Magnum Opus

Magnum Opus

The fictional restaurant Magnum Opus is located at the centre of Lancaster in 2450AD.

Colourful Impressionist style painting of an posh restaurant with predominantly grey granite stone work, Outside there are small round tables with two seats each. Through the double doors and two window a brightly lit interior shows tables prepared with white table cloths and wine glasses. Three windows on the first floor are lit, but the interior is obscure. Outside two carriage lanterns flank the front door. Colourful flowers are arranged in copper planters and two hanging baskets. The blackboard is headed Today's Specials with a little obfuscated text lower down. The rustic pavement consists of grey flagstones. Above the door in decorative raised stone. the name of Magnum Opus is written Roman style MAGNVM OPVS.

Magnum Opus is like a café during daytime hours, and more like a restaurant in the evenings. It’s wide doors with their full height windows reveal that the interior retains the same bare, granite stone walls as the exterior. It feels cool, even at the height of summer. The two classic carriage lanterns, mounted high on the wall at the entrance suggest a quiet grandeur, and a welcoming sense of place. Clever combinations of grey and silver in the stonework, in the wooden door frames, and in the lanterns, hint at the refinement to be found within.

This is HayWire’s favourite retreat. Calm, tranquil, and a little bit pricey when compared to the other cafés, though that’s because it’s smaller than most, and it needs to make its profit from fewer customers. Run by Honoria Concordia (Honey) and her husband Tiberius (Tigger), it’s a sophisticated place for special occasions.

When NutJob and KristalClear visit for their first romantic dinner it transpires that there’s a lot more going on than just good food. There are some unexpected yet familiar faces.

“I’ve got goosebumps!” says NutJob, “my goosebumps have got goosebumps!”

“This is a proper little love nest here,” declares KristalClear, “we’re going to have to come here regularly. Honey surely knows all the cosy alliances in Lancaster!”