Curley's Fisheries has always had a café. It started off as a shed, then a slightly bigger shed, then a portakabin type shed, and then now it has reached the peak of its evolution in a newly built but beautifully complementing building which now contains Curley's Dining Rooms. The café always had loyal regulars, and always achieved good customer service, and word was spread far and wide about their great quality food, but with the opening of a very modern and stylish new airy and spacious dining room, offering traditional favourites as well as a great evening menu, and beer and wines from Bank Top Brewery, it's attracting new customers from far and wide, eager to see the changes, or try the new food they've heard so much about.





The dining room itself is a lovely open space with modern dark furniture and reclaimed church pews, with features including a large coal-burning open fireplace (amazing in the winter when accompanied by the under-tile heating!) and a baby grand piano, which is frequently played by a pianist, to accompany your meal. The windows facing water-side all open fully concertina-style allowing a semi al-fresco feel in the warmer summer months, and offering some beautiful views right the way to the Fylde coast. On a clear day, you can even see Blackpool Tower! I love the way the menu is presented as the "Daily Catch" newspaper, telling the story of how the café started and developed, along with photos, and then inside the menu is designed in a similar newspaper style. The menu offers a great variety of fish dishes as well as classic favourites, salads, hot and cold drinks, snacks, and desserts, all of which I'm happy to say are at pretty decent prices considering the quality of the offerings! The fish has a perfectly crisp batter, and lovely fresh hot chips, accompanied by a wonderful home-made tartare sauce and a wedge of lemon. The fish is presented on a gigantic fish-shaped plate, which as well as perfectly containing the very large fish offered, is a fantastically theatrical statement when it arrives.

I ordered the prime cod, which although my photo does it no justice, was colossal! There was a menu option for an 'extra large cod', which considering the size of the standard cod, must require the concertina windows to be opened to get it into the dining room, surely! As you can imagine, after this beast, I couldn't manage a dessert, but the cake cabinet at the front of the dining room only taunted me that I wouldn't be able to try what looked like some very tasty cakes! Bank Top Brewery providing the beer and wine means that if you don't quite fancy traditional chippy fare, you can still have a tasty and well prepared meal, and a pleasant evening, and equally if you wanted to simply pop in during the daytime for a slice of cake and a cup of tea, you'd get just as pleasant experience.



I'm making myself hungry simply remembering this visit. I really must visit again soon!



Curley's Dining Rooms
Wallsuches
Off Chorley New Road
Horwich
Bolton
BL6 6PP
(01204) 691 783
www.curleysdiningrooms.co.uk






Curley's Fishery & Dining Room on Urbanspoon

Curley's Dining Rooms

by on 11:57
Curley's Fisheries has always had a café. It started off as a shed, then a slightly bigger shed, then a portakabin type shed, and t...
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From the people who brought you Teacup on Thomas Street comes Proper Tea at Manchester Cathedral, which unlike its hipster and trendy brother, is a quieter, more relaxed, and traditional affair, facing Manchester's grand cathedral, and occupying the space that was partly taken up by the cathedral's visitors centre. As you walk in, you're greeted by a grand airy and open space, shabby chic décor, and a striking black and white tiled floor. Gentle 1940s music plays, and on each table sits a jar of fresh flowers. The counter is made up of reclaimed doors, doorhandles, and doorknockers, which is a lovely unique design feature. Behind the counter stand shelves holding large tea caddies and tea making accoutrements.


Perusing the menu, I decided upon the cream tea, and although the listing mentioned a few teas that came with the cream tea, the friendly waitress had no problem in me having Earl Grey instead. She did inform me that sadly they had no clotted cream at the moment, but would substitute it with butter if that was okay with me (which it was).

Whilst I waited for my order, I asked where the toilets were as I couldn't clearly see any signage. I was told they were "out this door, across the bridge, down the stairs, and along the corridor", which seems a bit of a trek, but due to the nature of the building when it was a museum, it's understandable. Not ideal, but not a deal breaker by any stretch.

When I returned, the waitress smiled and said she was waiting for me before serving up. I was brought a lovely spread for my cream tea. I was pleased to see that the butter offered as replacement for the cream was actually in an individual high quality pack rather than café style butter blocks, and the jam came in a ramekin rather than a little pot, or plastic container.

I loved that the milk came in a little old-school milk bottle, what a cute touch! Also the home-made scone was massive! A timer came with the tea, to give you the ideal brewing time, but by the time the sand ran out, I felt my tea was merely very-warm rather than hot. I could've mentioned this to the staff, but it really didn't make much of a difference, as it was very tasty tea, and still very enjoyable. The scone was a touch dry due to the fact that I had butter rather than cream, but it was very tasty and very filling! As a taste preference, I prefer sweetener in tea rather than sugar, but sadly only sugar was available, in tube packets. With the nature and style of this venue, I was surprised not to be presented with sugar cubes, which would top off the "cream tea" feel. The cream tea came to just £4.90, which for Manchester City Centre is very reasonable indeed!

The selection of teas on the menu was vast, and included several variants of my favourite, Earl Grey. As I paid up, I mentioned how I liked this, and that I'd have to try the different varieties next time, and the friendly staff passed over the various tea caddies of Earl Grey varieties for me to see and smell, which was a lovely touch. The 'rosey' blend smelled wonderful, and as I'll definitely be returning, I will have that next time! :)

The venue also does Afternoon Teas, sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, soups, and a lovely array of home-made cakes, which sit on the counter looking seductive. Damn sexy cakes. Next time.... next time!!



I will definitely be returning here, as it gives the other Manchester City Centre tea rooms a run for their money, whilst maintaining good value, and a relaxed, quiet, and friendly atmosphere, which can be lacking in said other venues due to the resurgence in popularity of tea rooms.



Proper Tea
Manchester Cathedral Visitors Centre
10 Cateaton Street
Manchester
(0161) 832 3220
www.properteadeveloper.com







Proper Tea at Manchester Cathedral on Urbanspoon

Proper Tea

by on 15:17
From the people who brought you Teacup on Thomas Street comes Proper Tea at Manchester Cathedral , which unlike its hipster and trend...
at No comments:
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