Time & Place

Time & Place on Shaw Road in Heaton Moor is a relatively new addition to the Heatons area, and despite having walked past it several times and saying to myself «I really must go and check this place out», I’ve never gotten around to it.
Until last night, that is. My girlfriend and I went out for a couple of drinks, and decided to finally check out T&P.
Arriving at around 22:45, I was expecting there to be more people in than there were. It’s not the largest bar around, there’s seating for maybe 30 – 40 inside, but there were plenty of tables not being used and space to stand at the bar. For a Saturday night, I’d have expected it to be busier.
Whilst my other half grabbed a table, I ordered the drinks — a pint of Krombacher and a vodka and diet coke, which came in at £8.50 which in all is probably about average for the area. There was a 50p surcharge as I was paying on card, which you can avoid if your total comes to more than £10.
They only have a couple of beers on draught — Krombacher and Becks Vier — as well as some draught cider. For those who prefer ale, they seemed to have some bottles in the fridges behind the bar but nothing on tap that I could see.
What they do have, though, is a good range of spirits. I followed my pilsner with a Bulleit bourbon and coke, and the lady went an elderflower gin and tonic. Now, bearing in mind that I dislike gin (especially with tonic!) and my girlfriend dislikes bourbon, we each tried the other’s drink and liked it. As well as having Bulleit, I spotted a bottle of Woodford Reserve behind the bar as well so I would be quite happy spending an evening in here drinking.
The space itself is fairly minimalist in decoration, with white walls being offset against dark stain wood tables and black stools or in the case of the booths at the back a reddish leather. The lighting was low but not so much that the bar was dark. It all kinda reminded me a bit of The Drawing Room in Didsbury, except not quite as dark, nowhere near as rammed full of people and more enjoyable.
Time & Place is well worth a visit if you’re about, and I can see myself going back next time I’m off for a drink in the Heatons.

There is nothing wrong with time and place perse, its just bland and lacking in character. I’m sure lots of people will compare this bar to the blue cat café that preceded it which I hear was nice however I never went in and so my review score isn’t marred by sadness of a favourite haunt closing. I didn’t like time and place however and with bottle and Heaton Hops both opening in the area accompanied by ever loved Liz I see no reason to go back for a second visit. 2 stars as it didn’t offend me, it just gave me nothing