SLEUTH | Tall Towers, Lofty Restaurants, Peter Mandelson and Vag

Confidentials 7 October 2016

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. Sometimes Sleuth even gets serious @mcrsleuth

MANCHESTER CONFIDENTIAL LOVES TALL BUILDINGS

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, was forthright on his regular blog this week about the controversial towers proposed for Jackson’s Row and Bootle Street by the Gary Neville-led consortium. He said: ‘People will like it or they won't but I've heard some pretty silly arguments, not least that the development would somehow overshadow the Town Hall. The only really good views of the Town Hall are from Albert Square or along Brazenose Street and when you're looking at the Town Hall from these locations you wouldn't be able to see the new development, and if you're looking at the proposed development you can't see the Town Hall. Think some people just don't like tall buildings.’

He’s right in a way, thinks Sleuth, although the best view of the Town Hall and the one the architect, Alfred Waterhouse, preferred was from Princess Street close to where Caffe Grande Piccolino Grande. But he’s wrong when he says ‘people just don’t like tall buildings’, no doubt referring to our comments and articles along with those of other commentators. Confidential adores tall buildings but these vast black-clad, monstrously bulky pair of towers will absolutely be visible from Albert Square as MAKE architects’ own picture (and our crude mock-up) shows below. But more to the point they’re too big for this area of the traditional city centre which suits lower structures. And even more to the point they are just shit.

The two towers and Piccolino pointed out on Princess Street

View of towers from Piccolino on Princess Street

MAKE's own CGI from Princess Street

SLEUTH'S BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF THE WEEK

A friend of Sleuth took a trip up No.1 Spinningfields this week - Allied London's new (and not shit) £73m, 24-storey office tower which is nearing completion on Quay Street. London-based restaurant group, D&D, are to launch their first Manchester venue on the top floor of the building (CGI in main image), making it the highest dining or drinking experience in the city (just pipping Cloud 23 in Beetham Tower), and probably the North (Liverpool's Panoramic 34 sits at 91m, No.1 Spinningfields reaches 100m).

Here's some of the fantastic views they tweeted from the top. Though Sleuth worries he might struggle, face pressed against the glass staring slack-mouthed out the window, to finish his soup du jour.

To the north west

To the north

To the east

SLEUTH’S OTHER BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Sleuth caught this image in Whitworth Park on Sunday. He’s in love with it. The trees of the park and adjacent sculpture are reflected in the Whitworth Gallery café while the blue of the sky seems to permeate everything. It’s hard to tell where one surface ends and another begins. It’s truly lovely. Get down there and admire the MUMA architects’ work.

Sublime

SLEUTH’S TOTALLY NORMAL SUNDAY IN THE PARK ACTIVITY

Sleuth’s appreciation of the Whitworth Art Gallery’s architecture was disturbed by thuds and clashes. There was something going on deeper in the park. There were shields and swords and crossbows and pikes and long bows and people were fighting. “Is this a re-enactment society?” asked Sleuth of the three people taking a breather. “Yes it’s the University’s Norman re-enactment society. We come here with permission from the council on Sundays,” said one girl. Without thinking, Sleuth said, “I prefer the period of history before and after.” “No,” said the girl, fiercely, “they’re boring periods, this one is the bloody best.” Sleuth was going to disagree but then she was clutching a sword and while it might have been wooden it looked very heavy.

Bloody Normans

SLEUTH'S DONOR DILEMMA

Sleuth was at the launch of Chef Gary Usher's new Hispi bistro in Didsbury last week. Having eaten very fine meals in his other two bistros, Sticky Walnut in Chester and Burnt Truffle in Heswall, Sleuth is looking forward to having Usher nosh closer to home (er). Though, as you may remember from last week's Sleuth, Hispi's close proximity to a certain mouthy Chorlton butcher could spell bother (though Sleuth hears said butcher has since dispatched peace envoys bearing bacon).

Having raised £60k through crowdfunding and the rest via the bank, Usher and co. have executed a handsome fit-out of the former Jem & I unit on School Lane, including a huge mirror listing in black marker the names of all those who donated £50 or more to the venture. "This is a nice touch," said Sleuth, rubbing a thumb over one name, removing a little residue, "but how on earth are you going to clean the mirror?"

Gary looked at his restaurant manager. The restaurant manager looked back. Both looked at the mirror. We moved on...

Mind the Windex

SLEUTH AND LORD PETER MANDELSON

Sleuth took the new Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) on a walking tour of the city centre this week. Sleuth applauds Lord Peter Mandelson for wanting to learn about the city through his feet. As an important figure new to a major city position Sleuth can remember very few others who have tried to get underneath the skin of Manchester in this way as they start their job. Before the tour, an official of MMU had called Sleuth and asked him, “How will we recognise you at the meeting point?” Sleuth said, “Er… I think I might recognise one of the most important political figures of the last couple or so decades.” “Ah yes,” said the official, “I suppose so.”