Browns Manchester

All dark wood and polished brass, leather seating and stained glass, this former banking hall is cavernous yet intimate all at the same time – and the perfect decadent backdrop to afternoon tea, Champagne and lobster, or one of the freshly carved succulent Sunday roasts.

The à la carte menu covers pretty much everything you might fancy for a filling, good-looking plate of food. British favourites include fish and chips, posh shepherd’s pie with lamb rump, and slow-cooked pork belly; Europe is covered by chicken schnitzel, chorizo and fish, and different pastas; further afield influences manifest in the form of a vegan curry and a burger, Browns style, and salads and sandwiches include a classic club. The chef’s specials section offers up sharers of côte de boeuf for two or fillet steak surf’n’turf, all served with fries, cherry vine tomatoes, watercress and your choice of two sauces: béarnaise, peppercorn or Bordelaise.

From fruit crumbles and Eton mess to chocolate treats such as brownies or caramel profiteroles, there’s a wide choice of sweet endings – also putting on quite a show on the afternoon tea tray. Alongside scones with clotted cream and a choice of jams, there are cakes in the form of Victoria sponge and lemon drizzle, almond macarons and a smooth chocolate praline mousse in a chocolate flower pot topped with fresh strawberries and mint sprig. Served daily with, naturally, a platter of savouries and a choice of hand-blended Fairtrade teas plus your preferred fix of either Moët & Chandon Impérial or a G&T, we can think of worse ways to while away an hour or two.

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