Northern Mumsnet Meet-up

[Rhubarb]

Anyone want to come to a Mumsnet meet up here in the North? I don't want it to be exclusively for Northerners though, so if any of you can make it, please post your ideas here.

I'm relying on public transport so I would prefer to meet somewhere that isn't too hard to get to, like Manchester, which might also be good middle ground for those who live further afield. But if any of you know of anywhere better please tell me.
I'm also assuming that a Saturday is ok.

If anyone is interested please post your names here and then when we have a suitable number of people I will give out my email and we can make proper arrangments.

Ferrets are optional!

Rhubarb - assuming I can get a sitter, I shall be coming. Don't want to bring my daugter, to be honest. Wouldn't be able to relax. How about Shere Khan in Rusholme? Don't know if that's too awkward for train people to get though.

Oooh I would have really like to come but my NCT group are having our babies' first birthday party that Saturday afternoon as it's the sort of middle one for them all. Manchester would have been perfect, never mind.

Shere Khan would be ok in a taxi from Piccadilly/Victoria but the parking in Rusholme can be dire on a Sat afternoon.

Kanesmum
Joseph is nearly 5 months now he's a loony !!

Rhubarb

You can add my name to the list. It's not a problem whether I bring my DS or not. I would like a few Arches though. I can get a sitter but will wait and see if anyone else is bringing there little ones first. Afternoon suits me with meeting up. I can travel by car/train as I am coming from Warrington.

Rhubarb - Did try to contact you offline but the message has been returned. Maybe I'm doing something wrong? I'll keep trying but put me down for the 27th. I may well stay in Preston so could possibly travel together?

Confirm nearer the time.

Count me in i should be able to make it but wont be bringing DS

Anymore info on the meet yet?

Yep, am looking up restaurants now and will let you know shortly.

Okie-dokies, restaurants so far include:

Ristorante Don Antonio - Italian with a good reputation for fine foods
Sticky Fingers - grill owned by Bill Wyman, also does specialities such as lobster.
Rajdoot Tandoori - Indian with a good reputation.
Yang Sing - chinese recommended by Manchester online.

Does anyone have any more suggestions? I have tried to find a central location as many people may find it hard to find the restaurants on the outskirts such as Rusholme, so it might be easier to just stick to the central parts.

So I need feedback please!

Rhubarb - don't know the other 3 but Yang Sing is pricey, although fantastic. There is the Little Yang Sing. There are so many in Chinatown which are really good value. I'll get back to you with some more (it was my job to know all these things once!).

Thanks Tinker - I wanted a broad range of restaurants as I'm aware that some people might not like Chinese. But then most would do an English menu too wouldn't they? And who knew about the 'curry mile'? Has anyone any restaurants they could recommend from there?

OK - how are these for starters?

New Hong Kong or Woo Sang - both in Chinatown, eaten at both = very good value.

Beaujolais - French bistro type, very intimate, a good value fixed menu if you don't want to do a la carte.

Royal Orchid and Siam Orchid - both Thai, both delicious.

El Macho - Mexican, tasty but quite noisy.

Don't know of any Indian restaurants in centre of town cos always eat in Rusholme.

Nor Italian really, because I think (personal opinion here) that there are not such good value for money.

Brilliant Tinker! Now all we need is others to tell us what they fancy and definite names so I can book somewhere. C'mon everyone - it'll be FUN!!!!

Just remembered another good one - Cafe Istanbul - speaks for itself, foodwise.

Could be just the 2 of us Rhubarb!

Or there is Gaia which is a celeb hangout, average meal there is around £15 for a main course though.

Never mind Tinker, I'm sure we'll have a good time anyway, we'll just have to drag people in off the streets and pretend that we've got loads of friends!

DOES ANYBODY WANT TO COME THEN OR NOT?????

Ooops, sorry, Rhubarb and Tinker, I flashed past this yesterday and forgot to come back to it.

I would be happy with any of the proposals except maybe Mexican - what do they do apart from tacos and chilli? (Scuse ignorance!)

Tinker, if you have eaten at all these places maybe you should choose for us?

Sorry about that.Hopefully i will still be coming but i start back at work on Monday so will have to see about getting the day off,when do you need a definate answer by?

You can count me in. Went to China town a few weeks ago but can't remember which restaurant we went in, it was nice though. Will ask DH to see if he knows. I'm not too fussed on Mexican favourites have got to be Indian and Chinese. What does everybody else prefer?

Can't come as don't live in England but wish I could. Mum and dad live in Newcastle , so I am there in spirit with the 'Northerners'. Am so jealous. Have loads of fun!!

ove oxocube xx

Chinese is fantastic, although don't mind most of the other suggestions - not overly keen on Thai but will go with the crowd.

• going on hols for 2 weeks today, but will catch up on my return.

Are there any other mums coming from Liverpool?

Will need to know who is coming about a week beforehand for booking purposes, we have agreed on the last Saturday of July, can't remember what that date is though.

Tinker, could you give us a recommendation then and we'll do with that?

Rhubarb/ Tinker thanks for all your organising! I've been away for a fortnight so haven't had a chance to make enthusiastic postings till now( I did make a posting last night but it doesn't appear here, so don't know what happened there)! Have been to most of the Chinese & Thai restaurants you've mentioned - all fine by me, if we don't want a 'nationality' restaurant there are loads of bars that all do nice food, e.g Loaf etc, down by the arches, bottom of Deansgate. Rusholme would be great, I think, but yes I agree not that easy if you're coming into Manck by train. Don't suppose anyone's coming by coach, but there's a place called Spice, does cheap nice all-u-can-eat, nr Chorlton St bus stn, but pubs nearby not too nice, for pre- /post- meal drinking. There's Malmaison right next to Piccadilly, but I've never been & it might not be right price/. ambience - ?? [Wherever we go someone will moan ]. Erm so where does that leave us...!! organising people is difficult enough when you're all in the same room, never mind doing it like this.

Or there's the Village, of course, e.g. Metz & lots of other bars (haven't been in a while they change all the time)