Hard Rock Cafe - Manchester

The name Hard Rock is synonymous with good music, attractive dining and the largest collection of music memorabilia. Autographed guitars, pictures and tour outfits are mounted on the café walls - a tradition first started by Eric Clapton when he gifted his lead Fender II to the London outlet where it all started, back in 1979. To this day, this particular outlet is considered the best branch of this highly popular chain, and its diners are a mixture of tourists and locals who seem prepared to queue all day if necessary, to gain entry.

All branches are brightly lit and well ventilated and have walls decorated with photos, guitars, other instruments, clothing and costumes, platinum and gold LPs, posters and album art, bringing people closer to the world of rock and roll. The café's newest exhibition named 'The Vault' at London, displays around sixty of the most precious pieces of rock and roll memorabilia the world has ever seen, including John Lennon's hand amended lyrics to 'Imagine' and 'Instant Karma'.

Each café has a separate bar and restaurant area, a live concert stage and a rock shop to pick up exclusive merchandise. Many look at this as one of the reasons behind the café's popularity.

You could order from an endless menu of starters, entrees, burgers, sandwiches, salads and desserts. The attractive jumbo combo, with an assortment of Santa Fe spring rolls, hickory smoked wings, onion rings, potato skins and tupelo tenders is a perfect mix of chicken and vegetable starters and goes down well with draught beer.

For mains, the famous fajitas with a choice of grilled chicken or beef, served with pico de gallo, shredded jack and cheddar cheese, fresh guacamole, sour cream, shredded lettuce and hot flour tortillas is ideal. Other choices include grilled sirloin steak, twisted Mac, chicken and cheese and grilled wild Alaskan sockeye salmon.

The ten-ounce burgers are meals in themselves and are best for those wanting to order fast and spend longer gazing at the walls or catching up with friends. There are sandwiches and salads too. The dessert menu features Haagen-Dazs, the café's premium ice cream as well as shakes and sundaes.

Surprisingly, there is an Indian touch to Hard Rock - the café's motto 'Love All, Serve All' was adopted from founder Isaac Tigrett's guru, Sathya Sai Baba's philosophy.