
Men's saddle designed for the charlies
Women's saddle designed for God knows what
Unisex saddle - one for the horses WATER FEATURE PLANNED FOR PICCADILLY GARDENS
Sleuth vaguely remembers a water feature in Piccadilly Gardens. He now wonders where it was, there's a big fenced off paved area supporting flower beds and pigeons with a ditch around it and then some patchy grass but otherwise nothing much liquid. So Sleuth is pleased for one day only - Friday 28 August - the National Trust is bringing 'the magic of the coast' to Manchester. Water returns. Virtually. A 'Giant Shell' or even a '4D, multi-sensory experience' will wash up at the Queen Victoria statue, Piccadilly Gardens allowing people 'to see, smell, hear and taste the sea this summer'. Sounds lovely. The experience is part of the National Trust’s #lovethecoast campaign to reignite Britain’s love of the coast. Sleuth now hears Manchester is preparing its own version next year which will also tour the country. This will be a 'Giant Hell', a 4D, multi-sensory experience allowing people to smell, hear and taste Piccadilly Gardens. Sleuth reckons it will truly astonish people over the way the city treats its largest central public space.
The Giant Shell in London. 
Giant Hell, coming to a town near youOH WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE
National Burger Day came around this week, following the very messy National Rice Pudding Day and Don't Be A Bully Month - which didn't go to plan. Anyway, being a keen bean, Sleuth tries to honour as many National and International Days as he possibly can, for example, Sleuth will spend most of today thrashing around his mouse for Race Your Mouse Around The Icons Day. These are some of Sleuth's favourite times of the year (these are all real):
- Lock up your Grandad, it's 'Gorgeous Grandma Day' - 23 July
- Fetch me my nose flute boy, 'Unusual Instrument Day' - 31 July
- Celebrate Ebola at 'Virus Appreciation Day' - 3 Oct
- It's 'National Baby Safety Month' this September, rest of the year it can fend for itself...
What a world.
SLEUTH'S PAL GOES MISSING
Sleuth took a tour of the new Pen & Pencil bar and restaurant opening on Tariff Street this weekend. It's abit of a Mad Men affair, all 60s New York, steak, eggs and cocktails that'd put hairs on your elbows. Sleuth's pal came along for a nosey but soon went missing. After some time Sleuth became worried and went looking for his pal, eventually finding him in the toilet. 'What are you up to in here?' asked Sleuth. 'Oh, erm, yes, right, well, oh, er, that'll do, off we go...' replied Sleuth's pal, scurrying out of the toilets. Sleuth was very confused, until he saw the wallpaper. 'Blimey,' said Sleuth to the owner, 'you don't see that in Farrow & Ball...'
Pen & Pencil toilet wallpaper - crickey o'reillySLEUTH'S BIGGEST BALLS OF MANCHESTER PRIDE 2105
Mirror, mirror on the Village wall who has the biggest silver balls of them all?
New York, New York on Bloom Street has the biggest silver balls of them all
Er...of course.
Massive silver balls
