29th December 2019
“How you feeling ?” said Mrs RM, on Sunday Morning.
“Fine“. I wasn’t.
Actually, “How you feeling ?” means “get me a coffee, now“.
At least the Premier Inn in Fox Street is quiet. One of the reasons for staying in central Preston was to see if gets “lively” at night. Despite the two nightclubs a few yards away, all I heard was a loud scream at about 3am. I think the Green Devil had run out.
Later that day I was meeting James, who’d been staying with Matt in Salford Quay, to watch City v Sheffield United and applaud the introduction of VAR to our national sport.
Time for a leisurely breakfast in Preston’s Brucciani’s, one of those places you take for granted and find yourself in Café Nero or Spoons by mistake.
It looks posher than it is, bit like Bewley’s in Dublin I guess. You feel you’re somewhere grand till you realise you order at the bar and collect your own cutlery.
Lovely eggs benedict, hot black coffee.
But most striking was the wall of honour, “Mr Manchester” standing with Bill above John and Billy. Not sure where BRAPA was.
Anthony H Wilson is rarely far from my mind when I visit Manchester, and I was a little tearful when I learnt Matt was working opposite the Little Gem where Tony’s funeral took place.
Just like him, Manchester is constantly evolving, which is as much its appeal as its problem for some.
I’d arranged to meet the lads for a pre-match meal at Bundobust, and on the 3rd time of trying (two Trans Pennines cancelled) I caught the train to Deansgate, yards from Tony Wilson Place.
I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but there’s some great pubs on Portland Street.
Bundobust isn’t a great pub, and if you’re doing an alcohol-free day it’s a bit difficult ignoring their beer board. Mrs RM would have insisted on a pint of the Cascade.
Tony Wilson would be proud to see his city striding forward 12 years after his tragically early death, if a bit miffed by the pace with which City have overtaken United.
Everything flows.
retiredmartin 
You stayed in central Preston but not at Thwaites’s Sun ?
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I couldn’t find your review of the Sun on booking.com, Paul
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No, I wanted to keep it ‘Preston’s best kept secret’ only mentioning it to other PubMen.
Er, yes, I might not have booked the Sun had I been accompanied by my dear wife.
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Mrs RM might not have been so keen…
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I’ll try it next time and see whose WiFi is better…
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I’ve stayed in Premier Inns on Mrs Mudge’s recommendation and you might get a decent pint of Sharps or Brains but (a) they’re more expensive than the Sun, (b) it’s not right having windows that can’t be opened, (c) the beds are unusually high and I fell off in the middle of the night breaking a toe and (d) they might have run out of bubble and squeak for breakfast.
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and (e) I wasn’t given a room on the Tay side despite requesting one several months earlier.
That said I’ve found them infinitely better than the two guest houses I’ve used.
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It’s certainly pleasant to enter a room you know is clean and well equipped. The free WiFi isn’t very good but I doubt that’s a concern for most folk
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In your second photo the sun looks a bit too high in the sky for December
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It’s Street View from Google Maps, probably a good few years old as those clubs look a bit more run down these days.
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The Eggs Benedict appear to be a work of art.
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Very good. A fiver I think.
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Yes, Bewleys is just a caff really, albeit a posh one.
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Definitely not a Betty’s.
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Has anyone else noticed that Preston has nearly as many pie shops as pubs ?
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Always a good sign.
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Great tribute to WIlson. A top entrepreneur. If only Birmingham had someone with his vision.
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Someone is behind the rejuvenation of the centre, I guess.
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It looks great but they need a maverick, almost a blaggard, like Wilson to get them similar national PR.
There’s not a shortage of them in Brum!
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It’s you 😀
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Future role!!
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My Dad went to the same secondary school as Tony Wilson, De La Salle College in Salford, albeit in the fifties rather than the sixties when Tony was there.
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Good place Brucciani’s very convenient for the railway station, arriving or departing. Not had much chance to try the Preston drinking establishments but 2020 is only 12 days in.
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Highly recommended.
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I found the Old Vic very convenient for Preston railway station and it’s open from 10am
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Definitely a Proper Pub.
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and good value.
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Thanks for that, duly noted !
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