The Mess Cafe, Sharston, Manchester

Not being one to miss the chance to try out a newly opened cafe, I ventured down to The Mess Cafe, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG.
The cafe has only recently opened, and is run by the Message Enterprise Centre. Please click the link to find out some more about the amazing work they do to help young offenders find work and gain experience, and to see the other businesses they operate at the same premises (you could have your hair and nails done, then enjoy a leisurely, and very nice lunch).
The cafe area has a very light and airy feel, with a modern-style decor, and the menu is fresh and interesting, with highlights such as the breakfast bagel (which is already getting a bit of a cult following) and the grilled chicken and chorizo salad with haloumi (see pictures below).
They have one of the best ranges of coffees I have seen, with a clear explanation of what each one comprises, and a nice selection of sandwiches, paninis, soft drinks and cakes. (Did I say cakes!).
I had to go for the obligatory cappuccino (of course, subject of this blog!) and it had to be a large one with chocolate sprinkle (why do a "cappuccino" any other way!).
It was a good size, very good-looking, and had a nice, albeit slightly too-milky-for-me taste. Maybe a bit more froth would have been a bit better, but overall a great cup of coffee.
If you are looking for somewhere in the Wythenshawe/Sharston area of Manchester to get a great cup of coffee or enjoy a relaxing light lunch, you could not do much better than drop in to the Mess Cafe, Next to the Message Trust.

Links: Howard Wilkinson Photography, FACEBOOK PAGE

WRVS at North Manchester General Hospital

Sorry, no pictures this time, just a quick post to highlight a particularly good service received today at a little cafe run by the WRVS in North Manchester General Hospital.

Having been there to visit my (very) poorly wife for the last week (now home and on the mend, I'm very pleased to say), one of my little jaunts while she had a knap would be down to the WRVS cafe in the front main entrance area, the source of the largest and nicest cappuccino I could find in the hospital (the vending stations don't quite do it somehow).

At first the mix was a little milky for me. However, when I mentioned this and asked if they could make it a little stronger, they were more than happy to oblige with an extra shot of coffee and even, with a little bit of friendly banter, gave me extra chocolate powder too.

When I explained my reputation for being a cappuccino drinker, and my recent blog, they said I should give them a mention in return for being so accommodating of my fussiness. So here it is.

Here's to those ladies, and the work they do, and the oasis they provided in a particularly difficult week.

The Lowry, Manchester

When I get a free day and want to get away from it all, i.e. have some time to myself and follow my nose, I like to hop on a train to Manchester, then get the Metrolink tram down to Harbour City. This is the nearest stop to The Lowry, only a short walk away, across a lovely part of the old Salford docklands.

Apart from the obvious Lowry galleries, there is an outlet shopping mall, two theatres, the Imperial War Museum and some lovely walks by the waterside. To say nothing of the intriguing architecture of the spectacularly renovated docks.

I happened to be involved in a small way in the building of the Lowry Theatres building, in as much as the company for which I worked at the time provided the scaffolding services for the construction and, maybe as a fore-runner to what I do now, sent me to the site to take photos of the scaffolds for their publicity. If only we knew at the time what some things are pointing towards. (Sorry, that's a bit deep, isn't it...).

Anyway, coming back to the whole point of this blog, the cafe in the Lowry (at the foot of the escalators to the galleries) happens to serve one of my favourite cappucinos in Manchester. In fact, were there to be a leader board for the best cappuccino in Manchester, this would be up there with the best of them.

On the rare days when I venture away from the title drink of this blog, they also do one of the best moccha's too.

For a couple of extra photos taken at the Lowry, please have a look at my other blog entry here.

Welcome to my coffee blog

As a fan of the cappuccino, and having a reputation for being a serial coffee drinker, I have at last succombed to the temptation to keep a record of where I partake of my favourite drink, and share my experiences with whoever wants to drop in and have a look.

I'd like to say drop in and have a coffee, but the best we can do in this situation is to drop in and talk about coffee, so please feel free to comment on posts and share your experiences.

I have often thought to find where the best coffee is to be found in Manchester, but really need to widen the coverage rather than limit it to one city. (I have my opinion on the best in Manchester, and may well divulge that in a later post. It may surprise you!)

For now, I'll leave you with one of the sights that inspired this blog, spied one day while walking along Tib Street. If only it were full, it would possibly be the largest Cappuccino ever made. Who knows?