The Living Room - Manchester

This place has won awards for its atmosphere. Even Mr Golden Balls himself cites it in his autobiography as his favourite restaurant. Becks is just one of frequent celeb-spots made in this welcoming, well-proportioned bar and restaurant.

The main white-walled bar expands beneath a big sky light and has lots of elegant brown leather booth seating, just the right distance from the baby grand piano, professionally played most nights.

Upstairs, the plush high-ceilinged Dining Room serves as an alternative to the buzzy bar, where couples and groups of four enjoy themselves over Thai salmon fishcakes, mussels of the day or satay chicken.

Rumour has it that the club sandwich is the best in town. Nice wine list; several sold by the glass, and four reds and four whites changed monthly.