CityLife

Top five pre-show eateries

CHILLED: Zinc

UNLIKE prior to swimming and going to church, eating before a show isn’t a frowned upon activity.

In fact, due to the length of some shows these days (Steve Wonder recently played for nigh on three hours at the Arena, while the Royal Exchange’s major runs regularly stretch long into the evening), staving off the hunger pains prior to entering the auditorium is actually a pretty canny idea.

Alas, with so much choice on offer, plumping for which restaurateur’s eager mitt to thrust your hard enough cash into can be a slightly perilous affair – no one wants to feel queasy in a potentially stuffy theatre.

So here at CityLife we’ve put together five tops tips based on quality, location and cost for pre-theatre dinning to point you in the right direction:

The Lowry Restaurant – Leaving the city centre to trek over to the striking Salford Quays theatre can be arduous enough without facing the prospect of finding a suitable spot to eat. Thankfully, the good folk at The Lowry were sensibly enough to provide a great option on site. Famed for combining an eye-catching waterside location with modern British cuisine, the restaurants two (£13.95, 17.95) and three (£16.95, 19.95) course deals are competitively priced and come with the built-in pleasure of knowing curtain call is only a matter of yards away. Open 12 – 3pm, 5pm – 8pm on show days only.

Tempus – Based in arguably the city’s most ornate and dazzling residence, the Palace Hotel, Tempus is within striking distance of the Palace Theatre, The Ritz and the Green Room. After recently undergoing a £7m face-lift you can admire the swish renovations at the Oxford Street venue while sampling from their a la carte pre-theatre menu where main course 2-4-1’s are available every evening except Friday and two and three-courses can be snapped up for £12.95 and £16.95 respectively. Latin for time, Tempus could be a great time-saver if you intend to catch a show nearby. Pre-theatre menu available 5pm – 7pm, 2-4-1 deals available 7pm – 10pm (Mon-Sat) and 7pm – 9.30pm (Sundays).

Grinch Wine Bar – Of course there’s nothing wrong with washing down a pre-show meal with a drink or two and this city centre institution has great daily pulling power – it's called happy hour. Every night between 5pm and 7pm, the Chapel Walks nightspot offers a plethora of deals on wine, cocktails and other beverages, while it’s Italian-themed menu is both plentiful and frugal - rarely straying into double figures for a course. With the Royal Exchange just a hop, skip and a jump away – Grinch provides a great option for whiling a way a couple of pre-show hours.

Bridgewater Hall – Home to the Halle Orchestra plus a regular host for myriad of folk, pop, rock and world music acts, the swish Lower Mosley Street venue actually sports two dining establishments. For quick and easy bites, the Touchstones Café Bar serves traditional favourites between 11am and 3pm and from 5.30pm on concert nights. The plusher, more austere Charles Halle Restaurant is their formal alternative. Head chef Marco Tedde’s pre-concert dinners have won awards and can be sampled from 5.30pm onwards. More expensive than the previous examples (£21 for two courses, £26.50 for three), the price does include coffee and petit fours though - get them!

Zinc Bar & Grill – The hip option for M.E.N. Arena gig goers, Zinc originally came from the Terrance Conran stable (it’s now owned by the Individual Restaurant Group) and still sports the cool, minimalist vibe the designer built his reputation on. Famed for its cocktails and, strangely, fish and chips – this Exchange Square-set hangout serves a range of well-priced contemporary European dishes in a relaxed, chilled setting. A rose in between the multitude of thorns in the nearby Printworks centre, Zinc provides the calm before whichever musical storm is kicks off over at the Arena. Open 10am - 11pm (12midnight on Fri/Sat).

Which is your favourite pre-show eatery? Let us know your thoughts.