Mr Thomas' Chop House, Manchester

Mr Thomas' Chop house is an old fashioned tiled pub, with a very strong emphasis on its restaurant section. It is not a suitable drinking hole for a lady such as myself, or anyone wanting a quiet drink.

Whilst I was terribly impressed by the tiling and mammoth bar with an overabundance of wooden carvings and brass, I was most put out by the lack of space for drinkers. Basil, my gorgeous dreamboat, rated his pint of real ale as extremely average and very expensive.

Basil did, however, get invited down below by a fresh faced young gentleman and came back somewhat flustered after some time exclaiming that the view in the toilets is fantastic. The pictures of Victorian Manchester in the ladies are certainly very good, although I did get some odd looks.

We would return again for a meal; Basil was certainly keen to check out the extensive range of meaty treats on offer.

12 Feb 2009 15:00

The Knott Bar, Deansgate

A fine bar. I was comfortably ensconsced here with my regulation G&T whilst my dreamy hunk Basil was waiting for some of his friends from his Naval days. The decor is good, the trains rattling overhead actually add ambience and the menu appears most interesting although we haven't yet had chance to sample it. In summer the balcony is pleasant, too.

Basil is most impressed by the selection of beers - being owned by the Marble brewery it always has some good pints including the rather alcoholic ginger beer, even if it's not a pint he'd wish to have all the time.

After a few G&Ts and beers things became a bit hazy. Basil's friends turned up and introduced me to something called 'sambuca'. I remember getting home myself in the early hours, and vague memories of a mass of writhing bodies thereafter. The following morning I awoke with a pounding headache, covered in seamen.

I am most cross with those navy boys, don't they know I'm trying to be a lady?

15 Sep 2008 01:59

The Bowling Green, Horwich

This has certainly become a favoured watering whole of a lady such as myself. The G&Ts are perfectly chilled, there is respectable ambience and Basil remains most complimentary of the Bank Top. I was most impressed by the lady singing on Sunday a few weexs ago and was fair jiggling in my seat.

All the cute and curvy barmaids were away so my beau Basil was chatting to the smooth skinned attentive barmen. I think he was regaling them about his days in Naval Intelligence, when he urgently had to go on a mission 'down under' with some strapping sailors, and returned a week later, completely shagged.

15 Sep 2008 01:46