On one of those precious sunny spring evenings, we strolled along to the Hinds Head for an early dinner.  This is one of those suburban pubs that thinks it’s on a country lane: all squishy sofas, blackboards & brasses and pine dining furniture. Outside, the traditional wooden benches, parasols and lovely lawns complete the picture. [...]

The Elizabethan sits in its regal position in the very heart of ‘The Moor’.  Despite the fact that it’s been around forever (it certainly seems like it) the recent refurbishment has resulted in a totally new look & feel to the place.  The comfy sofas, soft & luxurious furnishings, good choice of spots to relax [...]

From start to finish this was an experience of huge gastronomic pleasure. What they’ve done at Damson is to take 15 of their customers’ favourites and present them as ‘taster’ dishes on one small but intriguing menu:  the ‘Damson Plate’. What the customer gets is a chance to try several, or as many as they [...]

 In conjunction with Robinson’s brewery, tenants Joy & Tom have just completed a refurbishment at the Crown Inn: not the first time I guess, since the lovely old building, on the corner of Vale Close, has been there since 1737 in some guise or other. Set within the Heaton Mersey Conservation Area, the stone building [...]

On a hot summer’s night, the BoWa offered a cool and contemporary welcome. All brand spanking new, every surface gleamed and sparkled. The chic, light and airy decor, (thankfully not an Oriental lantern in sight), set the scene for an evening of modern eastern cuisine. Now, not being an aficionado of Chinese cuisine I knew I was [...]

By Sharon Byrne March 2010 ‘Avanti’ is Italian for ‘come in’ and what a great name for a friendly local restaurant! Owner Chico Nekooie betrays his Italian roots in his restaurant‘s style & ambience, but he considers himself a Heatonite through & through. With a 20 year history in the area as a partner in [...]

    By Sharon Byrne December 2009 Damson, at the ‘top end’ of Heaton Moor, appeared phoenix-like from the ashes of ‘311’ in spring 2009. Despite the mystery of what happened to 311, many people know the epicurean history of Damson proprietors Steve Pillings and Simon Stanley, and great things were expected from the former [...]