Category Archives: Manchester

Divine lunch and proper tea at Manchester Cathedral

Manchester Cathedral, in the centre of the city, is home to a tearoom that offers sanctuary for those seeking tea and cake.

Proper Tea is owned by broadcaster Yvette Fielding who happens to be a fervent tea lover (with all that ghost hunting, I can understand the need for a good cup of tea) and the people behind Teacup Kitchen, which I’ve previously written about.

Just as at Teacup Kitchen, tea here is a serious business – choose from black, green, white, Earl Grey and flowering varieties along with some rare and exotic brews. It comes loose and with a timer to indicate that the leaves are brewed to perfection.

There’s a great selection of artisan coffees too and the menu offers a delicious selection of toasted sandwiches, soup, salads and platters including plenty of vegetarian options.

Lunch at Proper TeaMy homemade chicken, avocado, red pepper and pesto toasted sandwich on rye bread with purple slaw was fresh, tasty and filling.

Want more than a brew and a bite to eat? Make an occasion of your visit with morning tea, cream tea, high tea or afternoon tea (Prosecco optional)!

The atmosphere is bright and breezy and the décor modern with a retro nod; white and bright with many windows allowing natural light in and low hung filament light bulbs adding to the glow. Ray Charles was playing softly in the background during my visit.

Cakes adorn a vast counter on one side of the room behind which, containers of tea line shelves along the wall.

Proper Tea is set in Cathedral Yard and the church can be seen from your table. There are also a few tables outside for al fresco tea if the weather permits. It’s a perfect venue to escape shopping/work/study mayhem for a little while and enjoy divine refreshments in divine surroundings!

Today 025My sandwich and pot of Assam tea cost £8.50 and the service was friendly and attentive.

Proper Tea is open seven days a week – almost every table was taken during my Monday lunchtime visit by people of all ages.

The tearoom is right next to the cathedral and you can also enter via the visitor centre on Cateaton Street.

Built in the 13th Century and with some impressive architectural features, Manchester Cathedral is a beautiful thing to behold. Why not take one of the daily tours?

Great Manchester Run is good for heart and soul

On one of the hottest day of the year so far, I ran alongside around 40,000 people from all over the country; all ages, sizes, speeds and abilities, from wheelchairs users to blind people, yet all united in one aim – running to remember and hope for loved ones and at the same time raise money and awareness for their chosen charities.

I take part in a charity race every year for a charity close to my heart, the Alzheimer’s Society, and have tried a variety of events from 10km trail runs to the Great North Run half marathon. The Great Manchester Run was one of my favourites; very well organised and a joy from start to finish.

Created back in 2003 as a legacy after the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the event has grown rapidly in popularity and is now the biggest 10km run in Europe, favoured by celebrities including a host of Corrie stars and BBC news readers. There’s an elite race for the world’s top athletes and junior events – a 2km mini run for 3-8 year olds and 2 miles for 9-15 year olds.

The atmosphere at the start was electric as I lined up next to fairies, superheroes and the occasional banana. Many people display the reasons for their participation on their t-shirts, which is both moving and motivating. If you’ve ever considered doing a charity run but worry that you’ll fail, fear not. The back of the pack with your fellow charity runners is where the fun is at. There’s no talk of personal bests just an outpouring of love and unspoken sense of all being in it together.

IMG_2437The race starts and ends smack bang in the city centre and the route allows for some sight-seeing, including Manchester United Old Trafford football stadium and the iconic Imperial War Museum building. There were bands roadside and a wall of sound from Key 103 radio station to help you along the final stretch.

It’s a road race and, with the exception of a couple of stretches on A roads, supporters lined the route cheering and clapping putting a spring in my step (even at the 9km mark in the searing midday sun) and a smile on my face.

However my favourite bits are the points where charities pitch up to cheer their runners on. The Alzheimer’s Society not only send you training and fundraising tips but also a t-shirt with your name on (as do many other charities) and nothing beats running past your charity points and hearing your name shouted out by a team of supporters. It’s a wonderful boost and a reminder of why you’re there.

The mass of supporters at the end of the race is almost overwhelming and the closest I’ll ever get to a moment of sheer adoration!

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You’re rewarded with a medal and goodie bag and as you’re in the city centre, you can take your finish line feeling to any one of numerous places to eat, drink and be merry. Never will you have earned cake more than in these circumstances!

I firmly believe that everyone of reasonable health can run 10km with a little dedication, and the pain of pounding the streets on those first few training runs is rewarded ten times over by the sense of achievement that finishing a race and reaching your goal brings. Some believe that the runner’s high is an urban myth but even if your body doesn’t feel euphoric at the finish line, your soul will be elated.

My place was subsided by my charity – it costs around £40 to enter individually. It’s expensive but it’s a huge event to organise and marshal not to mention providing water for all those runners. Lots of charities offer reduced price places so if you’re feeling inspired, why not see if you can sign up with your charity of choice?

Find out when the next Great Manchester Run takes place

The best brew in Manchester?

Teacup Kitchen is a tea lovers’ dream and a jewel of an eatery in Manchester city centre, perfect for a leisurely lunch or mid-shopping brew and cake.

I began following Teacup Kitchen on Facebook after reading about it in a magazine and the vivid photos of delicious looking food and drinks appearing on my timeline implored me to pay a visit.

Located on Thomas Street, in the Northern Quarter and just a few minutes’ walk from the main high street, you can expect originality and attention to detail from the moment you step inside.

IMG_2175The venue has the feel of a retro warehouse diner with a red, brown and stainless steel interior, wooden table and chairs, tiled floors and an open kitchen, with an old fashioned bell used by the chefs to signal that food is ready to serve. It’s a spacious and attractive venue that was half full when we visited early afternoon on a Tuesday. 50s style music playing (non intrusively) in the background helped to give it a social and relaxed atmosphere. My fellow diners ranged widely in age and it is definitely not just a venue for ladies who like to lunch.

IMG_2173A vast menu, with specials intriguingly presented in the form of a letter within, made deciding what to have a lengthy affair. Let’s start with the drinks. Despite a choice of smoothies, milkshakes, fresh juices, coffees, hot chocolate and even wine, beers and ciders, this was easy for me – I’m a dedicated tea drinker. I just had to choose from around 25 different types ranging from a selection of Earl Greys to the delectably named Performing Flower Tea which promises a display of dancing blossoms and Energise Your Eyes, a reviving tonic. There’s even one to help you recover from a hangover! I opted for Assam Gold – black tea, good and strong.

IMG_2170My tea was served in a pot with strainer (no tea bags here) and a quirky tea timer which I loved – three little egg timers designed to tell you when your tea has reached the desired level of strength. You can also buy a range of loose leaf teas to take home with you.

Making a food choice was tricky – there was much on the menu to tempt me (I should say that I like fresh, seasonal, unprocessed food and if these criteria are met, I’m open to all suggestions). Sandwiches, soup, pies, pastries and eggs of every variety – Benedict, Florentine, scrambled and poached; afternoon tea, cream tea, scones, flapjack and cake by the slice; something for breakfast, lunch and tea; and each item thoughtfully put together with scrumptious sounding flavours and textures.

DSC03498I opted for an oldie but a goodie – beans on toast! But not just any beans on toast, Heritage Tomato Beans, a mix of tomatoes, red kidney beans and green lentils in tomato sauce served on rye toast. My choice did not disappoint. The combination of ingredients was luscious, the tomatoes ripe and busting with flavour, and it was a healthy portion.

The rest of my party sampled a cream tea (with the jam and cream served together in a glass jar, which went down extremely well with my scone connoisseur mum); a ham hock, cheddar and piccalilli sandwich; a Love Ewe sandwich of sheep’s cheese and sweet onion marmalade; and a shared portion of sweet potato fries, all of which impressed. We all spent around £10 each on our lunch and a drink, which I thought was great value for money.

The cake counter was drool-inducing. Colourful is not the word – pale green pistachio cake, pink red velvet cake and multi-coloured rainbow cake just some of the treats on offer. If we hadn’t had a pressing shopping agenda, we’d have each sampled a different one. Still, gives me an excuse to go back…

DSC03503The waiters were pleasant and attentive and the food was served quickly but without any implication that is should be eaten quickly. I could have happily ordered another pot of tea and whiled away a lazy afternoon there.

Teacup Kitchen is an absolute gem and a welcome alternative to the masses of national chain eateries that dominate the city centre.