406/406a Wilbraham Road, Chorlton

Around 16 years ago, my girlfriend at the time used to go on about a shop doorway in Chorlton with some lovely tiling that read 'drink milk'. She was right - it is lovely, and it was thinking about things for this blog that reminded me of it. I decided to get the bus round to Chorlton this morning to see if it still existed. Much to my surprise it did.

The place was obviously a creamery once-upon-a-time. I can't remember what the building housed when I first came across it, but the 'British Hardware Federation' sticker in the window suggests that it was once a hardware shop. There's a possession notice in the window dated from May - hopefully whatever the landlord decides to do with the building the tiling will remain. Other than that, I've had no luck in dating the creamery. Never mind - just enjoy the tiles. And drink your milk.

River Mersey

The Mersey runs quite a way through Greater Manchester and is formed from the Rivers Etherow, Goyt and Tame. It once formed part of the border between Lancashire and Cheshire.The Tame and Goyt merge in Stockport (the start of the Mersey) by Sainsbury's supermarket, so surely Stockport County is Merseyside's home footy club....
...anyway, as the Mersey winds it's way through Northenden, Didsbury, Chorlton, Stretford, and Sale it eventually ends up in Liverpool by way of the Manchester Ship Canal. The Mersey leaves the canal at Rixton and continues through Runcorn Gap and has it's widest point at Ellesmere Port.

If you've ever been around south Manchester, particlularly Didsbury or Chorlton you are probably familiar with the river. I was surprised when I moved to Manchester that I was so close to the Mersey (my first bedsit on Burton Road - health and safety nightmare).

Stop for one of these at Jackson's Boat at the Chorlton end of the river...

The river is a great place to walk, run or cycle. It's part of the SUSTRANS National Cycle Network (No. 62) and the Trans Pennine Trail. A great way to get away from the city there is also a beautiful symmetry in that you are never far away from the M60 and can quite often hear the hum of the motorway whilst meandering along the river. There are reminders, once you have got used used to the sound of distant traffic, that this is an urban trail. Stark concrete bridges and visible motorway signs are never far away. Fantastic.

Most of it is pretty secluded and far back from urban distractions and over 1000 acres of land is managed by the boroughs of Manchester, Trafford and Stockport. The river passes two water parks - Chorlton Water Park is an oasis for wildlife and Sale Water Park has a water sports centre for the more adventurous. For more about the Mersey Valley see here.

Marble Arch Inn

This has to be one the best pubs, if not the best, in Manchester. The Marble Arch Inn at 73 Rochdale Road was built in 1888 and is a Grade II listed building. Walk through the pub along it's amazing mosaic floor (careful if you've had a few as it slopes in a rather perilous manner), pass by the beautiful tiling and round the back to the brewery viewing room, this place is a wonderful experience. It helps, of course, if you're into your beer.

The inn is the home of the Marble Brewery, producer of gorgeous organic cask ale and if you're an animal lover all their beer is vegetarian and proudly marked as so. The brewery was designed by Brendan Dobbin; the chief brewer is James Campbell. As well as selling their own beer there is always an excellent range of guest beers on - it truly is heaven.

It's sister pub in Chorlton is the other outlet for Marble beers - The Marble Beer House at 57 Manchester Road - whilst not as stunning as the Marble Arch it is a cosy, beautiful pub again with a good range of guest beers as well as the Marble beers. Knott Bar on Deansgate also has Marble beer as a regular fixture. I'd recommend checking out any of these pubs but the Marble Arch Inn really is the icing on the cake.