(It has to be said it was a late lunch and maybe that was the reason it was so empty)

Located in Spinningfields, on Deansgate, the Pacific Rim pan-Asian themed restaurant opened on 24th May 2011, with the menu devised by former Young Australian Chef of the Year, Paul Greening.
(I don’t know whether this is a scoop or not but on questioning one of the staff to see whether the Head Chef was on the pass, we where told there was a new head chef, which we thought odd because it had not been publicized)

The entrance is a three dimensional glass triangle that juts out off the ground, very impressive.
We had a lovely greeting by the maitre d’ who led us to our table and announced the name of the waitress who would be serving us. There was nothing plastic about the welcome, a nice smile and her personalty shone through.
Couldn’t really say that about the waitress though, she seemed a little nervous and proceeded as if she was reading of a script; clearly new her job perhaps a little too well (over zealous training)

My wife had ‘ Yellowfin tuna Nigiri Sushi’ and I not being a sushi fan ordered ‘Prawn, avocado and cucumber Californian Roll’ (thinking that it would suit western palates better).
The common ingredient across all the different kinds of sushi, is sushi rice, you only need to ask the waitress to explain what the dishes are if like me you are a novice.

On arrival to the table ….surprise surprise these ‘finger food delights’ had to be tackled with a knife and fork, easily twice the size my wife had ever witnessed before and therefore too much of a stray from convention.

Unlike sashimi, which is almost always eaten with chopsticks, nigirizushi is traditionally eaten with the fingers, even in formal settings.

The sushi must have been pre-made and stored at a cold temperature, which I understand, however, I think it should be assembled to order and served at room temperature, here you could taste the coldness of the fridge.

We were assigned a wine waiter who presented us with an i-pad to select our wine, gimmicky maybe but it did hold a lot  more information in terms of the wine history than a conventional wine menu and  may well be the way forward; it was fun and apart from the selection been on the hefty price tag side, we managed to select a reasonable bottle of Sauvignon Blanc which was very good along with the wine waiter from Northern Ireland; again with a manner that was genuine and polite and clearly well trained.

For our mains I had ‘Ocean trout fillet with pancetta, caramelized onion and Madeira shallots with a side order of mixed leaf salad ‘ which was absolutely gorgeous although I did have to send back my mixed leaf salad because it hadn’t been washed properly; full of grit; having an open kitchen, when the salad went back I noticed the head chef on duty took charge, and
redone the salad himself, second time round, perfection!

My wife had 28 day aged premium grade British beef in the form of rib-eye steak with beetroot coleslaw, peppercorn sauce and a side order of fries. Her first reaction (being somewhat of a expert on chips) was.
“The fries are really good”
The main enhancement was, I think,  garlic rock salt.
The steak was good, the peppercorn sauce was a little runny and we thought the cold beetroot coleslaw was weird as an accompaniment; although after saying that, all was eaten.  I pinched the rest of the white wine and my wife had a glass of Shiraz to complement her rib-eye.,

The lime white interior was the ideal solution for a basement space creating a cosy ambiance; the seating was wonderfully comfortable and the lighting is just clever, you completely forget you are underground, it definitely has a wow factor.

Somewhere to entertain if you want to impress or a special treat. (avoid center isle for intimacy)

This next comment is really for their own good as I would like Australasia to say around longer than some I could mention.
Our bill was £73.00; grit in salad leaf is amateurish and should never of happened
The head chef who has changed since opening was not in the kitchen; he can’t be there every day.
The staff get a score of 2/3 but all new their job.

Having a brigade of 7 chefs covering only 16 people on a Sunday afternoon and according to a member of staff  “it’s quiet on a Sundays” some one needs to look at costs.

The small faults we encountered should not have occurred at this stage.

Would I go back, Yes please if your asking.

The Cornerstones Guest House is a 5 minute walk away from Brooklands Tram Station; get off the first stop in the city which is the G Mex (12 minutes)
turn right on to Deansgate and you’ll find Australasia about 5 minutes down the road on the left hand side.

For more posts from Cornerstones Guesthouse visit our site.

Broadheath is a suburb of Altrincham and it has to be said there’s not a lot to see around the station itself although it is one of only a few metrolink stations that has a level crossing.

The Bridgewater Canal is to it’s rear and when the stretch from Manchester to Runcorn was open in 1776 the Old Packet House was the second stopping place on the journey by boat or barge, providing shelter for passengers and storage facilities for packages for dispatch or collection. The first boat from Manchester was at 8am stopping at the Inn at 10am on it’s way to Runcorn where it moored at 5pm. On the return journey the boat full of people on their way to visit Manchester would stop at the Inn at 4pm.

During the Second World War
The surrounding area was subject to bombing and loss of life; but the firms in Broadheath continued to supply the necessary tools, equipment and armaments needed. King Gorge and Queen Elizabeth paid a visit to Broadheath at the end of hostilities to acknowledge the part it played.

So jump off the tram and go and have a pint in the Old Packet House soak up the history, and maybe after a few, walk along the canal to the next station, at Timperley. Don’t get to close to the edge though!

The Cornerstones Guest House is in a great location for a visit to Manchester; just 2.5 miles from the Old Packet House on the A56.

For more posts from Cornerstones Guesthouse visit our site.

The Cornerstones Guest House is just 5.1 miles or 10 minutes from The Trafford Centre. There’s no charge what so ever for children under 7 years of age so why not make a weekend of it.

In the Night Garden Live! is a sensational stage production specially created in a purpose-built show dome which will be situated in Peel 7 Car Park (outside John Lewis). There are two different shows to choose from and each one lasts just under an hour – will you catch the Ninky Nonk or the Pinky Ponk?

For more information and to book your ticket visit  http://www.nightgardenlive.com/manchester/tickets.html

For more posts from Cornerstones Guesthouse visit our site.

Over the next few posts, using the Cornerstones Guest House as a base,  I hope to take you on a journey using the existing Metro Network to see what you can hope to find around each Metro station.

Starting in the south of Manchester is the town of Altrincham, where the Metro ends or begins depending on your perspective. The town offers excellent accessibility, situated on the A56, a main arterial route out of Manchester and the national motorway network is just one mile away. This is complemented by an integrated rail, and bus interchange, providing easy access to the City of Manchester and its mainline rail stations. The interchange is soon to undergo a major refurbishment. Manchester Airport, the UK’s largest airport outside London, is easily accessible, being only 15 minutes away from the centre of Altrincham.

The name Altrincham comes from the old English meaning the homestead of Adhere’s people. Although there is evidence that a Roman road ran through Altrincham, there is no evidence that the Romans ever settled here and Altrincham is not named in the Doomsday Book. Altrincham as a medieval town was probably the creation of the Baron of Dunham Massey, the town was given a Royal Charter for a market by Edward 1 in 1290 and Baron Massey created his own Borough Charter a short time later. The Royal Charter gave the right to hold a Tuesday market and later Fridays and Saturdays were added at a later date and these market days still exist into the present.
Around 1340, the lands of Altrincham passed to the Earl of Stamford and the Stamfords were still influential within the town until the late 20th Century with the Stamford name found on a number of buildings and roads within the town today.
In the 15th century the town was administered by the Court Leet, they met every three weeks to administer a petty offenses court, they also monitored the well being of Altrincham, being the unpaid equivalent of the Police, council officials and health and safety officers of their day. The Court Leet also appointed the Town Crier and they are still active in the town today and can be seen in their ceremonial robes along with the Town Crier at special events around Altrincham.

This is the station in 1915, other than the tram everything is much the same as it was then.

From the Metro you step out of the station on to the main street Stamford New Rd, turn to your
left to reach the centre of town; Stamford New Rd changes it’s name to Railway Rd at Regent St, cross over the road but before you go down Regent St to the market on Market St, go up Railway St a little and you will discover County Galleries which as been dealing in artwork for over thirty years. The gallery is a large Edwardian gothic building, flooded with natural light, accommodating a vast array of paintings. Some galleries run one artist exhibitions, but they prefer to constantly display selections from all their artists. This creates a more vibrant, ever changing display of art work, and also prevents red sticker rage!  The staff are very friendly and love to talk to new comers.

Altrincham Market is one of the town’s oldest attractions and still maintains a loyal fan base today. For others it is a hidden gem yet to be discovered The Market offers good quality fresh local and specialty produce, a great range of other goods and individual products at competitive prices. Many of the traders have been at the Market over a long period of time, know their customers’ tastes and preferences and are happy to offer tastings and samples on a ‘try before you buy’ basis. They are able to provide good advice based on years of experience, sound knowledge and a belief in their goods and produce. Most stallholders have a great rapport with customers old and new and build up relationships over the years that keep them coming back. There are stalls on the Lower Market with its entrance on Shaws Road and in a Victorian Indoor Market Hall and adjacent glass canopied Market, both accessible from Greenwood Street and Market Street.

With its heritage, friendly, relaxed atmosphere and the enthusiasm of its traders, Altrincham Market’s setting in the Historic Market Quarter, gives visitors a shopping experience with a difference.

Producers Market

A new regular Sunday producers market is launching at Altrincham Market from Sunday 21 November 2010.

To complement the increasing number of businesses open on Sunday, the monthly market, which will be on the third Sunday of each month between 10am and 2:30pm. The market features some of the finest food producers and craft makers from the North West.

Building on the success of the producers market which has been held in Hale over the past two years and includes producers from the Greater Manchester region and Cheshire.

Food fanatics will be treated to an outstanding choice of locally-sourced food and drink from the North West’s top producers including:

Free-range chicken, beef, pork and lamb

Local fruit, vegetables, plants and herbs

Regional cheeses, butter, organic free-range eggs and apple juice

Artisan cakes, puddings, breads and pastries

Pâté and restaurant quality pre-prepared meals

Hand Crafted chocolates by master chocolatiers

Jams, pickles and preserves

Visitors to the market will have the chance to meet the producers and try before they buy.

Weekly Markets

Tuesdays & Saturday – 9am-4pm

General Retail with a variety of stalls selling a range of goods from fresh, local produce to its famed flowers, fruit and fish as well as household goods, gifts, plants and bags.

Thursday – 8am-4pm

Antiques and Bric-a-Brac & Taylor’s Fish Stall – now an established market.

Fridays – 9am-4pm

Smaller scale general retail market

Monthly Markets

First Friday of Every Month – 8am-2pm

Producers/Craft Market – A popular market that incorporates a farmers market as well as individual crafts.

If your looking for a good night out Altrincham Folk Club meets every Sunday night starting around 8pm at the Conservative Club on Market Street. They usually have a wide range of singers, musicians, poets and songwriters. From sea shanties to traditional folk songs, English, Scottish and Irish, Jacques Brel interpretations, blues, and jazz, modern songs and some unique original material . Each artist plays one or two songs. Occasionally a band turns up and plays three or four at a time.
Admission is usually only £1 unless we have a special guest!

Dunham Massey

On the edge of town is Dunham Massey hall which was initially built in 1616 by Sir George Booth, who was amongst the creations of Baronets by James I in 1611, but was later remodelled by John Norris for George, Earl of Stamford and Warrington between 1732 and 1740; it was also altered by John Hope towards the end of the 18th century and by Joseph Compton Hall between 1905 and 1908. The hall itself, the stables, and the carriage house of Dunham Massey are all Grade I listed buildings, three of six such buildings in Trafford.The site is moated and lies immediately west of the village of Dunham, with the deer park lying to the south. The hall was donated to the National Trust by the last Earl of Stamford, in 1976.  During the First World War Dunham Massey Hall was used as a military hospital.

Inside is a collection of Huguenot silver, the carving The Crucifixion by 17th century wood carver Grinling Gibbons, and a white marble bust of the Emperor Hadrian; the head is antique, but the neck and shoulders are 18th century, it was probably acquired by the 5th Earl of Stamford. A fine collection of paintings are also housed in the hall including Allegory with Venus, Mars, Cupid and Time by Guercino, The Cascade at Terni by Louis Ducros, and portraits by William Beechey, Francis Cotes and Michael Dahl.

The deer park at Dunham Massey is the only medieval park in Trafford to survive to the present day. The hall and grounds are open to the public and are a popular tourist attraction.

Entertainment

The Garrick Play House
The Club Theatre

All put on plays through out the year

Bars & Restaurants

The Belgian Bar
40 Greenwood Street,
Marvelous selection of Belgian beers, some on draught. Table service. Beers and glasses available to take home. Jazz, simple good food, day or night a lovely atmosphere .

Yara 23 Oxford Road
A family run restaurant selling traditional Lebanese and Syrian food, again simple food done well, bring your own wine if you like corkage is only £1 or
try the Chateau Musar at a very reasonable price.

Altrincham Fish Bar
42 Greenwood Street.
Fish and Chips.

Dilli Indian Restaurant.
60 Stamford New Road.
Regional specialties from the familiar Punjab to the less well-known Chettinad, Mangalore and Pondicherry states

For more posts from Cornerstones Guesthouse visit our site.

The surprise was, we came out of the cinema about 7.30 and thought where to eat. Manchester centre’s about 8 miles down the road but we thought we’ed stay in Altrincham (all-tring-ham) deciding to ride around to see what was on offer.
We found Yara a family run restaurant selling traditional Lebanese and Syrian food.
On entering we were asked if we had booked, which we hadn’t; after a minute or two the waiter said it was ok but they needed the table back at 8:30, which I hate; we looked at each other,  hadn’t booked so couldn’t grumble and decided to say.
The conversation was taking place in an area just as we entered the restaurant, the waiter pointed to a table set for 6 just where we were stood and turned away. We both looked at each other and as I found out later both thinking the same thing,  ‘not if we have to sit here’.

We ended up on the first floor, the menu was just up my street, different dishes like tapas which you could order large or small portions of, I ordered grilled halloumi cheese with pitta bread and Dorothy had chicken wings for starters, followed by mixed and shish kabab with a really nice Lebanese rice and  greek salad served with two lovely dips. Nothing really out of the ordinary, but it was all really very nice, fresh, vibrant authentic middle eastern food, full of flavour;  and after 2 years they still let you bring your own wine with only £1.00 corkage, which we didn’t know about at the time but where in heaven to find they sold Chateau Musar at a very reasonable price.

Not fine dinning, but great food in a relaxed and fun atmosphere with super efficient staff. Bookings are essential, particularly at weekends.

The Cornerstones Guest House is just down the road from Altrincham and the Yara Restaurant and just 12 minutes from Manchester city center by Metro.

The Cornerstones Guest House Built in 1872 by Sir William Cunliff Brooks

So if your looking for some where to eat in Manchester, ask us to arrange a table at Yara when booking your accommodation.

Yara Restaurant Menu

23 Oxford Road
Altrincham,
Manchester,
WA14 2ED.

Tuesday – Friday: 5pm – 11pm,
Saturday – Sunday: 1pm – 11pm,
Monday – closed.

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Bringing with it a huge cast of Russia’s greatest and most talented circus performers, this once in a life time opportunity to see the award-winning show pushes the boundaries of human physical ingenuity to its limits. Prepare to be amazed by these critically acclaimed acts from all parts of the Soviet Union.

With breath-taking balancing acts, a frenzy of gymnasts on trampolines, body-twisting contortionists and award-winning clowns, Valik & Valerik who have perfected the art of slapstick and Buster Keeton style cunning capers, are just some of the treats in this great family show.

A phenomenal range of acts with pure excitement through every performing act. Led by the sensational RingMaster Andery Voronin introducing each single act with great passion. In complimentary, Khil and Spira do a fantastic magic act where a woman gets swan in several little pieces; these people are not amateurs! Valik and Valerik provide great clown entertainment to make you laugh your socks off world wondrous acts.

Why not really make a night of it you can dine at The Lowry Restaurant before the show?  Our Pre Theatre Evening Menu boasts a range of delicious seasonal dishes which showcases high quality British modern cooking at its best.

• 2 courses £18.95
• 3 courses £21.95

We can deliver theatre programmes to your table, pre order your interval drinks or, if you’re rushed for time, invite you back for dessert and coffee at the interval.

Find out more and see our menus here.

Book online or by phone.

Pre booking is recommended.  You can pay for your meal when you book theatre tickets online – you’ll be offered choices after you have secured the tickets you want. Or you can telephone 0161 876 2121 to reserve your table.

Pre-Order Interval Drinks

Visit any of our  bars when you arrive and you can pre-order your interval drinks for the performance.

The Lowry Theatre is just one part of a fantastic growing complex, set in a magnificent waterside location at the heart of the redeveloped Salford Quays in Greater Manchester.

http://www.thequays.org.uk/Downloads/quaysmap.pdf

The Lowry is an architectural flagship with a unique and dynamic identity. Rising from the regenerated docklands, it is a welcoming building, designed to reflect the surrounding landscapes and flourishing waterways, in its glass and metallic surfaces.

The Lowry opened on 28th April 2000, bringing together a wide variety of performing and visual arts under one roof. Opening its door to the best in entertainment and education in the arts, The Lowry aims to give everyone access to new areas of creativity and to embrace its broad community.

It houses two main theatres and studio space for performing arts (1,730, 466 and 180 seats respectively) presenting a full range of drama, opera, ballet, dance, musicals, children’s shows, popular music, jazz, folk and comedy and gallery spaces (1,610 metres of floor space); showing the works of LS Lowry alongside contemporary exhibitions.

Movement into and through the building generates an air of theatricality, festivity and anticipation. The layout of The Lowry encourages visitors to explore and enjoy the variety of facilities housed within it, throughout the day and evening. An open ramped route with dramatic views connects the theatre foyers and gallery spaces, forming a public promenade around the building, linking all activities.

A breathtaking new international landmark, The Lowry is a “must see” tourist attraction – not just a venue, but a destination. The Lowry increases opportunities for social interaction within the community and generate a spirit of participation. Above all, it is an exciting and stimulating venue for education, recreation and creativity.

A restaurant, cafes & bars are situated along the southern side of the building, with spectacular waterside views and in fine weather can extend out to quayside terraces overlooking the expansive Manchester Ship Canal.

For the only factory outlet shopping in Manchester, look no further than the Lowry Outlet Mall. Open seven days a week with prices of up to 60% below the high street all year round, the Lowry Outlet Mall is a great destination for all the family.
With more than 260 brands at over 80 stores, a choice of cafés and restaurants, free shopper parking and a stunning Quayside location, the Lowry Outlet Mall is a factory outlet unlike any other.  As part of the superb Salford Quays waterside development, there are many other major attractions only a short walk away including, Imperial War Museum North, Watersports Centre, Lancashire County Cricket Ground and Manchester United. Extend your visit and stay overnight at the Cornerstones Guest House

Map from Cornerstones to The Lowry

Cornerstones is an independent family run guest house, Victorian built with large high ceiling  bedrooms, highly commended and rated in the Michelin Accommodation Guide.

For more posts from Cornerstones Guesthouse visit our site.

The legendary Original Tribute to The Blues Brothers comes to the Palace Theatre Manchester.
With what music, was, is, and will go on to be a collection of the greatest all time classic blues songs (yes they’ll be playing it on Mars one day) comes to Manchester from the 1^st to 5^th March inc.

Ben Henshaw

Directed by Brad Henshaw and choreographed by Debbie Jenner. The show that started it all has been playing sell out tours all over Europe.

Last time around they smashed box office records; crashed, crooned and rocked their way into the lives of anyone with a heartbeat!

Featuring cast members from the original hit West End run, this ‘all-new’ show brings you all those amazing, favourite and classic moments and more; including a brand new set, new twists, new moves, new songs – and freshly laundered suits!

The band formed by Dan Akroyd and John Belushi – creating Jake and Elwood Blues originally for a sketch on Americas Saturday Night Live program and then went on to shoot  the motion picture.
They could not have know at the time how powerful this computation of some of the greatest soul music ever written, mixed with two crazy characters, combined with the magic of outrageous choreography was going to be the classic icon it’s become.

The Blues Brothers will be joined by one of Europe’s finest seven piece bands and the sassy Bluettes; three amazing ladies with voices to knock you clean off your perch! Expect all your favourite songs, including Everybody, Shake A Tail Feather, Sweet Home Chicago, Think, Respect, Gimme Some Loving, and loads more!

The famous Palace Theatre Manchester knows after hosting so many great shows what will pull in the crowds and this is know exception.
However it as to be said, with respect to the cast as I’m sure they love doing it, the one sure thing that guarantees success and a great night out, is the music. You’ll not want to go home at the end of the performance, so sauce out the nearest club playing music for when you leave the theatre.

Palace Theatre Tickets

Why not make a weekend of it, the Cornerstones Guest House is just 15 minutes from the Palace Theatre in Manchester city centre.

Cornerstones is located in the leafy suberbs of south Manchester;  just leave your car in the car park and walk round the corner to Brooklands Metro Station. The theatre is just a five minutes walk  from St Peter’s Sq Metro stop in the centre of Manchester.

So Which room would you like!

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“I’m looking for a long term stay, is it somthing you do”.

The truth is, there are some proprietors who don’t, however the majority will love to fill a room long term, as we do.

What is a Long Term Stay

The majority of long term guest are usually working for a local company on anything from a month to 12 months contract and  find commuting from home out of the question and moving house isn ‘t an option.  They usually arrive on a Sunday evening and leav on a Friday for a short weekend at home.

It’s rare a long term stay stays over the weekend,  unless they come from another country.

The Accommodation

If you require a long term stay at the Cornerstones Guest House, we tend to put you in the largest room we have, staying in a small room day after day out won’t last long.

We provide continental breakfast in with the price, however we do not provide dinner. Our guests are allowed to bring in sandwich and soft drinks with them, which they can eat in their room. We also give them the option of bring in takeaway food as long as they eat it in the dinning room, so the bedroom remains fresh of smells.

The fact that they approach a guest house tells you their trying to save money, so they have an option whether to have a cooked breakfast or not, go out to dinner or not and also what I’ve not mentioned is choice from a number of differently priced rooms.

This helps out on two fronts; nine times out of ten they receive an amount of money for expenses so that’s why they prefer a guest house and not having to eat out every night.

We charge extra for cooked breakfast but it’s in with the price at the weekend.

Yes people do have companies pay for everything but you will probably find them in a hotel not a guest house.

Our aim to to make their long term stay a home from home experience.

For more posts from Cornerstones Guesthouse visit our site.

Comedy by the Globe Theatre will brighten up your day, it’s fast and hilarious.

Tuesday to Saturday at 7pm; Sunday 3pm.

The performance lasts about two an a half hours bring your own seats or a rubber mat for your bum that could double as a large umbrella, yes Manchester it may rain.

Tickets: adults £15, children £10.

www.shakespeares-globe.org www.heatonpark.org.uk

27 JUNE / MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE
ARMED FORCES DAY in Manchester:

Manchester takes this opportunity to say a big thank you to the brave people who serve in our Armed Forces to day, with representations by veterans of all ages
The first ever national Armed Forces Day will take place in Piccadilly Gardens from 12 noon-4pm with, music from the Greater Manchester Police Band,
Military taster sessions with Civilian Military Fitness,
Army Climbing Wall,
Football shoot out with the Royal Navy,
And also at Exchange Square 12 noon – 4pm
With The Band of the King’s Division,
Information about the Royal British Legion and Veteran organisations and information on all are armed forces.

Armed Forces personnel and veterans will receive special offers on production of the Veteran Badge or Armed Forces ID card.

For more information go to www.manchester.gov.uk/armedforcesday

http://www.cornerstonesguesthouse.com/tariff/
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We hope to see you all again soon!

Merry Christmas

Tony and Dee

Click here for our free  Fire Risk Assessment Procedure

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