A popular Stockport pub known as “one of the best and most renowned” in the area is sadly facing demolition.
Despite being named CAMRA’s pub of the year in 2007, and being regularly featured in its national Good Beer Guide, The Railway, in the Portwood area of Stockport, is unfortunately facing demolition after plans for a new store were backed for approval.
It’s been a long time coming since permission was granted for the pub’s demolition 15 years ago, but it appears like time could finally be up for the much-loved boozer.
Planning chiefs have recommended that councillors sign off on a scheme that will also see the nearby Carpetright store levelled.
Developers Morbaine Ltd – who bought the half-acre sight back in 2006 – wants to knock down the two buildings to make way for a new retail unit, which would providing 1472 sq m of floorspace that is split between the ground floor and a mezzanine level.
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The firm said it had always intended to demolish the pub, as it was “in very poor condition” and is now “beyond economic repair”.
Around a dozen objections have however been lodged against the application.
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Opponents include the chairman of Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA, and local Councillor Will Dawson – who said in a written representation to Stockport Council that The Railway has been “the bedrock of the recent revival of the Stockport pub and real ale scene”
“I am deeply concerned about the loss of one of the best, and most renowned pubs in Stockport – with significant social and cultural benefits to the community – to be replaced by another unnecessary retail unit,” he added.
Councillor Dawson also claims there are already “dozens of empty retail units” in the town centre, and that “technological and societal shifts” coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic make the scheme “a risky venture”.
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He has also queried whether the planning permission from 2005 is still valid.
A report that’s set to go before Stockport Council’s planning committee on Thursday night advises panel members that the strength of the applicant’s fall-back position is “overwhelming”, and that only “very limited” weight should be given to the loss of the pub – which should not be the key factor when it comes to deciding whether to grant planning permission.
The plans state vehicle access to the site would be from the Great Portwood Street roundabout and there would be 28 car parking spaces – including four disabled bays and four electric vehicle-charging spaces – as well as a further eight covered cycle spaces and two motorcycle bays.
A pedestrian route across the site from Great Portwood Street to Brewery Street would also be provided in the scheme, as currently none exists.
The planning committee is recommended to grant planning permission subject to conditions and the developer agreeing a £9,500 payment to fund traffic regulation orders on Great Portwood Street, Avenue Street, Brewery Street and Richard Street.
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Stockport Council’s Planning and Highways committee meets on Thursday evening (19 August).
Man replicates Manchester pizza restaurant’s loo in his own home
Daisy Jackson
A man has fallen so in love with the loos at a Manchester pizza restaurant that he’s recreated it in his own home.
Yep, while most of us spend our time trawling Pinterest or Instagram for our interiors inspiration, local Matt Hatt got his inspo on a trip to the toilet in town.
He was so obsessed with Nell’s vibrant orange bathroom interiors that he’s now created his very own cookie cutter version in his own house.
And Nell’s has been so impressed, they’ve even got stuck in to lend a hand with the finishing touches.
We are totally on board with Matt’s appreciation for a good restaurant loo – you can spend all the money in the world fitting out a dining room, but it really can fall apart if you head to a toilet with a wonky seat or a door that doesn’t shut or hideous fluorescent lighting.
Thankfully you don’t find too many of those around town these days.
From the ultra-luxury bogs around Spinningfields to the cheeky nude-covered toilets in the Northern Quarter, Manchester has a load of brilliant restaurant loos to explore.
The loos at Nell’s Pizza in Manchester. Credit: Nell’sMatt Hatt’s recreation of the Nell’s loo in his own home. Credit: Instagram @hattathome
One of the best is Nell’s, the New York-style pizza joint down at Kampus, which is painted a vibrant shade of orange.
Matt has nailed that bright toilet decor in his Victorian home in Manchester, down to the white subway tiles, the rounded wall mirrors, and the globe light fixture.
He even slid into Nell’s DMs to let them know about his project, and they offered to give him a branded pizza box, which Matt framed and hung on the wall.
Sharing his inspiration in a video filmed at Nell’s, Matt said: “If you’ve never been in a men’s toilet before, welcome. This is Nell’s Pizza in Manchester and this is the inspiration for our downstairs loo. Isn’t it fab?
Electrik Bar in Chorlton is giving away 100 FREE frankfurters to celebrate their latest kitchen collab
Danny Jones
We all love a freebie, so we thought we’d spread the good word of the scran lords by letting you know that Electrik over in Chorlton is giving away 100 free frankfurters to celebrate their newest menu takeover.
The popular neighbourhood bar and kitchen on Wilbraham Road in the South Manchester suburb has had a couple of different foodie collaborations over the past couple of years, with local residents Paramogeddon and Four Side Vegan Pizza being the most recent, but now they’re doing hot dogs.
Welcoming their latest vendors Tisch Und Teller, Electrik will be giving away a total of 100 free frankfurters to the first century of people there this evening.
Bringing a taste of Berlin, Bavaria, Frankfurt and more (with a Manc twist, of course) to the popular pub for the Thursday launch party, all you need to do is order a drink upon arrival to get your hands on a free frankfurter sandwiched between a lovely fluffy roll.
Who doesn’t love a hot dog? Especially when they’re giving them away.
As for Tisch Und Teller (TuT), they’ve been serving up German-inspired favourites from the likes of The Shakespeare in Manchester city centre and Nip and Tipple in Whalley Range since September last year, including some very impressive brunches and Sunday roasts.
But the brand just keeps gaining more traction and now they’re setting up shop in Electrik, we’re sure the word will continue to spread – and fast.
Better still, as advertised on the promo poster, not only will TuT now be serving up their delicious food from Electrik every Thursday-Sunday for the foreseeable but the launch party will also live music by local legend and DJing veteran, Abigail Ward of Ghost Assembly.
Free food, pints and top tunes – what more could you ask for on a random weeknight?
The offer will be available from 6pm tonight and, once again, you have to be among the first 100 people to buy a pint to be eligible for a free frankfurter.