FRIDAY M.E.N. MARCH 2, 2007 EAT & DRINK CITYLIFE « 15 Pretty Mathew talks tough

ATHEW Bose, the dashingly handsome Mgay character Paul Lambert in Emmerdale, is as dishy and charming in real life as he is on screen. I had dinner with him in San Carlo restaurant in the city centre and we chatted for more than four hours and shared a lemon tart for dessert. But, although he looks pretty, he talks tough. “I hate the futile celebrity hollow trinket bolted onto society quite frankly!” he tells me. “I hate it when people say they want to be famous, famous for what? WAGs were built on the back of magazines.” This wasn’t a sudden outburst from Mathew as soon as we sat down, but more a response to why he was in Manchester that day. He had been spending time with his old school friend who has recently developed brain virus encephalitis, which causes memory loss. For Mathew the only useful thing about having celebrity status is bringing exposure SPEAKING HIS MIND Emmerdale star Mathew Bose didn’t hold to charities, especially the » back during his four-hour dinner with Steph smaller “less sexy” ones. “At the moment we are he finished his training at TV director. But he doesn’t they should do so. trying to discover what he acting school In Los Angeles. think gay people working in “We should be proud of can remember. He’s lived Table talk Before that he lived in New the public eye should feel who we are. I’m gay and I’m here for the last 20 years, so WITH STEPH York, and has also had a stint pressurised to come out. half Indian. I would be I’ve been walking round with as male model, and studied Recently, the former NBA waving a banner in both him all day.” ELMORE OF for a psychology degree. basketball star from hands if I was bothered Mathew gets recognised CHANNEL M “You can’t have a diluted Stockport John Amaechi about all that. wherever he goes. “I do walk approach to acting, you have announced he is gay, a “Good job I never ended very quickly, so people don’t You’re in their living rooms, to focus. It’s a tough industry, revelation which has caused up being a psychologist isn’t always have the chance to kitchens, bedrooms, so the and sometimes it’s not to do a huge stir in America. it? I’d be like: ‘Pull yourself stop me, but I don’t mind if intimacy people develop with with talent. In America they “I respect what he’s done together, that’ll be £95 they do. Actors have a you is incredible.” say acting is 20 per cent and the courage, but making please’,” he laughs. responsibility. Soap is built Mathew has been in talent and 80pc audacity.” an issue out of something ------on the audience, and the Emmerdale for the last Mathew lives with his makes people who never » San Carlo, King Street audience is part of the soap. two-and-a-half years, since boyfriend of three years, a prejudged before think Manchester. 0161 834 6226. Bars & Pubs

COCKTAIL OF Even bitter tastes sweet in opulent Opus One THE WEEK WITH it’s glowing red strip from a five star establish- Berry (see recipe right), I blurred into a single, bitter The Halle Berry lights, leather décor and at- ment, top-notch tipples are opted for a concoction called flavour. I think you’re either a tentive staff, Opus One re- served as standard. Mr Gorgeous (£8), featuring vodka-and-orange person or Ingredients sembles nothing so much as a Dillon, my friendly waiter, Absolut Mandarin, Cassis, you’re not, and I’m not, so I 6 raspberries posh brothel. explained that Plymouth gin Grand Marnier, fresh orange should have known better, re- 10ml gomme (sugar syrup) People seem to either love and Bollinger champagne are and champagne. ally. 25ml Chambord or hate the look, but of all the amongst their best sellers, Served in a finger-numb- Hanging out in the conser- 15ml Amaretto bars in Manchester few can alongside cocktails of course. ingly cold Martini glass, Mr vatory bit with my friend 10ml Absolut Kurant compete with the presence of Sprawling, yet well chosen, G came with his layers of al- Emma, I noticed people grav- 50ml cranberry juice this luxurious joint, housed their cocktail menu is a real cohol perfectly separated. To itating towards the bar end of in the former Free Trade strength, with drinks listed stir or not to stir, I wondered, the room, rather than mov- “This is a red fruit cocktail Hall. under headings like Martinis before reaching for a straw. ing down into the eating area. named after the Halle A marbled bar dominates and Champagne cocktails. Mixing the spirits together A more gradual blurring Theatre and celebrating the the room, and helpful staff Having been tempted by was probably a mistake in of bar and restaurant, some- history of the Free Trade hover beneath the carved co- the curranty tones of Halle retrospect, as the drink thing like Obsidian, might Hall,” says head bartender lumns that tower overhead. work better here, but overall, Adrian Alfonzo. Rather unsettlingly, several Opus One smacks of class “Muddle raspberries, add all people died here in the Peter- and style, and even half a other ingredients, shake and loo Massacre of 1819, but this Worthingtons has a decadent double strain into a chilled doesn’t seem to have stopped air to it when served in stun- Martini glass. Garnish with anyone from enjoying a pint ning surrounds like these. two raspberries and a straw and when I dropped by one Ruth Allan on the side.” rainy Tuesday, Opus One ------was warm with punters. » Opus One, Radisson We say: The black raspberry Lounging on sofas, or Edwardian, Peter Street, flavour of Chambord teamed propped up by sensible bar Manchester. Tel: 0161-835 with blackcurrant vodka and stools with backs, the crowd 9929. Open: 10.30am cranberry make for a very was twentysomething-plus, –11pm Monday – Saturday fruity experience… inspired by with a fair few older drinkers and 10.30am – 10.30pm on the actress of the same name too. And, as you’d expect Sundays. perhaps!