Name: Manchester House
Item: Manchester House
Author: Fiona Jarvis

Manchester is a thriving city and even more so since MediaCityUK, Salford, became home to BBC Breakfast, Match of the Day & Jeremy Kyle (OMG are they sure they want to advertise this fact). Nevertheless we thought we’d take a look at the top restaurants and assess their accessibility.

First up is The French & Mr Cooper’s House & Garden both located in the Midland Hotel in the centre of Manchester, and both serving food from 2 Michelin Star Chef Simon Rogan. He’s replacing Gordon Ramsay as the chef at Claridges new restaurant in spring 2014.

We reviewed his pop up Roganic , London (now sadly gone), and his flagship restaurant, L’Enclume in Cartmel, Cumbria. Rogan’s food is brilliant and unusual without being overly complicated. A very ‘clean’ way of eating with fresh ingredients and not too much salt or butter. So we can recommend trying his food at the Midland.

The Independent says of The French,

….my mouth felt as if it had been on a magic carpet ride – from the richness of that black pudding to the last whisper of buttermilk. Nothing had jarred, or felt tricksy, or fiddled with. It was simply outstanding…

The Manchester Evening News says that Mr Cooper’s is

“the jolly conceit of a gentleman’s cottage. Take a drink in Mr Cooper’s library, relax on sofas in his study and eat ‘outside’ in his garden, complete with patio furniture, a gazebo, bird boxes, a living wall of herbs, and a very realistic looking tree.”

As far as access is concerned The French is within the Octagon lounge in the hotel. There’s a wheelchair lift up from the ground level and a disabled toilet on the same floor. Mr Cooper’s is just off the ground floor foyer entrance and there’s flat access. They also have a fully equipped disabled toilet on the same level. However we’re just taking their word for it as it’s not clear from the online access statement – in ‘written’ format without pictures. They should have a BBS PAD!! But at least they’ve tried. They also state that the hotel has disabled rooms with walk in showers. So maybe a provisional 3 BBS Ticks for both the restaurants and hotel??

Second is The River Bar & Grill at the 5 star Lowry Hotel situated in Salford near MediaCity.

The River Bar & grill has views from it’s terrace of the River Irwell and serves a ‘grill style’ menu including

‘the Buccleuch 12 oz Côte de Boeuf a specially selected dry aged 28 day hung beef from the Duke of Buccleuch’.

They also have a great afternoon tea I’m told and the bar has the longest terrace in Manchester. Access is via the hotel which has permanent ramp access and lifts to all floors. There’s also a disabled toilet in the same area as the bar & grill. The hotel also has disabled rooms with walk in showers, so a provisional 2.5 BBS Ticks for both the River Bar & Grill and The Lowry Hotel.

Manchester House restaurant and Lounge is situated in Tower 12 in the Spinningfields area of Manchester between Deansgate and the River Irwell. The food is by Aiden Byrne of Great British Menu fame and he says it’s “cooking served in an informal, fun and funky way”.

Jay Rayner in The Guardian gave the food a great review but found the service and style rather overbearing especially “the bearded men in waistcoats and jeans who yearn to appear informal but won’t – and I mean this in the sweetest way – sod off and leave us alone”. (The Shordies have moved North!!). However he says the Frogs Leg Kiev has to be admired for it’s skill and taste…

Curved Banquettes at Manchester House, Aiden Byrne’s Restaurant. Trendy & Watch out For Men in Beards

There’s also a Lounge for drinks on the 12th Floor which has four wrap around terraces offering cool views of Manchester.

The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of the tower and which has a permanent ramp at the door and gives flat access to the lift. The Lounge on the 12th floor is also accessible in the same way but getting onto to the four terraces involves negotiating a large lip for the patio style doors. They will lift you over them if necessary. There are disabled toilets on both floors. They get 2.5 Provisional BBS Ticks.

Finally we have to include Michael Caines at the Abode Hotel in Piccadilly, Manchester. A sister to the Gidleigh Park Hotel we reviewed here, also by 2 Michelin Star chef Michael Caines – The disabled Chef ?? I think not as one arm can still produce fantastic food. The reviews are mixed but mostly good and certainly great value with a tasting menu of 6 courses at £65 and with 2 courses at £14.95 for lunch this has to be the best value Michelin Star dining (accessible to all!). The restaurant is in the basement and there’s an adjacent champagne & cocktail bar.

The Abode has an access statement, making it better than most, but it’s unreliable with ineffective pictures – they also need a BBS PAD. There’s a permanent ramp into the building (not stated or shown on the access statement – who wrote it, someone able bodied?). The restaurant is on the lower ground and is accessed via a lift and there are disabled toilets on the same floor close to the restaurant. BTW the Abode states they have a fully accessible disabled room but without a walk in shower – contradiction methinks! A provisional 3BBS Ticks for the restaurant and only 2BBS Ticks for the hotel.

If anyone has a Mancunian view of these or other eateries in Manchester let us know!?? Please is there anyone out there reading this? Contact us.

Blue Badge Style

We Re-Define Disability With Style

Manchester House

Manchester House

Share this:

Share this:

Login

Sign up for Blue Badge Style