Things to do in Manchester

Hotel Gotham Manchester a stylish venue

August 8, 2020

Hotel Gotham Manchester is a stylish venue for any stay in Manchester or celebration.

As you may have read in my previous post I have just celebrated my 60th birthday. My plans of a big family garden party at home was foiled by Covid19 restrictions. Mr Fitz and myself also usually have a holiday or a weekend away when we have a big occasion to celebrate and this too was affected. I then had to think of Plan B.

Mr Fitz suggested he booked us a nights stay at Hotel Gotham Manchester. It was a venue on the shortlist for his 60th birthday celebrations but I chose to surprise him with a night and a Michelin starred dining experience at Northcote Manor in Lancashire. We both had read great things about Hotel Gotham plus I ventured in for a coffee soon after it first opened and really loved the building.

We love old buildings as pubs and hotels and much prefer them to modern contemporary ones. Hotel Gotham is situated at 100 King Street and has been created from an old bank and many of the original features remain. It is an Art Deco building by Edwin Lutyens and was designated a Grade 2 Listed building in 1974.

It is a very striking building and did used to house Jamie Oliver’s restaurant underneath until it closed. The Hotel has many feature in keeping with the Art Deco period, including its Entrance Doors. There is always a Concierge to meet and greet you in fabulous livery.

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Covid19 Closure

Hotel Gotham had been closed during the UK Lockdown and had reopened just a few days before our stay. My menopause has caused me to suffer from anxiety at times and Covid 19 so soon after suffering the loss of my brother to Cancer did not help me at all. However Hotel Gotham offered reassurances about the measures they had taken. Guests had their temperatures taken before entering the hotel and there were other hygiene measures within the hotel.

Accomodation

We were booked into a Standard Room and although not huge it was so luxurious. There is a small seating area when you enter the room with a wardrobe and built in bar. The large cupboard come wardrobe was so well stocked with not just the usual water, tea and coffee making equipment but other little treats to be purchased including tins that contained many remedies, such as hangovers, emergency phone chargers, antibacterial protection and a Couples pack (use your imagination here!)

Seating area

Inside Bar

Tea and Coffee making facilities

Guest extras for purchase

We stayed in Room 506 which had enormous floor to ceiling windows to 2 sides of the bed. The hotel is surrounded by offices so we were not too concerned about being overlooked. They had voile coverings to provide privacy. The bed was so comfortable. The bathroom was huge with a fabulous rain shower and toiletries from The White Company. Again this had huge windows but there were Plantation blinds in here for extra privacy. As an extra treat and as a reopening gift from the hotel we were given a complimentary bottle of house Prosecco and chocolate dipped strawberries – a lovely gesture that we truly appreciated.

Hotel Gotham bed

White Company Travel Toiletries

Gotham Prosecco and strawberries

Honey Restaurant

Hotel Gotham has its own Restaurant – Honey which is situated o the 6th floor – which is fact where the Hotel Reception is too – as I said its a fabulous quirky building. Also there is a bar area above on the 7th Floor named Club Brass which is swanky and has access to 3 outside Terraces. More about Club Brass later in the post.

As it was quiet and a Wednesday night we actually dined in Club Brass from the Honey Restaurant menu. The Restaurant was quiet as it was only open to residents due to Covid 19 but we were not the only residents. Service was exceptional and friendly. One big shout out to the staff and The Hotel is that all staff wore masks at all times. These were custom designed and made with the hotel colours and logo on. A fabulous touch and we thanked them all personally for this.

Restaurant are Club Brass

The food was delicious

Starters

Mr Fitz chose Artisan Sourdough and beetroot hummus,

Sourdough bread and beetroot hummus

my choice was Terrine -Ham hock, pickles, ham crisp, wasabi – this was the most delicious starter I have ever eaten – so many flavours on the plate

Terrine Ham Hock

Mains

It as an 8 oz fillet steak for Mr Fitz – we like our steaks well done and this seems to send many kitchens into meltdown and is rarely achieved – this steak was well done but still succulent – a big thumbs up! In our opinion best well done steak in Manchester and we have tried many!

Fillet Steak Honey Restaurant

I chose Cod – Confit fennel, samphire, caviar, vermouth, again totally delicious and tasty. In retrospect I can’t say I saw any caviar but it didn’t detract from the dish.

Cod Honey Restaurant Hotel Gotham

Desserts – Mr Fitz abstained but I decided it would be rude not I chose Chocolate fondant
Popcorn, caramel ice cream. I chose this as despite being a huge foodie I am not a chocolate fan and have never eaten a Chocolate Fondant. This one was a little disappointing – the texture of the chocolate sponge was a bit doughy! The waiter came over to see how I was finding it and when I told him what I thought he then informed me it was Gluten free, which could explain a lot. To be honest if I’d known before hand I would have chosen the Organised mess, as I love meringue.

Chocolate Fondant

But overall we loved our meal and to accompany it Mr Fitz enjoyed their bottled cider and I enjoyed the House red wine – I’m embarrassed to say I can’t remember what it was!

Bottled Cider Hotel Gotham

Following our lovely meal we then spent some time in Club Brass drinking area. We had enjoyed a pre dinner drink on one of the Terraces in daylight and now ventured out to enjoy a drink when it was darker.

Pre dinner drinks Terrace Hotel Gotham – own photo

Enjoying a post dinner drink Terrace Hotel Gotham

Club Brass

Inside Club Brass

Moolah. Lucre. Dinero. Bread. Cash. Call it what you like. Round these parts, we call it Brass, with a short, sharp ‘a’. With a nod to this building’s history as a bank and an acknowledgment of what makes the world go round, welcome to Club Brass.

Open to members and Gotham guests only, Club Brass is a VIP lounge on the 7th floor. You’ll pass through two vault-like doors on your way into a Prohibition-style speakeasy that will make you feel like a million bucks. There is a tempting bar menu and cocktails such as The King of King Street, Bellboy Barry’s Bramble and Lady Crumpsall’s Champagne Cocktail.

If Hotel Gotham is the King of King Street then Brass is the jewel in the crown. It is not a huge area but has a luxurious feel again in keeping with the Art Deco era. I enjoyed another red wine and then a nightcap of an Old Fashioned cocktail, which was well served. There are many fabulous decor features. such as mannequins dressed up.

Dressed Mannequin Club Brass Hotel Gotham

Inside Club Brass

Decor Hotel Gotham

I must also mention the toilets – I have a thing about toilets and love a nice bit of toilet decor, this one did not disappoint.

Ladies Toilets Club Brass

Textured glittery peacock wallpaper ladies toilets

We retired to bed and managed to catch a bit of Match of the Day on our well situated TV – a perfect end to the evening for a big football fan like me, especially as highlights of my beloved Manchester City’s game from the previous evening was shown. We both then settled down to a great nights sleep in the super comfy bed. Waking up on my birthday to find myself a 60 year old woman!

We had a complimentary breakfast in our room rate and this was in the actual Honey Restaurant which has magnificent low level arched windows affording great views of surrounding rooftops which have some fabulous architectural features. The continental breakfast is usually buffet style but due to Covid 19 measures we chose from the menu and it was served by our waiter. Toast was served in a novel way in a linen money sack! A great touch but the bread could have been a bit crisper. The choice of food was again excellent and service was attentive.

Swag bag toast Hotel Gotham

Summary

A fabulous break in sumptuous surroundings. Despite all the restrictions around the Pandemic I had a really enjoyable and relaxing overnight stay for my milestone birthday. We would highly recommend Hotel Gotham and its restaurant and bar. We would stay and dine again.

Our night away was so enjoyable even though it was in our home town – a novel Staycation we think it could be the future while times are difficult. We celebrate our 35th Wedding Anniversary at the end of September and we are planning another hotel stay in Manchester – we are researching our options.

Thanks for popping in today – have you done something similar and if so do you have any recommendations? et me know in the comments below.

Northern Quarter Manchester 10 of the best pubs

July 5, 2020

The Northern Quarter in Manchester has been compared to Shoreditch in London. It is an area on the Northern area of the City Centre and is ever expanding. The Northern Quarter is a trendy neighborhood, with vibrant street art, bohemian bars and independent record shops. It’s home to buzzy restaurants and some of the city’s liveliest music venues, which host up-and-coming indie bands and established acts. Cultural attractions include the artists’ studios at Manchester Craft and Design Centre, and rotating exhibits at the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art. Mr Fitz and myself love an afternoon in Manchester, as we are mature and have free time during the week we tend to visit in the afternoon or early evening. We love Pubs with atmosphere and a great vibe and especially those with quirkiness and history.

Here are my top 10 pubs in Manchester’s Northern Quarter:

The Marble Arch – this bar is on the very edge of the area on Rochdale Road, one of the main roads leading into the north side of the City. The pub is over 130 years old. The impressive frontage is not in fact Marble but Shap granite. Inside there is an array of mosaic tiles. It is a real ale stronghold and was voted City Life Pub of the year in 2018. It once brewed its own Marble beer on the premises but this has now been moved off site. It is not a cheap option and beware of it’s famous sloping floor. As you enter and walk in the direction of the bar or toilets it makes you swerve a little and feel as if your previous drink was stronger than you thought

The Micro Bar This is a true hidden gem, inside the food hall of the Arndale shopping centre. It is tiny with a small seating area, other seats are shared with customers from the various food stalls. I know I’m not selling this am I? But the owner and bar man is a great bloke – there are around 6-7 beers on draught, with a rotating guest beer. There is also a great selection of craft beers from around the world. Another great selling point is that there are usually quirky characters sat around the bar for conversation, it’s easy to get involved and subjects discussed are wide ranging. A proper thinkers bar.

Micro Bar – own photo

own photo

Abel Heywood This is a pub and boutique Hotel. It is named after a Victorian Mayor and reformist of the city. It has a vintage look – 19th-century boozer (faux, nicotine-stained Anaglypta ceiling, Victoriana, leather booths, expanses of dark wood), although it was only recently created from an old shop in December 2014.

Pen and Pencil – The official description of this venue is

An added touch of New York glamour has arrived in Manchester with the The Pen & Pencil bar and eatery on the corner of Hilton and Tariff Street.

Taking its name and inspiration from the infamous mid-20th Century bar on East 45th Street in New York, which was popular with newspaper journalists and ad men – the original ‘Mad Men’, The Pen & Pencil offers the perfect place for the NQ’s creative locals to chill, think, meet and enjoy great food and drink.

It has a rustic loft feel about it but it’s best feature is the music – we have been in early on a Friday evening – around 5pm and there is a DJ who plays retro disco music of the 80’s . I’m sure this set could change at times, but it has a great vibe that really sets you up for the night and even the whole weekend.

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Seven Brothers As its name suggests this is a bar from the Brewing Company seven brothers run and owned by yes you guessed it 7 brothers! The Seven Bro7hers Brewery is a brewery born in Manchester through seven brothers’ love of craft beer, and their Dad’s commitment to home brewing. Since launching in 2014, the brewery have experienced fantastic growth with their product now stocked nationally, as well as being a firm favourite in their home city of Manchester. They have several locations but the one in Bloom Street Ancoats is in the Northern Quarter area. It is a no frills venue and interior but serves great beer, staff are friendly and knowledgeable and the music is great.

Interior Seven Brothers

Seven Brothers Beer own photo

Crown and Kettle is a grade II listed historic building and is one of the great comeback stories. In 1989 the Grade II listed hostelry on the corner of Oldham Road and Great Ancoats Street was abandoned after an arson attack, its stunning interior seemingly doomed never to be seen by the public again. It remained boarded up for 16 years until it was restored and reopened in 2005. The Crown & Kettle dates back to the 19th Century although there are records of other pubs on the site as far back as 1734. The interior is surprisingly ornate, especially the ceiling and it is speculated that the building was intended to be a law court. The former Daily Express printing building was 2 doors away. This intricate and beautiful listed building has kept all its original features and has opened as a traditional real ale pub serving great drink and good food. A real gem.

Ceiling Crown and Kettle own photo

The Castle – Located on Oldham Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, The Castle Hotel is a prestigious, lively and popular bar with a long history dating all the way back to 1776. This pub is a bit like Jekyll and Hyde. During the day time it is a quiet pub with an older clientele. When you walk in it looks a very tiny bar, however it’s a bit like a tardis as it extends backwards into several more rooms. It’s really dark and atmospheric. At night though it comes alive as a top Manchester music venue. This rare combination of heritage, location and ethos sees The Castle boast a packed calendar of live music, spoken word, comedy, theatre, film screenings, exhibitions and much more on almost every night of the week.

10 best pubs Manchester Northern Quarter

Interior The Castle Manchester – own photo

Edinburgh Castle This is only a few strides away from Seven Brothers. The 200-year-old public house on the corner of Blossom Street and Henry Street has long stood empty but has been saved and restored. It was reopened very recently in 2019 and outside it would not look amiss on the set of a Peaky Blinders episode. Inside it has the same look. It is very dark and can become very crowded. There is also a dining room and restaurant. It has a fantastic selection of whiskeys. I love an Old Fashioned cocktail – in here I enjoyed a Bonfire Old Fashioned – full of smokey richness – the best Old Fashioned I have ever had. It is really well worth a visit. Prices are expensive so probably only pop in for one.

The Edinburgh Castle before its refurbishment

The refurbished Edinburgh Castle a new addition to Northern Quarter Manchester

The refurbished Edinburgh Castle (own photo)

Atmospheric Interior Edinburgh Castle pub Manchester – own photo

Bonfire Old Fashioned – own photo

Lower Turks Head – this is sited on Shudehill close to Manchester Arndale, and Victoria Station. This is another restored old pub. It gets very busy and does have screen to show Sport and football. It has some fabulous architectural feature inside, lots of dark wood and plush furnishings. Service is good and friendly. There was an old book shop next door and this has been knocked through and a wine bar created called Scuttlers – the name of teenage Manchester gangs from the past. There is a great selection of beers and wines from the 2 venues.

Interior Lower Turks Head (own photo)

The Bar of the Lower Turks Head (own photo)

The Corner Boy No review is complete without an Irish Bar. This one is on the corner of Oldham Street and Hilton Street not far from The Castle. It is a relaxed friendly bar serving, beer, whisky, cocktails, coffee, Guinness and casual eats. It has an old drying rack hanging from the ceiling reminiscent of my grandma’s home. It has good music and a friendly welcome. The Guinness is well served. I love the closed off room I call The Snug.

The Corner Boy Northern Quarter – own photo

Clothes Rack Corner Boy Manchester – own photo

Well that’s it then. A round up of 10 best pubs in Manchester Northern Quarter. If you enjoyed reading this please take a look at some of my other reviews of Manchester venues including, Hawksmoor Restaurant and The Ivy

Thanks for dropping by today I really appreciate it.

Off the Beaten Track Ordsall Hall Salford

March 11, 2019

Earlier this week I attended my first Blogger meet up hosted by North West Bloggers. The venue was Ordsall Hall Salford. This is an impressive Historic House in the middle of a built up urban area.

The Hall has a meeting room that can be used and is a fabulous venue.

From the front it looks majestic with sympathetic grounds and a car parking area. Walk around the rear to gain entrance and Wow! it truly has the X Factor. As a proud Mancunian I love to promote the best there is to be found here, reviewing restuarants is my favourite activity.

Ordsall Hall

It was first mentioned in records as early as 1177. Possibly just an area of land, the first house was probably built around 1251. That fact alone is amazing – that it has stood the test of time. Ownership passed through several families and the building and land was expanded and the grounds developed.

If you are a lover of the history of this area there is a virtual who’s who of the well known and written about landowners of Manchester and Cheshire in the history of Ordsall Hall. An extract from the Hall’s website states “The Radclyffe family had been connected with the Hall for over 300 years and their family history tells of inter-marriages and feuds with other local families such as the Booths, Leghs and de Traffords. Some sat in Parliament as Knights of the Shire, and Sir Alexander (d. 1549) was High Sheriff of Lancashire on five occasions. Most were knighted for services in battle and took part in Court life: for instance, Margaret Radclyffe (d. 1599) became the favourite lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and was seen at Court in a white dress as a gift from her twin brother Alexander as a symbol of the Queen’s purity. It was said to have cost £180 (which is equal to £31,000 in today’s money!)”

The Hall and grounds has been the site for many things from being a home to the affluent of the area, to Working Men’s Club to a Clergy Training Centre.

Ordsall Hall was purchased by Salford Corporation from the Executors of the Baron Egerton of Tatton in 1959 and, following major restoration work, was finally opened to the public in April 1972 as a period house and local history museum.

An expensive restoration project from 2009 – 2011 has made it into the magnificent period house and museum that it is today to be enjoyed by future generations.

Things to do at Ordsall Hall

There are so many activities that take place at the hall – from an informal knit and natter weekly group for locals, to Educational visits for schools, guided tours and craft sessions.

It is also a Wedding Venue, and if I was in the market for a wedding I could not think of a better location.

There are so many interactive props and items on display to enable visitors to really get a feel of what life was like for its residents and visitors of past era’s.

I have driven past Ordsall Hall so many times in my life without ever thinking of paying a visit. This week I only went in as I mentioned earlier in the post because it was the venue for a local Bloggers meet up. However, now I have had a taste of what is inside this fabulous House I will be back again and again to learn more and I intend to take one of the guided tours. I feel ashamed that as someone who has worked for many years in Salford and born to a Salford woman I should have taken more notice of this venue – described on a display banner as The Pride of Salford.

The meeting room was fabulous – bright with lots of natural light. Tea, coffee and water was on offer, there is plenty of power points and a large desk for everyone to sit round and enable work and sharing of ideas. There was even a vase of cheery daffodils on the table! A lovely little touch. For food there is a lovely little cafe to purchase food from. I can recommend a slice of The Persian Love cake – fabulously soft sponge with a hint of cardamon.

It is off the beaten track but it is very close to many other attractions and easily accessible by tram. Other popular attractions that it is close to are:

Media City – home of TV studios and the famous Blue Peter garden – 7 minutes by car, 26 minutes on foot.

Old Trafford – Home of Manchester United – 6 mins by car, 30 minutes on foot.

Lancashire Cricket Club – 5 minutes by car, 26 minutes on foot.

Salford Quays – the dock area and Lowry Outlet Shopping Centre. – 4 minutes by car 22 minutes on foot.

If you are planning to visit one of these more well known tourist areas in the future I highly recommend that you also take a short detour to Ordsall Hall – you will be more than pleasantly surprised at the fabulous work done here by Salford leisure.

Thanks for reading – if you’ve visited the Hall what did you do there? What would you recommend to do?

Busy and Bright The Ivy Manchester

February 16, 2019

Busy and Bright are the words I would definitely say were the first impressions I got for my first visit to The Ivy Manchester. Read my review for further thoughts. If it’s your first visit to my blog – Welcome! I use the same template for all my reviews to provide consistency. You may want to read what my criteria is.

Name of Restaurant

The Ivy Spinningfields Manchester

A warm welcome awaits

Time of Visit

7pm on a Thursday evening – we were walk ins and were lucky enough to get in without a booking on this occasion. But we wouldn’t recommend doing it again.

Pin for Later

Reason

for Visit

As we are big foodies my lovely niece and her husband gave us a £50 voucher for the restaurant at Christmas. Our visit was to take up this lovely treat.

First Impression

Busy and Bright!

Busy and Bright! What a busy vibrant place! Wowee! The decor is Art Deco with a modern twist in bold bright colours with lots of gold and brass look trimmings. There were few empty tables, if any, we may have been fortunate enough to have got the only free one. The volume of conversation was loud, but that to us was a negative thing. It added to the fabulous vibe. Even though I have described it as busy and bright that is more an observation of the decor. There was secluded lighting and the tables were far enough a part to maintain privacy if you are having an intimate date.

Art Deco interior – bold and bright

The interior of the Ivy Manchester

The bar of The Ivy Manchester

Time To Get Served/Attention

We were taken to our table swiftly and efficiently. The drinks and food orders were also taken swiftly but not hurriedly.

Food

Mr Fitz and I chose from the A La Carte Menu. There is an extensive choice. For starters I chose Zucchini Fritters and Mr Fitz went for the roasted scallops. My fritters were unusual – I expected 2 fritters on a plate but instead I got a dish of battered shreds of zucchini accompanied with a spicy mayonnaise dip. It was lovely but too much for one person. I would suggest this is adequate for 2-3 people to share. Mr Fitz said his Scallops were delicious – and I can agree as he gave me a taste! They were cooked to perfection in a fabulous oil.

Our main dish choices were Crab Linguine Pasta and courgette linguine with Devon crab, chilli,
smoked garlic, lemon and rocket for Mr Fitz – this is one of his favourite choices in any restaurant. He said that this one at the Ivy was probably the tastiest he has ever had! High praise indeed from him! I decided to try the Blackened cod fillet Baked in a banana leaf with a soy and sesame marinade, citrus-pickled fennel, grilled broccoli, chilli and yuzu mayonnaise . I rarely cook fish at home and like to choose a fish dish when dining out. Again this was delicious – so many flavours on a plate without being overpowering.

Blackened cod

Service

Our server was excellent, attentive and helpful without being cloying. He was obviously watching discreetly as he leaned over and whispered in my ear that I didn’t have to eat all the Zucchini, not many people finished it! I appreciated that reassurance as I was struggling but didn’t want to leave a large amount of the dish and give the impression that I didn’t enjoy it!

Drinks service was swift and advice given about our choices.

Bold decor in the ladies toilet

Evaluation

Busy and bright , buzzing atmosphere. We absolutely loved it. There is a mix of ages in the clientele. There was retro background music, it was from our disco era and we found this so enjoyable, an example was Backstabbers by The O’Jays. A very varied menu with delicious choices.

The decor is so different from the sparce Industrial Urban look that is popular today. I totally approve of the Ivy decor and vibe. You really felt you were somewhere special. Our final bill was around £97 – with a 12.5% service charge included. The food was probably covered by our voucher, the extra was probably for drinks, Mr Fitz had 3 small bottles of beer, I had a glass of house red and a Baileys in place of a dessert.

Would I Visit Again

Oh Yes! It will be our go to restaurant for special occasions. You may have read my review of Hawksmoor Manchester, that is fabulous too but a different type of restaurant experience.

As I write this I have in fact made a further booking for lunch with one of my oldest friends. We’re both retired nurses and think we deserve a nice treat now and again!

If you’ve enjoyed reading this please subscribe and read more. Do you have any restaurant recommendations for me. I love to try new places.

I also have a sister blog EarlyRetirementRocks about loving life after taking Retirement from the NHS at the age of 55. You may wish to pop over and have a nosey to see what a 58 year old gets up to!

Hawksmoor Manchester Restaurant Review

February 5, 2019

Hawksmoor Manchester

Hawksmoor Manchester was the choice of Mr Fitz and myself for our annual Christmas meal. I will explain more about what I mean by this in the next section. If it’s your first visit here I review all restaurants by the same set of parameters – you can read what they are in an earlier post.

Reason for Visit

What I mean by this is that we have been married for 33 years and have most things that we need. Therefore Christmas gifts to each other are not really needed. As er are both foodies for the past couple of Christmases we have chosen to treat ourselves to either a meal at a restaurant of each others choice or one restaurant and a few cocktails too!

Interior Hawksmoor Manchester

This Christmas we chose Hawksmoor Manchester. The exterior is inviting and from it’s own website the description is: Located in a late Victorian courthouse on Deansgate, next door to Spinningfields, our aim is to serve the best steaks in Manchester. The interior is true to the building and features lots of reclaimed materials from the era, including parquet flooring from a (different) courthouse, panelling from Birmingham’s Sandwell College and (well-cleaned) glazed bricks from a public lavatory in Liverpool.

First Impression

As I mentioned earlier we think Hawksmoor Manchester looks inviting from outside. When you enter it is like walking into a vintage office. There is a reception desk in a dark lobby. This is not a criticism – being a fan of all things vintage I immediately liked the vibe of Hawksmoor Manchester. The welcome was warm and friendly. The inside of the restaurant itself was again classic elegance with dark wood and reclaimed materials.

Time of Visit

We had a reservation for 3pm on the Friday between Christmas and New Year. We rarely dine out in Manchester in the evening after 7pm.

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Time To Get Served/Attention

Following the warm welcome at Hawksmoor we were then shown to our table in the restaurant. There appears to be 2 dining areas, we were seated in the rear area, the first area was closer to the bar if I remember correctly. Once seated the service was swift and again very friendly.

Food

We had anticipated choosing from the A La Carte menu but there was an Express menu which seemed to have choices that we wanted.

Coincidentally we both chose the same 2 courses Potted beef with Yorkshires, which were so delicious – the ultimate in comfort food. The Yorkshires were big and light.

For our main we ordered 35 Day dry-aged rump & chips. Mr Fitz added a peppercorn sauce.

Potted beef with Yorkshires and onion gravy

Steak and Chips

A simple classic. Our order is for well done steak – neither of us follow the trend for pink meat. Johns was perfect but mine still had some pinkness in the middle. I didn’t raise this with our server I decided to put my big girl pants on and enjoy. They weren’t the tenderest steaks ever but they were nowhere near the worst. 2 of our worst steaks were from 2 other big name steakhouses in Manchester. These were consumed before this blog was started. There is no draft beer or cider available so Mr Fitz had 2 bottles of Cotswold Cider Co. No Brainer . I had 2 glasses of house red – the 1st was a French red which wasn’t t0 my taste, the second glass was a Chilean red and was really drinkable.

We both really enjoyed our food.

Service

Service was swift and slick. No concerns at all.

Evaluation

A really good dining experience. Despite the timing of our reservation the restaurant was busy with a great vibe and ambience. We are happy to recommend Hawksmoor Manchester to anyone living in or visiting Manchester.

Would I Visit Again

Yes – most definitely! Hawksmoor could become one of our favourite restaurants in this great city.

After leaving here we visited Tast Catala on Kings Street for a couple of drinks. As it was our Christmas party we did try a variety of drinks – not something we do as a habit.

I enjoyed a Pera i Mora Tastinni from the cocktail menu which was delicious followed by the restaurants equivalent of a sherry, it appeared popular with other visitors so I tried one too! Mr Fitz had El Gaitero Cider.

Pera i Mora Tastinni JJ Whitley Vodka, Crème de Cassis, Pear, Cava, Lemon, Berry & Pear Nitro Pearls

Thanks for popping by and reading if you like this you may wish to read my review of Northcote Manor on my sister blog Early Retirement Rocks

I love to hear your comments and restaurant recommendations email me or comment. I’d also love you to come back again

Bird at Birtle The Perfect Cheese Souffle

September 6, 2018

Name of Restaurant

The Bird at Birtle Pub and Restaurant on the border of Rochdale and Bury in a semi rural setting. It is owned by TV chef Andrew Nutter, who is the Executive Chef and Proprieter.

Reason for Visit

It was a lunch date in August 2018 with one of my oldest girlfriends. Our reservation was for 12.45. We are both retired now after long nursing careers, but still don’t find the time to meet up as often as we like. We are both foodies and like to introduce each other to new places to eat. This was my choice and my second visit. Last visit to The Bird at Birtle was with my husband and we both really liked the venue and food.

First Impression of The Bird at Birtle

It was once an old country pub and the original name The Bird in Hand can be seen still. It is a stone building that looks like it has been around forever but now has been stonewashed and given a modern face lift with etched glass doors and windows. The overall look is very inviting. We parked at the back and here there is a real modern twist. Roof to floor windows with graphite frames, that look over open fields. Throughout the restaurant and pub there are strong connections to Lancashire, popular Lancashire quotes are hung in frames around the place. Plus a large, colourful mural is in Pride of Place above the stairs.

Front Aspect

Mural above stairs

Rear aspect

Time To Get Served/Attention

I had telephoned a couple of days before to make a booking for 12.45 lunchtime. The restaurant serves from 12MD to 14.30 and then the kitchen closes and reopens again at 18.30. We were met and greeted immediately and led to our table, which was right next to the window.

Food

The menu is fabulous, with so many delicious choices, a wide mix of choices plus there was also a specials menu to accompany it. We both decided to have a main and a dessert, but took a while to choose and changed our minds a couple of times. Finally we both chose the Twice baked cheese souffle, mediterranean vegetables and pesto salad. This was absolutely delicious, all elements of it were cooked to perfection.

Twice Baked Cheese Souffle

For dessert I chose Treacle Sponge and Custard, this was the favourite dessert my late mother used to make on a Sunday. She is a hard act to follow and I have yet to find one close to hers. This one from The Bird at Birtle though is IT! Light, fluffy sponge with a rich layer of dark treacle on top with the perfect portion size serving of custard. My friend chose the Sticky Toffee pudding, again she thought this was cooked to perfection. Both have a side garnish of piped cream and a fresh strawberry. As my friend was driving she drank water, while I enjoyed 2 nice glasses of Medium Dry house wine, which was very palatable. One little touch that I really liked was when bringing our water and wine the waitress also brought another glass filled with ice and a pair of serving tongs. A simple but thoughtful touch, the number of times I’ve been out with friends when one of the party requests ice for either wine or other drinks. Top marks The Bird at Birtle Let me add here – I personally think ice in wine is a No – No!

Sticky Toffee Pudding and Custard

Wine, Water and Ice

Service

Efficient and friendly, no complaints or concerns on this front

Evaluation

This is a lovely venue in a fabulous location with good views. The food is excellent, especially the desserts! The clientele is a little upmarket. Overall I think this is a fabulous restaurant for both special occasions, family get together’s or informal lunches.

Would I Visit Again

In the words of Simon Cowell – quite simply – it’s a YES from me! The Bird at Birtle is a top class restaurant.

I aim to use a consistent approach to how I review restaurants click here to see how I do it. You may also wish to look at my review of too

Have you visited here? Let me know your thoughts comment or email me, also I love to receive restaurant recommendations in the Manchester area

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Ordsall Hall

Things to do at Ordsall Hall

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Busy and Bright!

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Hawksmoor Manchester

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First Impression of The Bird at Birtle

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