Sleuth 04/11/11

Sleuth is a sideways glance at the city every week, it's the truth, but Sleuth's truth. We give £25 for every story/rumour and piece of absurdity you find for us to print. Sleuth sometimes even gets serious. We ask for the money back if any legal action follows. Follow Sleuth on twitter @Sleuth

Sleuth's TGI Fridays Row

TGI Fridays is opening in the Royal Exchange early in the New Year. It will be trading on the Cross Street side of the building. There's a planning row going on about whether the brash signage will clash with the elegant Royal Exchange stone facade. You decide - the image at the top of this page shows what it will look like. Sleuth thinks its fine. It'll add a dash of colour to the street there. Give the place a bit of life. 

Sleuth The Editor Of Michelin Guides And A Lady From Wisconsin

Sleuth was trying to find an image for Rebecca Burr on the internet. She's the editor of the Michelin UK guide and London Confidential had interviewed her (click here). Of course being an incognito food reviewer she wanted her image to remain a mystery. Sleuth thought he'd have a Sleuth around and found this woman, but doesn't think it's the Ms Burr he was after: http://www.modelmayhem.com/94339 

Sleuth, Snails, 63 Degrees And A Remarkable Story

Snail heavenSleuth had a look-see at the new French restaurant, 63 Degrees, on Church Street this week. He was impressed. The editor will have a full review up by Monday. The snails were absolutely gorgeous, earthy with beautiful parsley sauce and lovely crunchy spuds.

The story of the Moreau family is interesting too. The manager, Alex Moreau, moved to the city when his Manc girlfriend returned home. He worked for the previous tenant of the 63 Degrees site, the ill-fated Simple at the Light. 

When that closed and recognising the rubbishy nature of Cafe Rouge and the good, but expensive nature of The French at the Midland, he spotted a gap in the market. So he talked to his dad, Eric, who has worked in two star Michelin restaurants in France. The result was that Eric and his wife Florence (Alex's mum) moved out of their suburban Parisian house and bought a place in Chorlton. Wow, that's doing it properly thinks Sleuth. Let's hope we can have a second French Eric making a mark in Manchester.

Sir Richard Leese and the truth behind the ‘shedload’ censorship

After the well-reported confusion with American broadcasters this week (click here) Sir Richard Leese has confirmed to Sleuth that Manchester will make ‘shitloads’ of money from fining motorists who aren’t aware that Sunday parking on Manchester streets isn't free anymore. 

Metrolink's New Small Carnivore Passes Prove A Success

Sleuth's Worst Definition Of 'Long Haul'

Confidential put up an article about the response of the two Manchester Cathedrals to St Paul's Cathedral closing its doors due to the protest camp outside. The anti-capitalist protesters there seem set to stay for many months. Representatives of Manchester's version in the Peace Gardens at the back of the Town Hall told Confidential (click here) they were "in for the long haul". “I have no intention of leaving,” one of them called Keith said, “If we can create a utopia, why would I want to leave?" He's left now - utopia lasted just a couple of weeks.

Sleuth And Dame Nancy Rothwell And The Isle Of White

Dame Nancy RothwellSleuth was present at Confidential's Big Interview with Dame Nancy Rothwell - the vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester. The interview goes up on Monday. She explained that the massive £30m debt crisis the institution had suffered from had been made to vanish largely through selling off land and properties that were no longer required. Later, Sleuth was chatting this over in a pub when his friend had a eureka moment. "That how we should solve the national debt crisis, we should sell a bit of Britain off. What about the the Isle of White? It's got great access, lovely properties and we really don't need it," he suggested. Sleuth's been leaving messages on the Downing Street voicemail ever since. This is a goer.

Sleuth, Halloween, And Horror

Sleuth was scaring people under the city in the dark during the Confidential Halloween tours. He was mid-story and it was pitch-black in the deep undercroft where he was stood with 30 people. It was tense, everybody knew something terrifying was coming. Sleuth was distracted though, "Is somebody ringing a bell?" he asked. Silence. "I can still hear it," said Sleuth.

A very small female voice came from the group, "When I’m scared I ring my little angel bell," she said. "A what?" asked Sleuth. "A little bell shaped like an angel, it helps me calm down when I ring it," she said.

"Ringing your little angel bell sounds like a euphemism to me," said Sleuth, before continuing to a conclusion of pure terror - at the end of which all anyone could hear was the woman frantically ringing her little angel bell.