www.pryordurkin.com

Shrigley Hall Hotel near Macclesfield was home from home for the last two weeks.  I stayed there with some colleagues working on a project that needed us all in one place.  I checked in on Monday 8th Feb and was pleased to find that this hotel had bags of character. ( and lots of stairs – not great for the disabled or those with kids in trolleys). The first room I was given was quite small, near a banging swing door and next to a lift.  They moved me!  My next room was altogether nicer with plenty of space, its own jacuzzi and a nice airy feel.  Unusual for hotels, this one had a window that could be fully opened and although we were in the middle of winter, I could have freezing fresh air all night long. It even came with its own ghost who I saw one night walking into my bathroom – perhaps for a jacuzzi I thought to myself when I’d finished screaming in a manly way before going back to sleep.

The conference facilities were ideal for what we needed and the manager was very accommodating and helpful.  During the two weeks we ranged from having 10 to 40 people at varying times.  The hotel coped with this extremely well even though they also had a couple of weddings running and other conferences playing out over the two weeks.  Somehow they managed to cope with the numbers of people for meals and overnight stays, with very little notice.

Taking it slightly easier while working there last weekend a few of us decided to try the Spa out.  Housed in the old church (see left in picture) the swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms, gym and treatment rooms are all housed inside this 18th century former Catholic training school.  The massage I booked was OK, nothing special, except the very low price they charged us for being regulars at the hotel. The changing rooms leave a lot to be desired though and are in desperate need of modernisation.

The restaurant and bar areas have friendly and attentive staff. Unusual for a hotel again, the prices charged were actually reasonable even though they had a captive audience.  The food was variable in standard.  Some days, the buffet lunches were very good, whereas the evening three course dinners were often poor.  The deserts were especially awful, clearly bought in from somewhere like Brake Brothers and at the bottom end of the value chain.

However over all, we came to really like this hotel.  The service was excellent, the staff really accommodating, the surroundings very beautiful and the atmosphere very warm and relaxing.  You really did feel at home.

Pryordurkin rating 4 stars.  (They just need to sort the food to turn this into a fantastic hotel)

“An iconic 18th Century Georgian country house hotel, set in 270 acres of stunning Cheshire parkland. This is Mottram Hall.”  Taken from their website.

Along with some colleagues I spent the night at Mottram Hall near Macclesfield for one night last week.  I had booked an event where 50 of us spent the day working in their conference facilities and the evening dining in their restaurant.

The hotel was tricky to find by road but once I entered the large grounds I was happy with what I found.  Pulling up outside the main front entrance I found the welcome warm and the staff friendly and attentive.  As the description on their website says, this is a very old building in parts.  Additional rooms and facilities have been added over time and the large leisure complex at the back is modern and stylish.

After a days working in the conference rooms I checked in to discover my bedroom was small, functional but neat and clean.  It was a short walk from the reception area, but involved a couple of tight staircases to navigate while dragging a suitcase.  The lunch time buffet was nothing special and the evening meal was the ready prepared mass catering Chicken Kiev variety.  (I’ve had exactly the same chicken served up in other hotels).  The house wine offered up over dinner was decidedly “ropey” but other drinks were available at the extensive bar.

All in all, it was a nice hotel to spend a day at for a meeting and overnight stay, but I don’t think I would like to stay there regularly during the week because I prefer more modern hotel surroundings.

Pryordurkin rating 3 stars.

For the last two weeks without stop, I have been working away in a couple of hotels near Manchester (watch out for the reviews), on a large piece of work. So it is very nice to be back home with Paul and our two cats who have all missed me in equal measure.  Tia, so much so, she threw up on the new carpet in the bedroom, just to get some attention

The window blinds from Hillarys are all up adding some extra privacy around the home, but even more importantly for us, blocking out the strong sunshine that would bleach the new wallpapering we have recently hung.

Having had a very nice lie in this morning, I am now up and sorting those little things out that slip when you’re working away.  The cats are now booked into the vets for their annual vaccination on Monday morning and this afternoon, I am off to see Alex for my four weekly haircut.

A little shopping and a lot of sleeping lies now ahead.

I’m unfortunately stuck working in Shrigley Hall this weekend, so am not around to give Paul, a very big Valentine’s hug and kiss. 

Admittedly, even if I was at home, I would probably have forgot to buy a card. 

Paul would have been more surprised if I had actually remembered and would probably have wondered what was wrong!

Anyhow, I just want want to say from this side of the pennines, I’m missing Paul loads since leaving home last Monday. 

I am now looking forward to next Thursday though, when I will be back home with the man who made my life  so complete.

xxxx

I left home last Monday for a ‘lock-in’ at Shrigley Hall near Macclesfield to work on a particular project with colleagues and I am now sat in the conference room of the hotel tucking into warm bacon and egg muffins with lots of tomato sauce.  For once this week, I actually managed to have a lie in and thought while I wait for my colleagues and also not wanting to ring Paul at home too early, that I would catch with the happenings of pryordurkin.com.

News from home was interesting to say the least.  When we woke last Sunday morning to squeaks and gnawing above our heads we decided it might be a good idea to call in Rentokil to check our loft space.  The news was not good on Tuesday after the man from that company left.  We had a rat and some mice in our loft and were now committed to £60 a quarter bill for them to solve the problem.  They did say it would take a few days before the little blighters left and even last night when I rang home, the news of further sounds coming from the loft confirmed that we still had the visitors.  The chap from Rentokil did say it would take a little while.  The other problem we are left with is that we now know the reason for a couple of our ceiling lights no longer working despite us putting new bulbs in.  The little blighters are apparently quite partial to a bit of wiring.  We are now going to have to call the electrician to check the state of our wiring in the loft and repair the damage done.  Paul assures me though that with a modern fuze box, the risk of a fire starting is low!

The good news was that with the ‘food’ put down for the rat, that he/she when eating it, would then want to seek water and would leave the property in search of a stream. 

Apparently he/she would not return…

Run by Gordon and Marie, the Harlequin Coffee and Tea House Cafe on Kings Parade in York is a fantastic place to have a break.   The professional service, the warm welcome and the smart clean surroundings are a great local secret and like today we regularly stop by for lunch or afternoon tea.  The food is always nicely presented and made up of locally sourced ingredients.  I particularly like the Salads, sandwiches and jacket potatoes.  As a treat we have also been known to try the Harlequin Scone with organic jam and clotted cream. It is nice treat that is difficult to resist despite our ever widening waistline

The place was very busy as we arrived today, but we must have timed it just right because we managed to get a table straight away.  Clearly popular with local people in York, it soon had a queue of people waiting to get in.  I opted for the roast vegetable soup and freshly made rye bread while Paul went for the home cooked ham with chutney salad sandwich.  Both were excellent as usual.  My soup had clearly been prepared with freshly roasted ingredients, was well seasoned and piping hot; just the way I like it on a old winters day. We finished off with the traditional Harlequin Afternoon Tea, which is made up of fresh hot Yorkshire Tea, two warm fruit scones, organic raspberry jam and clotted.  The queue of people waiting to get in had a great view of us two old dears tucking into this fayre; we couldn’t help but smile at how we might have looked to them.

Since we last visited, a chain coffee shop has opened up next door, but we were delighted to see that this had not put the locals off, who like us know when they are onto a good thing.  Lets keep the secret going and leave the coffee shop next door serving the tourists and screaming kids alike.

Rating 4 Stars.

They say things happen in threes.

Three weeks ago I broke my little toe.

Last weekend I put my back out, to the point I could hardly walk.

Therefore I should not have been surprised by this weekends third calamity.  Even with the pain still continuing in my little toe (I’m not one to moan Marg but I am still hobbling around) I have now burnt my hand on the scalding hot pan Paul had just taken out of the oven when cooking a beef and Guinness casserole slow cooked stew.

For the last three hours I have had my hand wrapped in a tea towel filled with ice cubes and covered in Savlon cream.

We wanted to get some fresh air and take in a little of the winter sun this weekend, so after getting up Sunday morning and watching Andy Murray lose the Australian Open Mens Final, we set out to Beverley near Hull.  Heading down the A1079 from our home, it took around 30 minutes to get to this little gem of a market town.  Parking up inside the market square (for free) we set about exploring the surrounding area.  After walking around a visiting Beverleys very own Minster, we were ready for a hot drink and light lunch.  Walking up Toll Gavel we came across Kavanagh’s Tea Room Coffee Shop and Restaurant, which from the outside looked a bit touristy but on closer inspection, appetizing enough to tempt us in.

Our order of tea, coffee, baked jacket potato with tuna and fresh soup of the day, was quickly taken by a tall friendly slightly bald chap.  As we waited I checked out the facilities and was disappointed to note that the only ground floor loo is unisex and very small.  A person with a disability would never be able to use it and it wasn’t exactly clean.  Anyway having washed my hands carefully and using my handkerchief to open the door (I never touch public surfaces with my skin if I can possibly avoid it) I returned to my table.

It was not long before our lunch was served up and as it went, it was perfectly fine.  A baked potato and tuna is a baked potato and tuna after all.  I sampled Paul’s cauliflower Soup and felt that it was poorly seasoned though.

Settling up the £16 bill we bade farewell and managed to avoid buying any of the tempting cakes on display, which we were told are home-made on the premises.  Perhaps next time, but I must say, the toilet facilities would probably put me off.

Pryordurkin rating 2 stars.

We had tried getting a table at this popular city centre pub a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday evening, but it was packed, so returned yesterday to have another go.  We found a table in the front bar area and settled down for a light lunchtime break with some traditional pub grub.  The waitress service was an added bonus as I hate queueing up at bar order points in these places.

I opted for a large diet Pepsi along with a Breaded Scampi and Chips main (approx £7) while Paul went for a bottle of beer and the Chicken and Leek Pie served up with Mashed Potato (which we then learnt is brought in – not cooked on the premises)

The Old White Swan dates back to medieval times and is a mish mash collection of old buildings now knocked together to form this pub.  Having walked past this pub several times in the past, we always thought it was a bit of a run down affair.  We based this on the usual collection of rough looking smokers who hang around the front door.  However having ventured in this time, we were pleased to find it is actually a very nice traditional York pub with bags of atmosphere and friendly service.  It just goes to show, you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Anyway, our food and drinks quickly arrived and were perfectly adequate as pub food.  The food never tried to be anything other than hot, quickly served and reasonably cheap.  It was absolutely fine for what it was and we would both happily go back again.  I could easily see why many people while away a good few hours eating and drinking in this popular city centre site.

Pryordurkin rating 3 stars.

While staying at the Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel this week, I was looking for something a little different to the hotel’s own restaurant on Thursday evening.  With a colleague I decided to dine at Players Restaurant and Bar.  Famous for its surrounding footballer neighbours, I was pleased to find the place fairly quiet as we took our table at around 8.30pm.

The restaurant is quite chic in styling, rich burgundy colours giving the contemporary styling a nice warm depth of atmosphere.  The waitress who showed us to our table was friendly and throughout the meal we felt comfortable and welcome.

For starters, I opted for the Salt & Pepper Chicken Satay.  It was nice and well cooked but I probably would not order it again.  For my main, I went for the Gressingham Duck, which was nicely served up pink in the middle accompanied with seasonal vegetables.  Again it was nice, but I probably would not order a second time, because it was very rich and I struggled to finish it completely.

Overall I enjoyed this restaurant for its ambience, the friendly service and the reasonably nice food.  The total bill came to just over £70 so was good value given it included a reasonable bottle of wine.  It is a great alternative to the hotel’s main restaurant and I will certainly go back, only next time, trying different dishes.

Pryordurkin rating. 3 stars.