Popular South African-inspired restaurant bar Chakalaka NQ has sadly been broken in to over the weekend.
The much-loved independent Northern Quarter hangout – which is known for its eclectic food and drinks menu, and is the only true South African bar and kitchen in Manchester – has seen property damaged and windows smashed during the abhorrent act at its premises on Oldham Street.
The incident is believed to have taken place overnight on Sunday/Monday.
At what is a time of much uncertainty for the hospitality sector as a result of the localised restrictions already in place in Greater Manchester, and in light of what may be announced by the government later today, an act such as this is something we are truly disgusted to see.
To make matters worse, this is not an isolated incident either and comes after a series of recent break-ins at locations in and around the city centre, including a similar incident at independent Ancoats Chinese restaurant Blue Eyed Panda earlier this month.
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It’s clear that hospitality in Manchester needs us more than ever right now.
Our friends @ChakalakaNq were broken into last night. This is one of several hospitality break ins in recent weeks in Manchester city centre. Are these people not going through enough right now? Disgusting behaviour! pic.twitter.com/0Ad3MnRuK2
Taking to social media to share the news of the devastating break in, Chakalaka NQ said: “Gutted this morning to wake up to see we’ve been broken into last night. Fortunately no one was harmed, but it’s rubbish to see this happening, especially in times like this when the hospitality industry is already struggling.
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It continued: We’ll be closed for today, but hope to be up and running again soon… We’ll keep you posted,
Chakalaka NQ has confirmed that while the break in “was awful to see” and it is forced to remain closed for today, it’ll be “back making some banging sausage soon enough”.
That’s what we like to hear.
To do your bit and get behind this local independent business at a time when it really needs it most, you can make a dine-in reservation in advance, or place an order for takeaway via the Chakalaka NQ website here.
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and current local lockdown restrictions, Chakalaka NQ is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 5pm to 10pm, Saturday from 12pm to 10pm, and on Sunday from 4pm – 10pm.
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Both dine-in and takeaway services with Deliveroo and Uber Eats are available.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have taken its toll on industries of all shapes and sizes over these past few months, but supporting local/independent business has never been more important than it is right now.
The Manc is #BuzzingToBeBack – find out more about eats in Manchester here.
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Sir Ian McKellen pays emotional tribute to long-time friend and fellow northern actor Sir Patrick Stewart
Emily Sergeant
Sir Ian McKellen has paid an emotional tribute to his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Patrick Stewart, following his death.
Sir Patrick Stewart – who was born and bred in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, and is best-known for his theatre work alongside an illustrious 60-year screen career, taking on prominent roles in franchises such as Star Trek and X-Men – sadly passed away at the age of 86, with his death being announced publicly yesterday evening (29 October).
And now, his long-time friend and fellow northern actor, Sir Ian McKellen, has paid tribute.
Sir Patrick and Sir Ian shared the stage together countless times over their decades-long careers, but also famously starred alongside each other in the X-Men franchise, and subsequent Marvel movies, as Charles Xavier/Professor X and Magneto.
The tribute, shared across Sir Ian’s social media platforms, reads: “Before everything else, Patrick was defined by being born and bred in Yorkshire, the proud county in the north of England which he loved to the end. You could hear it in his accented voice and in the stern honesty with which he told you what he thought and felt. Yorkshiremen have no truck with half-truths or avoidance of big issues. He wore his heart on his sleeve, which made him a man to rely on, to admire and in my case, love.
“We first met as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago but we weren’t in the same productions.
“My first strong memory was a few years later, meeting him in the street in central London when he told me about an offer to take over a leading part in ‘Star Trek’. “But Patrick think of your stage career in the UK. Do you really want to risk getting lost in Hollywood for years and years?”
“Well, he took the risk and thank goodness for us all that he did, for not just his devoted Trekkies, but film and theatre audiences who marvelled at his using international celebrity to star in a string of cinema successes (‘X-Men’ of course) and in great classical plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Peter Shaffer, Pinter and Beckett at Stratford-upon-Avon, in London’s West End and on Broadway.
“America was his adopted home, where he met his adored Sunny who has cared for him through sickness and health, through thick and thin.
“But he never forsook his origins: and the proudest achievement of the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic, was his appointment as Chancellor of Huddersfield University in Yorkshire.”
Sir Patrick Stewart’s farewell performance will be in Avengers: Doomsday, which is being released in UK cinemas on 18 December 2026
Featured Image – Gage Skidmore (via Flickr)
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Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets this Bonfire Night
Emily Sergeant
Classic FM will be back playing calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks season.
Bonfire Night may be loved by us humans for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that come along with it… but sadly, the November holiday isn’t quite so fun for our four-legged friends.
Loud bangs, flashing lights, and unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives are just some of the reasons why fireworks are frightening to pets.
Not only that, but with multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays across this time of year, pets are rarely able to pinpoint when and where the booming explosions are coming from, therefore creating even more anxiety around this time of year.
Classic FM will play calming music for anxious pets during this year’s fireworks / Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST (via Unsplash)
Which is why, for the ninth year running now, Classic FM is once again teaming up with the RSPCA for two Pet Classics programmes packed with ‘the most soothing and comforting classical music’.
The music has been handpicked to help calm and settle any anxious pets.
A survey by the RSPCA revealed that almost two-thirds (63%) of animal owners reported their pet was distressed during fireworks season, and that playing relaxing music was the most common way (36%) to help calm or prepare their animal.
Presenters Dan Walker, Aled Jones, and Dawn O’Porter will each host a night of the specially created programme to help keep the nation’s pets calm through the whizzes and bangs.
Dan will present the first programme on Bonfire Night itself (Thursday 5 November), and then as celebrations continue throughout the weekend, Aled will be on hand to bring some peace to Friday 6 November, and Dawn picks up the baton on Saturday 7 November.
Emily Sergeant -
12th October 2020 
