Earle by Simon Rimmer - great for business and pleasure...
I always like to choose restaurants carefully for my clients - food, location, ambience and price are all taken into consideration together with whom they'll be dining with and even why. For example, a formal lunch of two may suit a considerably different location to say a raucous closing diner of 20 bankers. Like thousands of PA's the world over I will often turn to the usual restaurant resources such as www.opentable.co.uk (formerly toptable) and www.squaremeal.co.uk when I've exhausted my usual list of restaurants. However, when I can I always like to try a place out myself personally so I can feel confident in my choice before I send my clients there. It's also a really good excuse for a lovely meal out :)
I love discovering new places to add to my address book should my clients fancy somewhere different to dine or are perhaps visiting an unfamiliar city, and it's with this in mind that I thought I'd share with you a fabulous place in case you're ever searching for a great venue for a business lunch or dinner in the area...
One of the pleasures of being self employed is that last week when the sunshine was so deliciously inviting I fancied a change of scenery and decided to take my work to one of my very favourite restaurants called 'Earle' (www.earlebysimonrimmer.com) in the very nice town of Hale in Manchester.
I'll be honest, I miss London and all it's thousands of incredible restaurants, and since moving north 3 years ago I have to say that 'Earle' has become one of my absolute favourites. The man behind it is celebrity chef and presenter; Simon Rimmer (think Ch4's Sunday Brunch with Tim Lovejoy) who I believe co-owns it with a couple of footballer pals. However, rest assured that whilst it is, by all accounts, a little bit of a celebrity hotspot, thankfully this isn't one of those places that serves style over substance.
I've dined there a few times now and the service has always been great - it's attentive without being intrusive. Staff are knowledgeable about the menu and the food is always presented beautifully without being ostentatious. The quality of the menu is at the very least on par with all the usual places I book in London and the ambience I'd describe as relaxed but very well presented.
For larger groups or private functions 'Earle' also offers a private dining room which I believe caters for up to15pax and with fixed menu pricing started at a cheeky £25ph for 3 courses through to £60ph gourmet option it’s not too pricey.
The lunch menu is particularly great value (my 3 course lunch was about £15) and if your client is looking to particularly impress and you can be flexible with dates it even offers regular 'Gourmet Evenings' where Simon not only cooks the food but then pops front of house to mingle with the diners at the end of the evening.
'Earle' is one of those places that, in one way, I'd like to keep as my little secret but, on the other hand I want to spread the love so all you lovely people can give it a whirl and let me know what you think :)
Enjoy!
