In the world of fine dining, certain Manchester names loom large. The city has become a beacon for ambitious chefs looking to make a name for themselves outside of the nation's capital, and more than a few have succeeded. So finding somewhere swanky to celebrate a special occasion should have been easy.
But it wasn't. Recently I found myself scrolling through menus and probing the websites of almost all of the biggest name eateries in the city. I was looking for somewhere memorable to celebrate a birthday with one simple catch - I am vegan, and my partner isn't.
Optimistically, I hoped to find a restaurant we could both enjoy a taste of fine dining without one of us having to make a sacrifice. But I couldn't find it anywhere. READ MORE: Luxury Manchester restaurant announces 'new era' six months after raid In fact, many of Manchester's top-name restaurants refused to cater for a vegan diet - something I found shockingly lazy given that for many people, dairy intolerances are not a choice.
In a world where we should all be moving towards more sustainable eating practices, clutching onto a meat-centric menu without even giving diners options feels both unimaginative and unfair. So when I was invited to stay at Aldwark Manor and review Chartwell, their new fine dining restaurant, I was unsure what to expect. The invite was sent without knowledge of my dietary requirements, and after notifying them I half expected an email back telling me the offer was unsuitable for vegans.
But .