Hale, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

2019 Review: After the arrival of Salford Quays player David Vanderhook two years back, the former Altrincham Conservative Working Men’s Club is now a brasserie/microbrewery, having had a “fantastic” industrial-chic makeover. The “eclectic” Japanese/grilled meat menu can seem a little “overrated”, and even fans agree it’s secondary to the “highly enjoyable”, “loud and glamorous” atmosphere.

“Dishes – never bad, with some gems – Central European (or French) – emerge from the kitchen of this husband-and-wife team” comprising Mariusz Dobies, former exec chef at Michael Caines Manchester, and his wife Veronika, an “excellent host”. It’s a good tip for a slap-up dinner en route to or from Manchester Airport, though they also do Sunday lunch.

“The Lime Tree doesn’t change but is still refreshingly energetic”. “A gem” in Didsbury for 35 years, Patrick Hannity’s “really enjoyable” modern brasserie “retains its consistency in all departments year after year”. Key attractions: “great food that’s unfussy but so tasty, from a compact menu with every dish a winner”, plus a “reasonably priced but excellent wine list”. Also, “a nice welcome laid-back ambience, with staff and management on top of their game”.

2019 Review: “The location is beautiful” – a gorgeous Art Nouveau building dating from 1907 – but this well-known landmark is too often said to be “overpriced and living on very faded past glories”. Nowadays marketed as a ‘Wedding Venue, Restaurant and Boutique B&B’, its food events seem to offer very limited dining possibilities nowadays, so for the time being we’ve left it unrated.

2018 Review: A “great location” in an upmarket 1850 mansion sets the (WAG-friendly) tone at Chris Holland’s fine dining spot; NB a three-month refurb to add a new bar/lounge and restaurant area was due to begin in September 2017, with a limited menu served in the bar in the interim.

2021 Review: “You would not realise you are in Moss Side” at the Whitworth’s “beautiful” and “family-friendly” glass-walled conservatory, overlooking Whitworth Park. Its location (above all) and victuals make it an “excellent place for lunch”, with the “three daily changing salads particularly recommended”.

2019 Review: The eponymous Albert’s old tool shed (he’s the uncle of the owner) is now a stylish, contemporary haunt with a popular canalside terrace – hence why it’s “best in summer” – plus reasonably priced, mostly English grub. (Part of a three-strong local empire, which recently announced plans to add a Standish branch.)

Opposite a twelfth-century church, this “very popular village pub” is run by the GPG-approved Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars group. Its country tavern favourites and seasonal specials are deemed “good value” by those who comment on it.

A “trendy café” in a “hut-type building”, where you can start the day with “delicious coffee and breakfast rolls” (or more indulgent fare including a full English) before segueing into “nice lunchtime food” (despite the “limited kitchen”); they also do dinner from Thursday to Saturday.

Eddie Shepherd has been called “the magician of the vegetarian world”, and his ‘underground restaurant’ is a unique experience – 12 courses of entirely plant-based food, served to a maximum of eight diners in his own Manchester home, with no staff. Eddie’s cult status and his positioning on the avant garde extreme of veganism mean that seats at his table can be booked out six months ahead – so good luck!