Quaff Ale remains the most reliable source of information about UK beer festivals. The site can be found here: http://www.quaffale.org.uk/php/festivals.php
The next major event is the large Winter Ales Festival being held again in Manchester. However, there has been a welcome change of venue from the disappointing New Century Hall. This does mean the festival is no longer being held in the city centre, but is instead located at the Sheridan Suite on Oldham Road. This seems to be a fair trek from town on foot. The website for the festival provides a lot of information, and it can be found here: http://www.alefestival.org.uk/winterales/
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Monday 7 December 2009
Pi
This bar has become a firm favourite on the Chorlton scene. It usually serves three draft real ales and one cider, with Bank Top's Flat Cap being the one permanent beer available. There's a good selection of continental draught lagers and a huge array of bottles. Pi is a small place, and consequently feels lively even when there aren't many people inside. A key feature is the food served. This is restricted to inexpensively priced pies from Pieminster. These are available with minted peas, gravy and a creamy mash. The food is hearty and very tasty.
The staff in Pi are extremely friendly, and they offer free nuts when you get a pint at the bar. This is a small gesture, but helps to make the punters happy. There are also mini salamis on offer (not free, but they go very well with a beer). Finally, the bitter is always served in the traditional 'dimpled' glass with a handle. This is an excellent bar, and is one of the best places to drink in Chorlton at the moment.
After numerous visits Pi has remained consistently good and most notable of all the service and general atittude in the place is second to none. If we gave awards it would win one for customer service - shame we don't.
The staff in Pi are extremely friendly, and they offer free nuts when you get a pint at the bar. This is a small gesture, but helps to make the punters happy. There are also mini salamis on offer (not free, but they go very well with a beer). Finally, the bitter is always served in the traditional 'dimpled' glass with a handle. This is an excellent bar, and is one of the best places to drink in Chorlton at the moment.
After numerous visits Pi has remained consistently good and most notable of all the service and general atittude in the place is second to none. If we gave awards it would win one for customer service - shame we don't.
Wednesday 2 December 2009
Trof (Northern Quarter)
Thomas St
We've been here a few times at lunchtime, but the most recent visit was the worst. Trof is very food and coffee orientated. The sole staff member informed us (the only people at the bar) that she had some people to see to before us and carried on mucking about with the coffee machine while taking in information about orders from customers. A breif moment of clarity allowed us to decide that paying £3.60 for a pint of lager here wasn't worth it - so we left. We've had fun here before, but not today - it's expensive and food, rather than drink, orientated at lunchtime. Being literally next door to This & That makes it an obvious post Rice & 3 stop but being overpriced, not having the basics (real ale) and generally feeling more style over substance makes it almost opposite in terms of outlook.
A fun, if fancy and expensive, bar on the right day.
We've been here a few times at lunchtime, but the most recent visit was the worst. Trof is very food and coffee orientated. The sole staff member informed us (the only people at the bar) that she had some people to see to before us and carried on mucking about with the coffee machine while taking in information about orders from customers. A breif moment of clarity allowed us to decide that paying £3.60 for a pint of lager here wasn't worth it - so we left. We've had fun here before, but not today - it's expensive and food, rather than drink, orientated at lunchtime. Being literally next door to This & That makes it an obvious post Rice & 3 stop but being overpriced, not having the basics (real ale) and generally feeling more style over substance makes it almost opposite in terms of outlook.
A fun, if fancy and expensive, bar on the right day.
Kabana (Cheetham Hill)
Cheetham Hill Rd
This establishment seems to qualify as both a kebab house and a curry cafe (view review of 'curry trip'). Many of the people eating here on this visit were having kebabs, much more than is normally the case at curry cafes. It could be related to the Kabana in the Northern Quarter, but we don't know. The kebabs initially looked cheap at around £3. However, the chicken kebabs actually cost £4.50, which is not good value. The kebabs were alright, but not up to the high standard of some of the places in Rusholme. There was no chilli sauce available, and the salad was not great. The chicken was tasty and the chapatti was good. However, the naan was too thick and doughy. This is a pretty lively place, but the expense and the kebab quality mean that it is not a patch on the best.
Scores out of 10
Meat 8.0
Bread 6.5
Salad/Sauces 6.0
Service/Setting 7.5
Average 7.0
This establishment seems to qualify as both a kebab house and a curry cafe (view review of 'curry trip'). Many of the people eating here on this visit were having kebabs, much more than is normally the case at curry cafes. It could be related to the Kabana in the Northern Quarter, but we don't know. The kebabs initially looked cheap at around £3. However, the chicken kebabs actually cost £4.50, which is not good value. The kebabs were alright, but not up to the high standard of some of the places in Rusholme. There was no chilli sauce available, and the salad was not great. The chicken was tasty and the chapatti was good. However, the naan was too thick and doughy. This is a pretty lively place, but the expense and the kebab quality mean that it is not a patch on the best.
Scores out of 10
Meat 8.0
Bread 6.5
Salad/Sauces 6.0
Service/Setting 7.5
Average 7.0
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