It was Inside Out 2 with grandkids, at over a hundred quid; recliner seats and snacks. M&M's added…read moreto giant buckets of popcorn, Coke Zero from a dispensing machine, Maltesers and other rubbish. The film was really funny but one could easily fall asleep on the recliners. Each seat had its own built - in tray. I remember cinema in the 1960's. It was nothing like this with plush seats that could seat you comfortably even if your waist-line was 90 inches. The seats here elevate your legs and drop you gently backways. Crystal clear sound and picture too. The 1960's local cinema houses had a smell. It wasn't overly pleasant with years of accumulated cigarette smoke creating an unmistakable odour. You could hear the motor noise as it widened or reduced the screen size/depth on the movie. The seats, like the carpet, were often cigarette burned, invariably when you put your hands on the seat arm rests you could feel the hard chewing gum left stuck by former guests once the flavour had gone. If the gum was on the carpeted floor it just became a black, almost solid, waterproof splodge and over time they accumulated into 100's of leathery splodges. The cinema seats folded up once you stood up. Midnight Cowboy was the first film that hit me right between the eyes and a whole lot different to Inside Out 2. In the 1960's we used to get a B movie as well as the A rated one and if we were lucky Pathé News with the clear, fruity and rich voice of Cyril Fredrick 'Bob' Danvers Walker, with just the suggestion of raffishness. Bob became the announcer voice on Michael Miles Take Your Pick. During films a girl would walk round with a tray with a fixed light on it selling mini tubs of ice creams, poppet chocolates (chocolate coated mint, orange, peanut or raisin). As Bob Dylan noted 'the times they are a changing' not to mention prices.

The Lowry Vue was a very run down and outdated cinema however with the newest renovation the cinema…read morehas been thrown back into the limelight. The cinema has massively cut down on the number of screens however they have significantly improved on the viewing experience. Each cinema screen is filled with reclining leather seats and pullout tables attached to them. This is honestly the best viewing experience I have had at a cinema in a long time and for the great price of £8. When me and my friend visited the cinema we used the Meerkat Movies offer so we received the 2 tickets for the price of 1 and it was totally worth the price!! Would highly recommend!

Here the Castle Gallery is a new addition to the range of stores at the Trafford Centre. It is…read morelocated on the ground floor just by the Debenhams coffee shop. There is a fine selection of framed fine art pictures. A range of contemporary art in a rich variety of frames are displayed all over the walls of this new gallery. You can find some very fine prints for your new apartment if you got a spare £300 depending on the size and style you like.

When you visit the Lowry complex, don't neglect to look-around the gift shop. Aside from the more…read morepredictable items on offer, there's an appealingly quirky and well-priced selection of fridge magnets including the purple- rectangular:You don't need brains to be a painter, just feelings quote from LS Lowry, himself. You'll also find a good range of notebooks and other stationery items together with jewellery and practical-but-pretty fabric bags. Children - and those harking-back to their childhood - will be tempted by the nostalgic confectionery choice (with Parma Violets as my personal highlight) accessibly priced at just 40p. It only seems fair to raid your piggy bank and make a purchase here, after your free entry to the galleries, as the money you spend will be re-invested to keep the complex going and available for all to enjoy. The staff here are helpful, approachable and happy to let you browse freely.

This will be quite a quick review…read more The gift shop does have some quality product but they are ridiculously overpriced for what they are! I am not a cheap person and this isn't a charity shop so why are the prices so high?

Officially launched in March 2010, this is a new kid on the block in Chorlton's night life…read more Although it is to the rear of The Lounge bar, the management are keen to stress that this is a separate entity, with its emphasis firmly placed on live entertainment. To this end, an independent entrance has recently been installed, so that access is now via the alley to the side of The Lounge. I discovered this place purely by accident, having gone for lunch with friends at The Lounge early in 2010 and seen workmen gutting the back room, whilst electricians installed a new sound system. February saw a total refurbishment to what had originally just been a relatively small function room, and what was a pleasant but unremarkable space has been transformed into an attractive and intimate night time venue. Checking it out upon its opening, I was pleasantly surprised. The ceiling is now swathed in deep red sheer fabric, creating the feeling of being inside a Moroccan tent, whilst recessed coloured halogen spots, twinkling icicle lights and candles provide warm illumination. Mirrors and artwork adorn all the walls, and the overall effect is both tasteful and homely. The bar's owners have clearly had the designers in. Further transformation is evidenced by the change in entertainment and the clientele. In keeping with the bijou proportions of the space, live music is predominantly acoustic or semi-acoustic. That said, it's not as small-scale as you might imagine. When I attended the first night of the newly-launched Cajun Specials session last week, no less than 12 musicians were playing, and those who couldn't fit into the performance area joined in from their seats! Similarly the following night, which is open mic, saw 13 acts onstage, and the evening ended in a big jam session. The lady next to me remarked that it was 'like having a party in your own living room.' I'm told that the owner of Baroque intends building the bar's reputation as a credible live music venue, and if the nights I've attended there over the past six weeks are anything to go by, it's well on its way to achieving that goal. The ambiance is lovely, and the friendly bar staff just don't seem to be able to do enough for you. It's a very relaxed venue, and I'm told that the aim is also to make it a gay-friendly environment, which presumably explains all the pretty design touches. Prices here are pretty good, with a large glass of wine being £3.50, or under the current offer: if you buy two glasses you get the rest of the bottle free. £7 is great value for a bottle of wine! The only slight drawback at the moment is that the gents' toilet is currently behind the stage area, so male patrons have to either walk through the musicians to get to the loo, or else wait for a change-over between performers. However, I'm told that this will be remedied soon because the re-modeling isn't finished yet. It seems that even more ambitious plans are in the works for this cute little bar, and these will be implemented before the summer. SCORES Decor: 9/10 Cleanliness: 8/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Value for money: 8/10 Live entertainment: 10/10 Variety of drinks on offer: 8/10 Food: N/A Staff: 10/10

Lets not pretend that we don't all have conversations with our friends or ourselves about what we…read morewould do if we won the Euro Millions roll over this week of £49 million. I admire the brigade that would give it all away to charity and build schools and hospitals in Rwanda; I cannot pretend to understand the ones who say they will buy their council house and continue to work down the mines for 25p a day, and I love My mother when she says " I would give you and your brother 10 million each sweetheart." My particular fantasy is Art. I would buy Art. I would go to Sotherby's and bid on an undiscovered Picasso wearing a wide-brimmed hat and huge glasses like Sophia Loren. No one would know my name, I would be called "the glamorous lady in the hat." Okay, okay, it is just a fantasy but I studied History of Art A'Level and I know how to distinguish a Masaccio from a Donatello. I am not a particular lover of the Post Modernist movement and messed up beds and pickled cows do nothing to inspire me . Yes Art is self expression but I prefer a combination of expression and talent if you please. So you understand now that Art is my dirty little passion and I do not often get the chance to indulge in it. Castle Galleries however is like a porn shop for a person like me! There are pictures everywhere which get my heart racing and my blood pumping. Pictures of ruby red sunsets by Richard Rowan stand beside Parisian Lautrec inspired scenes by Paul Kenton. Caroline Shotton's crazy looking Wallace and Gromit like cows with titles such as; "I Give My Heart To Moo" and "Diamonds Are For Heffers" are comically adorable and I have spotted Sarah Graham's enlarged studies of lollipops and Liquorice Allsorts in many winebars and restaurants across the city. Castle Galleries is a showcase for local and national talent. It holds exhibitions during which the artist is present to talk about his/her work. You won't find a picture of a paint splodge priced at £2 million there as pictures are reasonably around the £200 - £500 bracket. The staff are helpful and informative and share my love of Art. So if I win the lottery I may just call in here for a mad cow to go with my Picasso.

It's a lovely shop and lovely staff. However they only cater for the rich. They don't really have…read moreany inexpensive art for people who like it but can't afford to spent alot.

This is the outlet at the Lowry. We hadn't been here in a few years certainly long before wu flu…read morestruck. I'd guess it's now half empty store wise. Key shops like M&S Clothing, Black & Decker, Tefal and many more all long gone. Harry Ramsden's fish & chips still there along with subway. A chicken shack of sorts, an independent Indian and a BK. The Indian has most food pre cooked and heated on order so no thanks. When there's a Harry's I'm afraid this sort of competition has no chance with me. They used to have a spud u like but it's gone as has an ice cream parlour. The Cadbury alleged chocolate shop is still there but prices are rip off with supermarkets offering identical products much cheaper. Costa coffee is still there and they are now advertising the fact that they are selling M&S food so at least that's quality food. I'm not sure I'd make another trip back here but they still do the artisan market days so that would bring me back.

A wonderful modern theatre in Salford at the Lowry Centre. The Lyric Theatre is the biggest of the…read moretwo theatres inside of the huge Lowry Centre. It hosts many amazing plays, musicals and many other entertainment options. I have been to see two National Theatre productions here which include the amazing War Horse and recently the Curious incident of the dog in the nighttime. It also has a couple of restaurants and cafes and amazing views to go with it. I have sat in many places in the Lyric theatre and there really isn't one bad seat plus the seats are really comfortable! All the staff who work here are really friendly and they seem to love there job. So take a look at the Lowry website to see if theres a show coming your way soon. Even if you're not sure that you might like the theatre, give it a go you may love it! The Lowry also hosts many art exhibitions which currently has Behind the Mask, the biggest collection of BAFTA-winning actor portraiture ever assembled, which has come to The Lowry for its first time out of London which is worth the trip out of town alone! You can easily get to the Lowry from the city centre of Manchester on one of the Metrolink trams which head towards Media City UK!

I joined Spice on a 6 month limited trial. During that period there was no attempt to promote any…read moreevent and no events were within reasonable travelling distance from my location, despite the fact they enlist in the local area. Since then despite cancelling my membership they continue to take deductions from my bank account. Many false promises to refund, but then conveniently lose your correspondence and any knowledge of calls etc and charge you again. As far as my experience is so far, this is a con. I have reported to the financial ombudsman.

I booked onto my first event, a pool night in Leeds. When I arrived I went to the pool tables and…read morefound a sign on them saying 'spice' so I knew I were in the right place. The event was meant to start at 7 30 and by 7 40 I couldn't see the start of any obvious event. I asked 2 members of staff who didnt know about the event,and approached 2 different sets of people who were near the tables and both sets informed me they were here for the football. I was sick of running around trying to find out what was happening. After I wrote a polite e mail highlighting my wasted evening and cancelling my membership all I received was a generic e mail to confirm that my membership was cancelled, no explanation or apology. Maybe I was unlucky but my experience with spice has been awful.

I really enjoyed myself at this mall. I came here with my cousins and pretty much had no…read moreexpectations, but my expectations were very easily exceeded from being here. This mall has a lot of the stores that I wanted to shop at and one store in particular that I have not found throughout my time in the UK they actually did have so that was great. It's also really beautiful as well. It has different areas in the mall that are themed based off different parts of the world and they did a really great job of creating that aesthetic throughout the mall. The staff we spoke to were also really nice and friendly. I overall had a good time and would recommend coming here for a shopping trip if you are near the area.

Think Las Vegas bling with a mix of mall and food court galore. Beautiful mall with tall marble…read morecolumns all over and tropical plants. Very good amount of decent restaurants and stores.