19/06/16 - Mr Thomas's Chop House - Manchester

Geocaches - 1
Walk - Why walk when you can Uber
Pub - Mr Thomas's Chop House, Black Sheep

Up in Manchester to move our 22 year old daughter into her 8th different accommodation.  This is already four more than me.

Most of the heavy lifting has already been done, so by midday, we have moved what's left from Fallowfield to Salford.

So, how to entertain ourselves in Rainy Manchester?

I turn on the Sat Nav and see that the nearest Geocache is at Salford Lads Club.  This will mean something to discerning music fans of a certain age.  There's a degree of serendipity around this, as its bang on 30 years since the Queen is Dead was released by the Smiths.  The inner sleeve picture went on to become the most recognised art work for the band.

We wait our turn for the obligatory photos behind an eclectic crowd of fans - Mini Buses full of balding 40-somethings, a pair of Asian girls and a surprisingly high number of youngsters who are ensuring the band's legacy remains.

An attempt to Recreate is hard when there's only two of you

The club is open to visitors, so we get a chance to mooch around and see their "Smiths" room, complete with plenty of memorabilia.  Free tea and coffee too.  Well done Salford Lads Club.

So how do Students get around?  Well, they don't walk.  They fire up their Smart Phones and hail an Uber.  You get a map showing where you are, where your cab driver is and some details on who he is, ready for future ratings.  Long gone are the days when you wait expectantly, hoping a cab will turn up on the same day as you ordered it.  And the best thing, Dad's don't have to pay.  The £3 charge is automatically on Ellie's account.

I've seen the future and I like it.

There was slight concern that we had too much time to kill before our lunch reservation.  Little did we know that today was Manchester Day and there is a full on carnival taking place in the streets.
Think the opening scenes of Spectre.  Sitting in the undercover alcove of the Cask Marque Dutton's Bar, directly opposite the Town Hall was a wonderful place to watch it.... even if we did have to endure the banter of the two minor Mancunian Celebs on the tannoy system.

Wonderful - Manchester Day

And on to lunch.

Mr Thomas's Chop house is a throw back to a by gone era and hasn't changed inside or out since 1901.  Outside, you'd need google to appreciate the fact that it was Manchester's first iron framed building.  Inside, you can appreciate the recently restored original tile work for all its glory.

Former patron's include LS Lowry.  Presumably before they put the prices up.

For good reason, it's one of CAMRA's best heritage pubs.

Has a New York Feel from the Outside

Lifted from the Net - We Sat in front of the Metal Gates

There's a fair amount of slagging off of the place on the usual beer web sites.  I can understand the comments about price but not of the tourists.

I wouldn't necessarily choose it as my local, but I would make it a destination after travelling 120 miles.  It needs to be experienced.

And the beer - the holy grail pairing of Timothy Taylor Landlord and Black Sheep.  Like choosing a favourite between your children.

And the food - my mother in law enquired if I had enjoyed the chops.