Expo Lounge, Didsbury

Opened on 18/7/2013, the Expo Lounge is the first Manchester outlet for southern-based group, Loungers. This is a good-sized conversion of the former Elm Interiors furniture store, thus it is wide and stretches back a good way to the open kitchen area at the rear. Definitely more of a cafe-bar than a pub atmosphere, but that is how it sets its stall out. Food consists of tapas, burgers and specials. They also do a range of teas, coffees and cakes. Decor is vivid in a 1930s/40s style with almost every piece of wall space taken up with an artwork or mirror of some sort, many of the paintings / photos seem to be portraits of the owners' grandparents. Plenty of seating is available for both dining and drinking, whilst an additional area out front allows people to get really close to the bustle of Wilmslow Road when the weather allows. A large table set in a niche by the kitchen allows a group to dine together. The sole cask beer was Toga Man, All hail the Ale, specially brewed for the pub chain by Bristol Beer Factory. It was good to see an operation like this selling cask ale in Didsbury, albeit at quite a price; unfortunately cask beer was taken off sale in late 2014. The goings on in the pub can be viewed via the webcam linked to the website.