Richmond Tea Rooms, Manchester

The vision of the interior of these premises will take you aback. Opened in August 2011 by local entrepreneurs Nicholas Curtis and Andrew Underwood who decided that a tea room and cocktail lounge set down a back street in Manchester's Gay Village would bear fruit. You enter to discover traditional English-style tea room with a grand display of cakes, linen-clad tables, and all the other finery one might expect of a tea room with an Alice in Wonderland concept. It serves food and beverages throughout the day and evening. Dishes range from unique specialties whilst also providing the traditional favourites too. This occupies the Richmond Street side of the building. Going through a corridor to the Bloom Street side of the building takes you to the adjoining cocktail lounge, styled 'The Lodge'. This is a wholly more basic and down-to-earth affair although it does possess some quirky fixtures; an L-shaped room with bar in one corner, its large windows giving you a good view of activities at the rear of the Coach Station. Comfy furniture mixes well with a cosy atmosphere. Cocktails, wines and keg beers, but no real ale for now.