March 2024. Manchester.
Despite a disastrous season which has seen City 3 points from the top of the League, in the FA Cup semi-final and Champions League Quarter-Final and winning the World Cup and Super Cup, all while selling Asahi below £5 a pint at the Etihad, I renewed my season ticket for 2024-25.
Price for a single seat lucky dip frozen at £330, which means £17.36 to watch fixtures like Sunday’s Nil Nil (0-0) with Woolwich Arsenal, who are the dullest team I’ve seen in years.
But at least I got to deliver Matt an acoustic guitar that’s been in our loft for 3 years (he’s ditched hardcore for Mumford & Sons), and ticked off another pub in Matt Curtis’s Manchester beer book.
Not one to excite Stafford Paul, and to be honest I’d been in Fierce mere months before the book came out, but rules are rules and only visits since the launch are allowed.
I like Fierce a lot, though I wish they’d do a cask beer. I particularly enjoy drinking outside on Thomas Street in the Manchester heat which arrives to greet the new cricket season,
choosing from their weird Blackpool Jane approved flavours.
But not today. Instead I nab a table and admire a proper Scottish 80/.
Blimey, they’ve been taking advice on heads on the beer from Stockton;
They’ve also been taking advice on punk soundtracks from BRAPA.
Seriously, a tremendous half hour of Amyl & the Sniffers, Le Tigre and the Viagra Boys, none of whom are Arsenal Ultras.
Gorgeous. But give us cask, Fierce.
Just as joyously, just across from Fierce, Kabana is back.
This used to be one of the holy trinity of Northern Quarter curry caffs, alongside This & That and Al-Faisal.
Kabana seems to have been closed for years, or perhaps it has micropub hours; anyway, it’s great to have it back promoting love and harmony between Manchester’s footballing giants (City and Stockport).
American readers will no doubt know Mike Summerbee from his starring role alongside Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine in “Escape to Victory”. George of course is best known for his stint with Dunstable Town in the ’70s.
Forget the Rice & Three, it marks you out as a tourist.
Go straight for Lamb Karahi with chapattis.
NOTHING goes better with (or after) keg 80/.
retiredmartin 
we’ve never been hungry when Kabana is open. Very sad since the food always looks great. Strange hours.
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I see it’s closed by 5:30pm, though I can’t say I’d seen it open for a while. Marhaba, down the grotty alley of Back Piccadilly, doesn’t open weekends but is probably my current favourite.
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Amyl & Sniffers – first heard them in a bar in Brussels – Shazam is so useful! Often have a little listen to them . Pauline
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