"So there you are  tidying your front garden, pegging some washing out; just a regular Tuesday morning in a leafy Halifax suburb. Suddenly you're aware of passers-by ducking into doorways and diving behind walls, as a massive creature ambles up your street. It's not every day a Canadian Grizzly bear eats the top off your dahlias. 

The beast had escaped from Halifax Zoo - an extraordinary attraction that kept townsfolk amused 100 years ago - and strolled around Siddal before finally being caught in Copley Woods.

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There are no marauding bears in town on a chilly lunchtime, just a Meandering one. Michael Ainsworth along with his wife Jess and lifelong friend Andrew Murphy opened this cool new bar last September and its gone from strength to strength.

It's a stylish, sophisticated space with comfy sofas, designer lighting and cool tunes on the stereo. The choice of beer is stellar- Michael actively curates the list and is keen to keep it different to anywhere else in town. A well thought through wine list comes courtesy of Cellar Select and there's a decent cafetière of coffee to be had. Ainsworth's also committed to working with local independent producers and suppliers wherever possible.

If you're lucky you might catch some live jazz and the odd DJ night. But no bears".

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