Before I began the teetotal part of my marathon training this week, I managed to squeeze in a final couple of drinks – one was the 7 Word Wine Review dinner at the Angel (post to follow next week). The other was a trip, after an exhausting cake filled day (no, honestly) to Hanging Ditch for a reviving glass of wine.
Hanging Ditch is a bit special. Taking a model from the continent, they not only sell fabulous bottles of wine, spirits and other lovely things for you to take home, you can stop by, pull up a chair and enjoy a glass or bottle in their bar or outside in front of the shop. Not only the ultimate try before you buy – buy that bottle you fall in love with and take it home – but the staff are the perfect mix of knowledge and friendliness. Something which can still phase me when walking into a specialist to buy a bottle.
As well as beautiful wines, over the spring and summer, Honest Crust wood fired pizza will be on site Friday through to Sunday to supply you with fresh pizzas to fill your tummy. After a hard day chatting, taking notes, networking and photographing, (ok and eating a little) cake, it was just what I needed to end the day. Unsurprisingly I wasn’t the only one.
What was even better, was discovering that the fabulous Matt from 78DJ was on hand to fill the air with everything from cool 30s jazz to to a little George Formby. On an admittedly cold, but sunny evening in Manchester, this was perfect – sitting with a spicy Nduja sprinkled pizza to scoff, Pinot noir in my hand, watching the world go by while my ears were teased by some vintage music.
What more could a girl ask for?
Well yes, OK, for it to be a bit warmer – that would have made it perfect – to have my feet in a pair of sandals as opposed to knee boots – but to be honest, I barely noticed. Chilli and wine warming my insides, I was a very happy bunny.
Speaking of weather though, this weekend Sunday alone is set to hit 18 degrees. And I can’t drink until after my marathon – which isn’t until 28 April.
So… would you mind doing my drinking for me? Glass of red or two? I think I know where you should head….