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 

 

SLEUTH & THINGS NOT TAILING OFF

Sleuth was out last night, thinking, as he strolled between the newly opened Refinery cocktail bar and restaurant in Spinningfields and the newly opened 300-capacity 'European beer Palace', Cooper Hall, at Sevendale House in Northern Quarter, past the new mechanic-themed Garage Bar at the Freemasons Hall on Bridge Street, how, following a frankly mind-boggling number of new food and booze openings this year (473 at Sleuth's last count), Sleuth would be looking forward, as people had suggested, to things 'tailing off'.

As Sleuth finished his ale and made his way to the opening party of new pop-up bar, Miracle on Edge Street, through Stevenson Square where MAD Ltd would soon launch a new 'mega bar', and past Hilton Chambers where Hatters Hostel just announced plans for a new diner-bar, West Corner, you know, just around the corner from the new Jimmy's bar, and that new Indian street food gaff, Bundobust on Newton Street, down from the spot where The Drop plan to open a new Caribbean restaurant on Swan Street, a few doors away from the Mackie Mayor where those behind the Altrincham Market propose to open a new food hall, Sleuth crossed paths with his Confidential colleague and long-time drinking partner, Neil Sowerby.

"So I suppose you heard about plans for that new 770-capacity five-storey bar, restaurant and gig venue opening on Charles Street?" asked Neil, "Or the new restaurant plans for the old Quill site on King Street?"

"Er no I haven't," replied Sleuth.

"Never mind, I'll bring you up to speed at the launch of the new Laundrette on First Street this Saturday night... I assume you're going?"

"Wasn't planning on it," said Sleuth

"Oh well, I'll catch you at the opening of Bock Biere Cafe, Rabbit in the Moon or Seven Brothers later this month then."

"No you bloody won't," shrieked Sleuth as he darted for the Smithfield, ordered a pint of mild, picked a corner and hid until this had all blown over.

Cooper Hall opened this week, taking itCooper Hall opened in NQ this week, taking the total of new openings this year to 474

 

PUB BECOMES ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, ANIMALS, ALIENS

Sleuth learns the Bird in the Hand pub in Bury on Manchester Road has been transformed. Out go regulars hugging pints and talking about football, football, football, TV, politics, football, football and in comes something very different. Crowded House has taken over. This is an ‘Experience Centre’ and offers a ‘restaurant, café bar, hair salon, make up/overs, nails, botox/fillers’. At last thinks Sleuth, all my favourite things in one handy package. Bit female though. Needs maybe a DIY section too, a few power drills and angle grinders. http://www.crowdedhousebury.co.uk/

.Where's the power tools?

SLEUTH’S SCARIEST THING HE HAS EVER SEEN

There’s a house in Firswood close to Old Trafford that Sleuth is scared of walking past. Sometimes it’s not too bad but look at it now, again the shrub in the garden is bearing the strangest of fruit.

.But why?

SLEUTH'S SECOND SCARIEST THING HE'S EVER SEEN

Sleuth was enjoying a fine meal at Nutter's in Norden on Saturday. That is until he caught sight of two shadowy figures stood ghostly and still in the rafters overhead. "Who are they?" asked Sleuth, too frightened to finish his lobster fritter. "Oh that's just the Lord and Lady of the manor," said chef patron, Andrew Nutter. "When we bought the place we were told that if we ever moved them, a great misfortune would befall us."

.The Lord and Lady stand guard, lest the plebs rise and revolt

SLEUTH AND THE VERY LITERARY AWARDS

Sleuth was at Chetham’s last week to hear the announcement of the Manchester writing awards after another successful literary festival. The winners were Rebecca Tamás, Dante Di Stefano and D W Wilson who all won £10k. That’s big money in literary prize terms. Sleuth particularly appreciated the manner of presentation from the co-hosts James Draper and Matthew Frost (occasional columnist for Confidential). They presented the whole awards in rhyming couplets. You can see how it all began below. How very literary, thinks Sleuth, with a smile, to stand in front of people and go that extra mile.

 

 

 

 

 

wakelet Powered by Wakelet