retiredmartin

June 2024. Manchester.

Encroaching on Chris Dyson territory now, with a gig, curry and unexpected new pub in Manchester.

The curry comes on the city’s most unprepossessing street,

Back Piccadilly a bit off-putting to all but the more adventurous of tourists.

But Cafe Marhaba remains the real deal, even more so than the Rice & Three at This & That.

the lamb and turnip with rotis a spicy joy.

Normally the quietest lane in the Northern Quarter, but now a bustle of activity to my left in what used to be Mother Macs ?

But surely the new Rat & Pigeon is due to open tomorrow ?

Who cares ? Perhaps I can gatecrash a “soft opening” or press launch, never done that, and I’m sure an old codger fits their demographic perfectly.

Well, perhaps not, but there’s proper seating and a brown beer under a fiver from Pomona and I don’t think I can beat that.

It’s an odd, sprawling place with what I believe is called “distressed” decor, though as I’ve never been distressed myself I can’t be sure.

Great views back to curry from the top floor,

intriguing art work reminiscent of the Crown & Kettle, its sister pub,

and somewhere for everyone to hide.

Lots of pints being drunk by men and women, more often Shindigger than Pomona, but who cares.

Matt, 23 today, visited a day later (convinced he’d beaten me), and had similar thoughts to me.

“Better than Mother Macs”.