There certainly seems to be an abundance of tempting food offers around at the moment, as pubs and restaurants realise that the lethal combination of a credit crunch and the live stages of X-Factor has conspired to take punters off the streets. For example, the normally packed-to-the-gills Didsbury pub is offering buy one, get one free on all main dishes up to £10 - the offer is available at all Chef and Brewer pubs including the lovely Ashlea in Cheadle.
If you still can't face going out in the cold but the sight of your worthy organic vegetable box is starting to haunt you, then the excellent Gusto is offering a whopping 40% discount on orders for collection on a Monday and Tuesday night. As you get a further 10% discount for ordering online, we snaffled two pizzas and some spicy chicken wings for under a tenner this week (consumed in front of America's Next Top Model - finger on the cultural pulse, etc. etc.) Full details at www.gustoathome.com.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Happy Mondays to Play Manchester Versus Cancer Concert
Time to get those maracas out of the cupboard: Bez and his fellow reprobate band-mates have been added to the already impressive line-up for this year's Versus Cancer concert. You never quite know what you're going to get with a Mondays gig, although expect proceedings to be suitably shambolic.
Already on the bill are Manchester favourites James (many a favourite outfit was ruined during my student days, being forced to "Sit Down" on the hideously sticky Academy dancefloor...) and the rather worthy Snow Patrol, who will ever be associated with emotional moments on X-Factor.
Tickets for the concert, which will be at the MEN Arena on December 12th, are still available at £32.50 a go; visit www.versuscancer.org for more details.
Already on the bill are Manchester favourites James (many a favourite outfit was ruined during my student days, being forced to "Sit Down" on the hideously sticky Academy dancefloor...) and the rather worthy Snow Patrol, who will ever be associated with emotional moments on X-Factor.
Tickets for the concert, which will be at the MEN Arena on December 12th, are still available at £32.50 a go; visit www.versuscancer.org for more details.
Monday, 2 November 2009
Bonfire Night at Platt Fields Park 2009
Get ready to wrap up warm and coo "ooooh! aaaah! wooooooh...." at regular intervals; yes, Bonfire Night is almost with us once again. As ever, the biggest and best local free event will be at Platt Fields Park on the border of Fallowfield and Rusholme, and the event this year will be held actually on November 5th (a Thursday, but never mind - Thursday is the new Friday, after all). Here is a suggested itinerary for the night:
4.30 Leave work early, to prepare for exciting night ahead - purchase of sparklers, application of coat and scarf layers, etc.
5.00 Funfair opens at Platt Fields - buy some candy floss, consume a sausage of dubious provenance, and ride on various death-traps until feeling slightly sick.
6.30 Leave the park, cross the road, and visit Hardys Well for a warming brandy and ginger and a handy toilet trip (a friend of mine was once reduced to weeing behind a tree in the park - don't let this be you).
7.15 Return to park and wave sparklers wildly, in an attempt to write out your name in the air.
7.30 Firework display starts - oooh, aaaah etc.
8.00 Watch the lighting of the bonfire.
8.15 Return to pub, or make short foray into nearby Rusholme for curry.
4.30 Leave work early, to prepare for exciting night ahead - purchase of sparklers, application of coat and scarf layers, etc.
5.00 Funfair opens at Platt Fields - buy some candy floss, consume a sausage of dubious provenance, and ride on various death-traps until feeling slightly sick.
6.30 Leave the park, cross the road, and visit Hardys Well for a warming brandy and ginger and a handy toilet trip (a friend of mine was once reduced to weeing behind a tree in the park - don't let this be you).
7.15 Return to park and wave sparklers wildly, in an attempt to write out your name in the air.
7.30 Firework display starts - oooh, aaaah etc.
8.00 Watch the lighting of the bonfire.
8.15 Return to pub, or make short foray into nearby Rusholme for curry.
Didsbury Beer Festival Bigger and Better Than Ever
Ever community spirited, I selflessly attended this year's Didsbury Beer Festival - strictly in the name of research and supporting worthy causes, obviously. The 2009 festival promised to be both bigger and better than last year's inaugural shindig, and certainly didn't disappoint: rather than cram hundreds of thirsty Didsburyites into St Catherine's Social Club like last year, an enormous marquee appeared as if by magic in the school grounds, fully equipped with almost 100 beers and ciders, mostly from local producers. Unfortunately some of the more desirable beverages had run out by the time we visited on Saturday afternoon (Mr Liz saddened, for example, by the lack of the 8.5% Old Tom), but still a fine time was had by all. Last year's festival raised £7500 for local charities; fingers crossed for this one to do even better.
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Manchester Shine Walk April 2010
This is undoubtedly a dangerous time of year as far as fitness and fatness are concerned. The nights are drawing in, and the temptation is to spend the evenings lying on the couch watching Strictly and grazing on a selection box bought in a bid to be organised for Christmas that has backfired spectacularly.
So that is why I will be doing the Cancer Research Marathon walk through central Manchester next April, in an attempt to get me off the sofa and onto the streets (in the non-seedy sense of the expression, I must add). Such events have been growing in popularity over the last few years, spear-headed by the annual Moonwalk in London for Breast Cancer Care, but this will be the first time that Manchester has hosted its own marathon walk.
The walk (or hobble, more realistically speaking) will take place over the night of Saturday 17th April 2010, and is anticipated to take most people between 7 and 10 hours (hmm, we'll see). There is a half-marathon available for anyone too daunted by the thought of the full 26.2 miles; I'm hoping the tide of humanity will sweep me effortlessly along in its surge through the streets.
Full details on the Shine website at https://shine.cancerresearchuk.org; I'll keep you posted on my pitiful progress towards match fitness.
So that is why I will be doing the Cancer Research Marathon walk through central Manchester next April, in an attempt to get me off the sofa and onto the streets (in the non-seedy sense of the expression, I must add). Such events have been growing in popularity over the last few years, spear-headed by the annual Moonwalk in London for Breast Cancer Care, but this will be the first time that Manchester has hosted its own marathon walk.
The walk (or hobble, more realistically speaking) will take place over the night of Saturday 17th April 2010, and is anticipated to take most people between 7 and 10 hours (hmm, we'll see). There is a half-marathon available for anyone too daunted by the thought of the full 26.2 miles; I'm hoping the tide of humanity will sweep me effortlessly along in its surge through the streets.
Full details on the Shine website at https://shine.cancerresearchuk.org; I'll keep you posted on my pitiful progress towards match fitness.
White Wedding at The Ruby Lounge, Manchester
If, like me, you're reaching the age where all your friends are getting married, you may not relish the thought of going to a wedding-themed club night on one of the few weekends you've not been roped into attending some distant relative's nuptials.
The organisers of next weekend's White Wedding will be hoping otherwise, and have assembled all the classic elements of a cheesy wedding do to produce a night subtitled "The Best Wedding You've Never Been To". And to be fair, it sounds pretty good. The big draw is an appearance from 90s dance kings Utah Saints, who will be offering a special "wedding set", as well as some suitably naff tunes from DJ Otis Wedding - think Madonna, The Jackson Five, and your Uncle Bob throwing some embarrassing shapes on the dance floor.
There will also be free wedding buffet (I'm hoping for sausage rolls and a cheese and pineapple hedgehog) as well as a wedding cake that will be shared out among all the guests (I want mine wrapped in a serviette please). Dress code is obviously wedding themed; presumably how far you want to take this is up to you, but expect to see more than a few brides making the most of their special day.
The idea behind the night is to raise awareness for a Smirnoff initiative that rewards creative types who can come up with an interesting idea for a club night - White Wedding is a previous winner of the £5000 Creative Grant, four of which are available this year. For full details visit the Smirnoff Facebook page; whilst there, you can also pick up tickets for White Wedding.
White Wedding is at The Ruby Lounge, Manchester on Saturday 7th November 2009 between 9pm and 3am; tickets are £6 each. Go and dig out those gladrags now.
The organisers of next weekend's White Wedding will be hoping otherwise, and have assembled all the classic elements of a cheesy wedding do to produce a night subtitled "The Best Wedding You've Never Been To". And to be fair, it sounds pretty good. The big draw is an appearance from 90s dance kings Utah Saints, who will be offering a special "wedding set", as well as some suitably naff tunes from DJ Otis Wedding - think Madonna, The Jackson Five, and your Uncle Bob throwing some embarrassing shapes on the dance floor.
There will also be free wedding buffet (I'm hoping for sausage rolls and a cheese and pineapple hedgehog) as well as a wedding cake that will be shared out among all the guests (I want mine wrapped in a serviette please). Dress code is obviously wedding themed; presumably how far you want to take this is up to you, but expect to see more than a few brides making the most of their special day.
The idea behind the night is to raise awareness for a Smirnoff initiative that rewards creative types who can come up with an interesting idea for a club night - White Wedding is a previous winner of the £5000 Creative Grant, four of which are available this year. For full details visit the Smirnoff Facebook page; whilst there, you can also pick up tickets for White Wedding.
White Wedding is at The Ruby Lounge, Manchester on Saturday 7th November 2009 between 9pm and 3am; tickets are £6 each. Go and dig out those gladrags now.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Didsbury Beer Festival 2009
A quick glance through recent posts would seem to suggest a slight bias towards alcohol-based events, but it is my civic duty to report that a popular community event is due to make a welcome return in the form of Didsbury Beer Festival.
Last year's inaugural festival was a huge success, raising substantial funds for Francis House Hospice and keeping many a husband good and quiet for a whole blissful afternoon. This year's promises to be both bigger and better, with a larger venue and over 90 beers from local breweries, as well as extended opening hours (potential for trouble here, methinks).
The festival will run over three days from Thursday 29th October to Saturday 31st October in a special marquee in the grounds of St Catherine's on School Lane (bravo to the school that has allowed its grounds to be used for such a spiritual purpose). Full details are available on the very helpful website at www.didsburybeerfestival.org.uk.
Last year's inaugural festival was a huge success, raising substantial funds for Francis House Hospice and keeping many a husband good and quiet for a whole blissful afternoon. This year's promises to be both bigger and better, with a larger venue and over 90 beers from local breweries, as well as extended opening hours (potential for trouble here, methinks).
The festival will run over three days from Thursday 29th October to Saturday 31st October in a special marquee in the grounds of St Catherine's on School Lane (bravo to the school that has allowed its grounds to be used for such a spiritual purpose). Full details are available on the very helpful website at www.didsburybeerfestival.org.uk.
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Manchester Christmas Celebrations 2009
Yes, yes - I know it's only October, but it's never too early to start thinking about all the opportunities for eating, drinking, shopping and all-round general carousing that Christmas brings.
Recent years have seen some frankly rather duff "celebrities" sent North to switch on the lights, but this year we have been granted glittery X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke, who will perform the switch-on in Albert Square on November 12th between 7pm and 8pm. More importantly, the Christmas markets will then take up residence from November 18th in their usual locations in Albert Square, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street and Brazennose Street. As last year, they will run until the weekend before Christmas - December 21st is this year's final day.
Should you feel the need for some exercise to burn off all that gluhwein, the open-air ice rink will also be returning to Spinningfields, where it will stay until the New Year. We are also promised a suitably cheesy-sounding "Winter Wonderland" in the usually rather dull Piccadilly Gardens - details to follow....
Recent years have seen some frankly rather duff "celebrities" sent North to switch on the lights, but this year we have been granted glittery X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke, who will perform the switch-on in Albert Square on November 12th between 7pm and 8pm. More importantly, the Christmas markets will then take up residence from November 18th in their usual locations in Albert Square, St Ann's Square, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street and Brazennose Street. As last year, they will run until the weekend before Christmas - December 21st is this year's final day.
Should you feel the need for some exercise to burn off all that gluhwein, the open-air ice rink will also be returning to Spinningfields, where it will stay until the New Year. We are also promised a suitably cheesy-sounding "Winter Wonderland" in the usually rather dull Piccadilly Gardens - details to follow....
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Special Offers During the Manchester Food & Drink Festival 2009
Most Manchester residents will surely have noticed that this year's Food and Drink Festival is now in full swing, and will perhaps have already ventured into the city centre to spend a month's wages on some expensive cheese at the oh-so-seductive food market in St Ann's Square.
However, as Mr Liz has been granted a full day pass-out (hopefully not literally) for the Manchester Whisky Festival at the Museum of Science and Industry this Saturday, I think I am due rather more than a bit of old cheese, and will be angling for some or all of the following offers. All of these run until the end of the festival on October 12th, and are listed in my personal order of preference...
1. Ramsons Restaurant in Ramsbottom is offering 2 for 1 on their 10 course tasting menu, which promises such delights as Lyme Park venison and char grilled scallops. Still pricy at £65 Tue - Thurs and £70 Friday, but apparently worth it. Call 01706 825070 for details.
2. Spanish tapas restaurant Evuna on Deansgate is offering a free tasting of 4 wines, and has extended its marvellous lunchtime offer of three tapas dishes for £9.99 until 7pm (my kind of lunch). Call 0161 8192752 to book.
3. The Bay Horse in the Northern Quarter is a place I've been meaning to try for ages, and is offering a deal-clinching platter of cheeses, olives, meats, pates, salad and bread, accompanied by a bottle of house wine, for &16.95 between 12pm and 6.30pm. Call 0161 6611041 for bookings.
Loads of other bars and restaurants are offering special menus or reduced prices during the festival; visit the website at www. foodanddrinkfestival.com for more details.
However, as Mr Liz has been granted a full day pass-out (hopefully not literally) for the Manchester Whisky Festival at the Museum of Science and Industry this Saturday, I think I am due rather more than a bit of old cheese, and will be angling for some or all of the following offers. All of these run until the end of the festival on October 12th, and are listed in my personal order of preference...
1. Ramsons Restaurant in Ramsbottom is offering 2 for 1 on their 10 course tasting menu, which promises such delights as Lyme Park venison and char grilled scallops. Still pricy at £65 Tue - Thurs and £70 Friday, but apparently worth it. Call 01706 825070 for details.
2. Spanish tapas restaurant Evuna on Deansgate is offering a free tasting of 4 wines, and has extended its marvellous lunchtime offer of three tapas dishes for £9.99 until 7pm (my kind of lunch). Call 0161 8192752 to book.
3. The Bay Horse in the Northern Quarter is a place I've been meaning to try for ages, and is offering a deal-clinching platter of cheeses, olives, meats, pates, salad and bread, accompanied by a bottle of house wine, for &16.95 between 12pm and 6.30pm. Call 0161 6611041 for bookings.
Loads of other bars and restaurants are offering special menus or reduced prices during the festival; visit the website at www. foodanddrinkfestival.com for more details.
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Gusto Didsbury's New Home Delivery Service, Tried and Tested
The trouble with going to the gym in the evening, apart from the obvious fact that it requires some form of exertion, is that you get back too tired for assembling any kind of meal. However, the plus point of completing 45 minutes of aquacise with a smiling but deadly fuhrer is that you have surely burned off in the region of a million calories and are therefore entitled to PIZZA.
So, having received a home delivery menu from Didsbury's Gusto restaurant through my letterbox pretty much every day for the last fortnight, I finally caved and placed my order. This bit is great: I went online after work at about 5pm and placed my order to be ready at 8.30; couldn't be simpler.
There are a few catches, however. Firstly, delivery actually costs £2.50 unless your order comes to £25; no problem - I would collect. On arrival at the restaurant it is clear that they are not really set up for this option: there's nowhere to wait, and if the restaurant is busy (it was) it's almost impossible to find someone free to go and get your order. It's also pretty pricy - you only get a 10% discount from the menu for ordering online, so our order of a couple of pizzas and a few potato skins came to nigh on twenty quid.
BUT. All that pales into insignificance when the order arrives. The pizza boxes are astonishingly cool, featuring a black and white photo of some lounge-lizard Italian type, and there is a dinky hole cut out in which nestles - unasked for! - a wee pot of garlic mayonnaise for crust dipping. And it goes without saying that the pizzas are delicious, in a whole different league from the artery-busting Top Pizza.
Visit www.gustoathome.com for more details.
So, having received a home delivery menu from Didsbury's Gusto restaurant through my letterbox pretty much every day for the last fortnight, I finally caved and placed my order. This bit is great: I went online after work at about 5pm and placed my order to be ready at 8.30; couldn't be simpler.
There are a few catches, however. Firstly, delivery actually costs £2.50 unless your order comes to £25; no problem - I would collect. On arrival at the restaurant it is clear that they are not really set up for this option: there's nowhere to wait, and if the restaurant is busy (it was) it's almost impossible to find someone free to go and get your order. It's also pretty pricy - you only get a 10% discount from the menu for ordering online, so our order of a couple of pizzas and a few potato skins came to nigh on twenty quid.
BUT. All that pales into insignificance when the order arrives. The pizza boxes are astonishingly cool, featuring a black and white photo of some lounge-lizard Italian type, and there is a dinky hole cut out in which nestles - unasked for! - a wee pot of garlic mayonnaise for crust dipping. And it goes without saying that the pizzas are delicious, in a whole different league from the artery-busting Top Pizza.
Visit www.gustoathome.com for more details.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
The Greater Manchester Wine Festival 2009
An unmissable event for alcoholics/ wine connoiseurs looms on the horizon in the form of the Greater Manchester "Independent and Local" Wine Festival at the Urbis museum on Friday and Saturday the 2nd - 3rd October.
Part of the ever-excellent Manchester Food and Drink Festival, the weekend promises to be a celebration of local independent wine merchants, although in reality will surely consist of thousands of people hopefully holding out their glass for yet another top-up in a bid to get as drunk as possible for as little money as possible, before flinching upon being informed of the price of the bottle they have just quaffed.
As usual, one of the days for this type of event occurs when normal people are at work, so I will be there on the Saturday with everybody else (hopefully holding out glass for yet another top-up etc etc). Tickets cost £10 per day or £15 for both days if you think your liver can take it, with the doors opening at 12 noon and closing (forcibly, no doubt, to sounds of great protest) at 6.30.
Full details at the Festival website at www.foodanddrinkfestival.com.
N.B. - if you are attending the whisky tasting at MOSI the following weekend, it might be sensible to take it easy during the week...
Part of the ever-excellent Manchester Food and Drink Festival, the weekend promises to be a celebration of local independent wine merchants, although in reality will surely consist of thousands of people hopefully holding out their glass for yet another top-up in a bid to get as drunk as possible for as little money as possible, before flinching upon being informed of the price of the bottle they have just quaffed.
As usual, one of the days for this type of event occurs when normal people are at work, so I will be there on the Saturday with everybody else (hopefully holding out glass for yet another top-up etc etc). Tickets cost £10 per day or £15 for both days if you think your liver can take it, with the doors opening at 12 noon and closing (forcibly, no doubt, to sounds of great protest) at 6.30.
Full details at the Festival website at www.foodanddrinkfestival.com.
N.B. - if you are attending the whisky tasting at MOSI the following weekend, it might be sensible to take it easy during the week...
Didsbury Arts Festival 2009
The first ever Didsbury Arts Festival starts this Saturday, promising an eclectic line-up of weird and wonderful events which the casual observer is not quite sure whether to celebrate or ridicule.
The sheer variety is impressive - more than 80 events across 40 venues during the eight days of the festival, promising exhibitions by local artists as well as musical offerings and book readings. Even better, most events are free.
The official festival opening takes place at 12 noon this Saturday 26th September at Didsbury Library, followed by a full programme of musical entertainment on the Festival Stage (thoughtfully located next to The Didsbury pub) - full details are on the festival website at www.didsburyartsfestival.org.
Personally, I'm liking the sound of the two blokes who call themselves The Opera Dads and perform songs from the great American songbook (well if it's good enough for Rod Stewart...), and I will also be visiting the Festival Craft Cafe on Sunday 27th at the Northern Lawn Tennis Club, lured by the promise of a shopping opportunity helpfully combined with a barbecue and cake sale.
I sadly will not find time to attend the Crochet Workshop or the excitingly titled "Vegetable Drawings" exhibition, but each to their own...
The sheer variety is impressive - more than 80 events across 40 venues during the eight days of the festival, promising exhibitions by local artists as well as musical offerings and book readings. Even better, most events are free.
The official festival opening takes place at 12 noon this Saturday 26th September at Didsbury Library, followed by a full programme of musical entertainment on the Festival Stage (thoughtfully located next to The Didsbury pub) - full details are on the festival website at www.didsburyartsfestival.org.
Personally, I'm liking the sound of the two blokes who call themselves The Opera Dads and perform songs from the great American songbook (well if it's good enough for Rod Stewart...), and I will also be visiting the Festival Craft Cafe on Sunday 27th at the Northern Lawn Tennis Club, lured by the promise of a shopping opportunity helpfully combined with a barbecue and cake sale.
I sadly will not find time to attend the Crochet Workshop or the excitingly titled "Vegetable Drawings" exhibition, but each to their own...
Sunday, 20 September 2009
The Hollies Farm Shop & Bookstore at Oakmere
Marriage is all about give and take, so after an hour of being dragged around Fords of Winsford yesterday feigning interest in one identical car after another, I naturally decided to assert my rights to go somewhere nice as a reward.
We decided to head towards Northwich (yes, I know, pretend the blog is called "Things to do near Manchester, Cheshire perhaps" just for a moment or two) and found an embarrassment of riches there. Our first stop was The Hollies Farm Shop, part of an impressive site that also includes a garden centre and a caravan park, and a currently vacant barn that promises to transform shortly into a Christmas shop.
The farm shop itself is huge, full of enticingly overpriced items that you never even knew you wanted; I showed enormous self-control but still emerged with the most expensive bread I have ever purchased, along with some pork chops from some local pig or other, and a jar of pickle apparently made by a rosy-cheeked dame in an apron somewhere. The shop also has a restaurant called the Friesian Rooms, where I ate an excellent pate platter watched over by enormous paintings of comedy cows.
Full details of this treasure trove are on their website at http://theholliesfarmshop.co.uk - it's worth going to the restaurant page for the mooing sound effects alone.
Restored by the pate and a nice sit down, we drove another two minutes or so and happened across another gem in the form of a discount bookshop. The Bookstore at Oakmere does not initially look promising - the first thing you see when you go in is an array of those slightly tacky "supernatural Cheshire" type books that bode ill for the rest of the stock. But do not be put off: the shop is stuffed with books for everyone, most of which are half price or less. The range includes fiction, food and drink, biography and history, and most are newly released paperbacks.
True, I have slightly niche tastes, but I left clutching seven books that cost me less than £30, including a book on Shakespeare I've been meaning to get for ages and the collection of letters between the Mitford sisters. Indeed, so teetering was my pile of books that the very charming owner rushed over and took them off me as I browsed, putting them aside for safe-keeping. Apparently new stock is arriving all the time, so I shall definitely visit again.
Clearly the day-out was now over (seven new books to be taken home and read), so the Shire Horse Centre has to wait for another day, as must the pub that caught my husband's eye (never let a man catch sight of a venue that sells beer AND appears to have helicopters landing in and taking off from its back garden) - who knew Northwich was such a draw?
The Hollies Farm Shop is on Forest Road, Little Budworth, Cheshire CW6 9ES; The Bookstore at Oakmere is on Chester Road, Oakmere, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 2HB.
We decided to head towards Northwich (yes, I know, pretend the blog is called "Things to do near Manchester, Cheshire perhaps" just for a moment or two) and found an embarrassment of riches there. Our first stop was The Hollies Farm Shop, part of an impressive site that also includes a garden centre and a caravan park, and a currently vacant barn that promises to transform shortly into a Christmas shop.
The farm shop itself is huge, full of enticingly overpriced items that you never even knew you wanted; I showed enormous self-control but still emerged with the most expensive bread I have ever purchased, along with some pork chops from some local pig or other, and a jar of pickle apparently made by a rosy-cheeked dame in an apron somewhere. The shop also has a restaurant called the Friesian Rooms, where I ate an excellent pate platter watched over by enormous paintings of comedy cows.
Full details of this treasure trove are on their website at http://theholliesfarmshop.co.uk - it's worth going to the restaurant page for the mooing sound effects alone.
Restored by the pate and a nice sit down, we drove another two minutes or so and happened across another gem in the form of a discount bookshop. The Bookstore at Oakmere does not initially look promising - the first thing you see when you go in is an array of those slightly tacky "supernatural Cheshire" type books that bode ill for the rest of the stock. But do not be put off: the shop is stuffed with books for everyone, most of which are half price or less. The range includes fiction, food and drink, biography and history, and most are newly released paperbacks.
True, I have slightly niche tastes, but I left clutching seven books that cost me less than £30, including a book on Shakespeare I've been meaning to get for ages and the collection of letters between the Mitford sisters. Indeed, so teetering was my pile of books that the very charming owner rushed over and took them off me as I browsed, putting them aside for safe-keeping. Apparently new stock is arriving all the time, so I shall definitely visit again.
Clearly the day-out was now over (seven new books to be taken home and read), so the Shire Horse Centre has to wait for another day, as must the pub that caught my husband's eye (never let a man catch sight of a venue that sells beer AND appears to have helicopters landing in and taking off from its back garden) - who knew Northwich was such a draw?
The Hollies Farm Shop is on Forest Road, Little Budworth, Cheshire CW6 9ES; The Bookstore at Oakmere is on Chester Road, Oakmere, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 2HB.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Cava & Cakes at Didsbury's In All Her Finery
Many Didsbury residents have complained in recent years about the increasing number of chains opening in the village, bemoaning its transformation into a clone town full of bland wine bars and identikit pizza outlets. But this is to ignore the presence of interesting independents such as Saints and Scholars, The Cheese Hamlet and my new favourite shop In All Her Finery, a charming boutique on School Lane just off the main Didsbury drag.
The shop opened back in February 2008 but I only went in for the first time last week, lured by the promise of cava and cupcakes. This twice-monthly event - every other Thursday - allows late night browsing between 6 and 9pm, and shoppers are welcome to help themselves to gorgeous cakes provided by Chorlton bakery And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon. The only drawback is the difficulty inherent in attempting to browse the displays of beautiful jewellery whilst simultaneously clutching a glass of fizz and trying to eat a cake in an elegant manner. Apologies to Fiona for any greasy fingerprints later discovered on the display cases.
Fiona sells a range of jewellery including some pieces she makes herself, along with a selection of high-end beauty products - full details are on the website at www.inallherfinery.co.uk. There is also an intriguing-sounding clothes swap party on alternate Thursdays, where you can take along beloved pieces that you don't want to get rid of but perhaps - ahem - don't quite fit you anymore (too many cupcakes perhaps?), and trade them for a new love. So get along there and show your support for an enterprising local business that seems to be going from strength to strength, and get a head start on your Christmas shopping while you're there.
The shop opened back in February 2008 but I only went in for the first time last week, lured by the promise of cava and cupcakes. This twice-monthly event - every other Thursday - allows late night browsing between 6 and 9pm, and shoppers are welcome to help themselves to gorgeous cakes provided by Chorlton bakery And the Dish Ran Away With the Spoon. The only drawback is the difficulty inherent in attempting to browse the displays of beautiful jewellery whilst simultaneously clutching a glass of fizz and trying to eat a cake in an elegant manner. Apologies to Fiona for any greasy fingerprints later discovered on the display cases.
Fiona sells a range of jewellery including some pieces she makes herself, along with a selection of high-end beauty products - full details are on the website at www.inallherfinery.co.uk. There is also an intriguing-sounding clothes swap party on alternate Thursdays, where you can take along beloved pieces that you don't want to get rid of but perhaps - ahem - don't quite fit you anymore (too many cupcakes perhaps?), and trade them for a new love. So get along there and show your support for an enterprising local business that seems to be going from strength to strength, and get a head start on your Christmas shopping while you're there.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Urbis Ice Sculpture and Lashings of Vodka...
There's an interesting event on at The Great Northern on Deansgate in central Manchester this Friday 11th September, combining art (in the form of ice sculptures) and alcohol (in the form of Smirnoff's latest flavoured vodkas).
The highlight of the evening with be the exhibition of an 8m ice model of Manchester's Urbis building, weighing 2.5 tonnes and decorated with limes and green apples in honour of the new flavours. It will remain on view until it melts away; for the best view, be at The Great Northern for 6pm.
As an added incentive, the first twenty readers who arrive at the ice sculpture and quote the "things to do in Manchester blog" will be entered into a prize draw to win
packs of Green Apple Smirnoff and Lime Smirnoff to take home.
The highlight of the evening with be the exhibition of an 8m ice model of Manchester's Urbis building, weighing 2.5 tonnes and decorated with limes and green apples in honour of the new flavours. It will remain on view until it melts away; for the best view, be at The Great Northern for 6pm.
As an added incentive, the first twenty readers who arrive at the ice sculpture and quote the "things to do in Manchester blog" will be entered into a prize draw to win
packs of Green Apple Smirnoff and Lime Smirnoff to take home.
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