Olive Tree Brasserie, Fantastic Greek Cuisine on the Fylde Coast




The Olive Tree Brasserie, Lytham St.Annes

Looking for somewhere good to eat on a Saturday evening during a recent family weekend break to the Fylde coast we decided to try the modern and stylish looking Olive Tree Brasserie in St. Annes. 

As we'd arrived around 6 o'clock (planning to drive through the illuminations later on) we took advantage of the Early Diner menu, a choice of four starters, four main courses and two desserts.  For starters two of us had the Gigandes Plaki, giant butter beans in a tomato and herb sauce, while the third member of our party opted for the Keftedes, home-made meatballs in tomato and basil sauce.  We all selected the same main course Kota Souvlaki, marinated, skewered chicken breast with peppers, rice and tzatziki dip.  Dessert was a more simple choice between ice cream or Greek yogurt with honey.

My previous experience of Greek restaurants has been rather hit and miss, but I can happily say that the Olive Tree was a big hit with our party.  The food was delicious, the service excellent and the atmosphere vibrant.  As can be expected with many early-bird menus the portions were slightly smaller than those on the main menu, however the price of £9.95 for two courses or £11.95 for three course was very good value for money. 

If the idea of the Early Diner menu is to tempt customers back then it certainly worked as we went back for the fantasic Sunday buffet the next day.  The Olive Tree Brasserie certainly tops my list of Greek restaurants in the North West and is well worth a visit, however I'd recommend booking as the restaurant was full an hour after we arrived.

Party Conferences 2010 in the North West

With a change of government, a surprising coalition and uncertain economical times, this year’s conference season is poised to be the most interesting in recent times. The North West will be right at the heart of matters with three of the big four conferences being hosted in the region.

The 142nd Trades Union Congress will take place from the 13th – 16th September at the Manchester Central Convention Complex and following the governments drastic recently announced saving measures meaning the likelihood of public sector job losses, the TUC have some very serious matters to debate.

The Liberal Democrat party conference at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool between the 18th and 22nd September should have a positive mood with the party enjoying its highest political profile in decades and a share of power in the coalition government. But party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg still has his work cut out to convince many members of the direction his party is taking.

Having been ousted from power, the Labour party conference, running from 26th to 30th September also at Manchester Central, will be the first as an opposition party in thirteen years. To add extra excitement the results of the party's leadership election are to be announced the day before the conference starts. Regardless of the debates and addresses to take place, the North West can be rightly proud of the world class facilities that have enabled it to become the conference capital of the UK.

Bear Hugs for Haiti

Lancashire based business woman Debra Brown is co-ordinating the British arm of an unusual charity to help children who have suffered from the devastating earthquake in Haiti earlier this year. British based organisation Children of the World has teamed up with American charity Children of the Earth to support Bear Hugs for Haiti. Bear Hugs for Haiti aims to send hundreds of teddy bears to help to emotionally support children who have been orphaned by the disaster. Children of the Earth was praised by the United Nations in 2005 after it sent 1200 bears to orphans in Uganda, Rwanda and South East Asia.

Debra who runs a life coaching consultancy in Burnley was approached through her involvement in other charity work to assist the appeal by the patron of Children of the World, HRH Prince Frederick von Saxe-Lauenberg. Prince Frederick, whose organisation is based in Hale, Greater Manchester, commented “Much financial assistance has been given to support the unfortunate people of Haiti in rebuilding their lives. Bear Hugs aims to help orphaned children to emotionally rebuild their lives after the earth quake”.

Debra, herself a mother of two says “It’s a great opportunity for young people in the UK to connect with those less fortunate and let them know we care. Hugging a teddy bear can bring some comfort to children with no parents to hug”. A family fun day in Towneley Park Burnley is being organised by Debra to promote awareness of the appeal.

To find out more about Bear Hugs for Haiti visit http://www.globalhugs.com/bear-hugs-for-haiti

Secret Garden at Islington Wharf

Islington Wharf Apartments

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of listening to Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, explain his vision for the future of Manchester. In particular Sir Howard talked about plans to expand and regenerate the city centre. One area he targeted was Ancoats, historically a tough mill area on the eastern edge of the city centre, but under Sir Howard’s leadership this is changing. The Islington Wharf development by Isis is the new landmark on Great Ancoats Street and less than ten minutes walk from city centre.

The apartments feature quirky angular shaped rooms that won’t be to everyone’s taste and will require some creative thinking when furnishing, however they are light and airy with great views on the higher floors. Kitchens come complete with fridge, freezer and dishwasher; washer/dryers are also included but located in various utility/store cupboards. The 3, 4 and 5 bed apartments I viewed came with an impressive array of balconies, terraces or private gardens, that’s right gardens, with grass! On top of the second floor is a large communal area nicknamed 'Secret Garden' complete with garden furniture, barbeque area and a spectacular view of the City of Manchester stadium. Several duplex apartments have their own private fenced off garden.

Secret Garden

Externally the brown cladding creates mixed opinion but the copper alloy it’s made from reduces heat loss from the building. Isis is part owned by British Waterways who also own the land Islington Wharf is built on; as such the Ashton Canal running alongside the development has been renovated and landscaped to provide a more pleasant setting. Isis is apparently in talks with a leisure provider to open a fitness suite in one of the commercial outlets on the ground floor of the development. Parking is also available on the ground floor at an extra cost and like the rest of the development includes a high level of security.

If Sir Howard’s plans for the city continue to be realised, Ancoats could well be the next fashionable part of the city to live, and at under £290,000 for a 4 bedroom apartment, Islington Wharf presents a very tempting opportunity.

RHS Tatton Show

Tomorrow sees the start of the five day long RHS Show at Tatton Park near Knutsford. Tatton is renowned as the biggest and best horticultural show in the North, with the country’s brightest gardener designers showing of their talents. Amongst the planned show gardens this year are Tony Heyward’s abstract jewelled landscape inspired by the British coastline and Tony Smith’s intriguingly titled Aliens & Lettuce. Gardens designed by Huggo Bugg, Will Quarmby and Olivia Stewart will determine the first RHS Young Designer of the Year award.


Aside from the show gardens Tatton will host the prestigious Eurofleurs competition, where twelve of Europe’s best young florists will compete for the award, good luck to Britain’s competitor Joe Massie. Long with more than 200 exhibitors to keep shoppers happy, Fortnum and Mason will be on hand at the show to provide high class refreshments. If you can’t make it to the show BBC 2 will be covering the highlights from Tatton on Thursday at 7.30pm and Friday at 8pm.

Morris face big challenge at Edgewater Park

House-builder Morris faces a big challenge if their Edgewater Park development is to live up to expectations. Morris are certainly ambitious claiming to be building ‘A community that is designed to capture the same friendly, intimate 'village' atmosphere of its more well-established, and equally desirable neighbours: Stockton Heath, Grappenhall and Thelwall’. The problem however is that Edgewater Park is on the opposite bank of the Manchester Ship Canal in the far less desirable village of Latchford.

Including shops, cafe bar, parkland and a bowling green in the plans among the mix of apartments, family and executive homes is a positive start. Of the three show homes the flagship Winchester is an impressive 4 bed detached executive house with some thoughtful touches to its layout, the Sutton is only slightly smaller and has a good family feel to it. Sadly the 3 bed Ely feels cramped, the lounge being more of a corridor from the front door to the kitchen. Disappointingly a washer dryer and dishwasher only come as optional extras in the properties.

Once completed the development will be big enough to change the nature of Latchford and have the potential to raise the profile of the area. To achieve this Morris need to attract quality buyers which they will only do by meeting expectations and while the properties are priced around 20% cheaper than across the water, failure to include the expected white goods isn’t the luxury executives expect. A little more thought by the marketing department at Morris is needed if Edgewater Park is to meet the challenge.

Beech Road Festival

The annual Beech Road Festival in Chorlton has grown over the last thirteen years into one of Manchester's most vibrant events and this years celebrations drew the crowds again to the fashionable suburb. 

The festival to its benefit isn't as grand in size as the city centre's Manchester Day or Pride events, instead it has a more welcoming, relaxed and bohemian feel.  The chic and colourful boutiques, trendy bars and restaurants opened their doors and spilled out onto the street to celebrate their own community and welcome their visitors.  Outside Bar Lorenzo a funky Latino band entertained the the crowds while the tasty delights of stalls selling ice cream, English, Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisine ensured nobody went hungry

Chorlton Green filled with stalls selling local products, promoting local artists, charities and community groups while the larger Beech Road Park was packed with local musicians, an eclectic mix of stalls, funfair and the main stage.  As the street festival wound down the bands on the main stage rocked the festival into the night.