October 2026. Greater Manchester.
In Manchester for a cut and a curry before my first trip to the Etihad in ages.
The city is setting up the Christmas markets, but it’s naturally beautiful.
I’ve had two pints of Holt Bitter, and however alluring the OBB in Sinclairs seems I know a double espresso in Cafe Nero is the sensible choice, especially with this view;
Matt tidies me up at Chinatown’s Helvete, then we head through Kampus to the station.
Plenty of options for Matt and Emma to get from their new home in Heaton Norris into town; the 192 up the A6 or train from 2 stations fifteen minutes walk away.
Heaton Norris spans the A6, Old Mudgie’s house and the cobbles to Nursery on the left, Albion Mills and the Navigation to the right.
We’re in Heaton Chapel, which means Heaton Hops.
A top pub in Greater Manchester, but this is my first visit in a decade, a date memorable for Pep’s first victory over Barcelona and this Tap Takeover before Beavertown were cancelled (ugh).
7pm on Friday is a daft time to visit the Hops, but the regulars are genuinely lovely as we squeeze past to reach the basement room with pints of Two by Two (Excellent) and Pomona. Matt can’t believe the pints here are still under a fiver.
We resist the pies though,
as Matt wants to introduce me to the delights of his new local Chinese takeaway.
The New Tai Wah (nothing to do with Pete Wylie) has a sign outside warning of “an active outrage on our network“, and one inside warns “Please do not haggle“.
But since you can have a full meal for about eight quid you really don’t need to haggle.
They even cater for the omelette connoisseur.
In the interests of scholarly research, I have the crispy beef and Singapore rice, and tell Matt it’s plenty good enough (NCTSS3+).
Unlike City’s performance the next afternoon against Brighton.
The Etihad looks stunning though.
