Nook, Heaton Moor

It says on the door: "Bar, Bottle Shop, Coffee House, Wine & Gin Stop". An interesting two-level layout with the serving counter-cum-bar up a short flight of steps and here there are some high stools and a short counter to rest your drinks. The lower level is eclectically furnished in a "mix and match" style with much use made of recycled materials. This all works very well to give a homely and comfortable effect. Coffees, teas and cakes are available alongside an extensive menu running from opening time until close. The breakfast menu runs until noon after which lunch is until 5pm. Here you can get imaginatively filled bagels. The evening menu features a variety of mixed platters (Italian meat, Mediterranean Cheese, European Cheese or a mixed Mediterranean platter). There’s a childrens menu from noon until 7pm and a variety of snacks too. The right hand wall of Nook is really devoted to beer; shelves on the lower level are essentially priced to take away with separate ranges for local, national and international craft beers in both bottle and can. The shelves are arranged in ascending order of strength too. Up the steps brings you to a chilled cabinet of bottled and canned beer more suited to drinking in. The selection is well thought-out with plenty of well-known, and less well-known, names from the craft brewing world. Supplementing the bottles and cans are five draught beers. Paulaner from Munich is the regular and the others include a changing guest beer often from a Greater Manchester brewer.