Manchester hospitality bosses to go head-to-head in DJ battle against food poverty
Charity fundraiser Too Many Owners will bring together owners from Flawd, Junior Jacksons, Common, Albert's Schloss, PKB and more for the ultimate hospitality soundclash.
A number of Manchester’s best-known hospitality bosses will go head to head in a DJ battle at Tariff and Dale next week to help raise funds for food poverty organisation Eat Well MCR ahead of Christmas.
Taking place on Wednesday, 17 November, Too Many Owners will see bar and restaurant owners from a number of popular venues in the city take to the decks – pulling out their ultimate party selections in a head-to-head battle.
The event will see the likes of Junior Jackson’s owner Lyndon Higginson face off against Ancoats wine bar Flawd co-owner Richard Cossins, Ramona and The Firehouse’s Andy Windsor, and Johnny Heyes of Nell’s / Common / Port Street Beer House.
Lyndon Higginson (Junior Jackson’s, WATD, Cane & Grain, Crazy Pedro’s, The Bay Horse Tavern etc) pictured with Eco Spirit Global’s Zdenek Kastanek / Image: nomadicecospirit
Also due to be taking part in the Dj battle is Mark Flanagan and Jon Wilkin (PKB), Neil Macleod & James Plant (Albert’s Schloss), Matty Farrell (Salt Dog Slims), James Bates & Dom Jones (Maray), Tom Coates / Jake Burger (Portobello Road Distillery), David Fox (Tampopo), and Nick De Sousa (Tariff and Dale / The Lead Station).
In previous years, the way the battle has works is there have been several rounds – the first focused on showcasing ‘skills’ in which each owner is given a ten-minute set in which they can play whatever they like. This is then followed by a face-off with the crowd, that sees each owner play single tracks in a bid to qualify for the final.
Image: Eat Well MCR
In the ultimate final round, owners have then gone back to back as they try to show off their best mixing and selection skills. They’re not always very good, but the event pretty much guarantees everyone gets a good laugh.
It’s all taking place in aid of Eat Well MCR, which works with vulnerable residents in the city to eradicate food poverty and provide healthy, nutritious meals to people in need.
Working with chefs in various restaurants around the city, Eat Well MCR brings in donated food that would otherwise go to waste, and from that partnering restaurants create top quality meals for people sidelined by poverty.
Image: Eat Well MCR
Image: Eat Well MCR
The collective of Manchester chefs and hospitality professionals has prepared and delivered over 50,000 meals to people facing challenging circumstances in Greater Manchester since April 2020.
Kicking off from 7 pm at Tariff and Dale in Manchester’s northern quarter and running until 11.30 pm, the event will be sponsored by a host of different drinks companies including Edrington Beam, Suntory, Bacardi, Hammonds / Naud Distillery, Mangrove, Ten Locks, Boutinot Wines, Brown Forman.
Fingers crossed that means there’ll be some decent drink offers going around on the night.
Tickets are priced at £16.76 each, with all proceeds donated to Eat Well MCR and grab yours here.
Featured Image – Tariff and Dale
Manchester
A huge record fair is coming to Manchester city centre this bank holiday
Thomas Melia
There’s a record fair making its way to Manchester next weekend, and it’s taking over one of Manchester’s iconic live music venues.
Record lovers and music fanatics this one’s for you.
Whether you’re after growing your own record collection back home, or showing off your DJ skills, this event has everything you could ever ask for.
The Very Good Plus record fair is arriving in Manchester city centre, and it’s coming to none other than independent live music venue, New Century.
You’ll be able to browse through some of the best vinyl in the region and hopefully spot some releases by some of your musical icons.
There’s even family-friendly stations which give little ones and grown-ups alike the chance to try their hand at making and designing their own record sleeve, as well as getting stuck in with a screen-printing workshop.
A record fair event is taking place at Manchester music venue New Century and NOMA this bank holiday / Credit: The Manc Group
If you cant find any LPs you’re after, you’ll definitely find a caffeinated drink or two at Sadler’s Yard and even have a go at creating your own track on the open decks.
There will be a variety of food and drink options, as well as some food for the soul too, thanks to an array of DJ sets running until the evening courtesy of Ded Luvly on a Pulp Coffee sound system.
Live music lovers can rejoice as just for this record fair event, they’ll be able to roam around this huge gig space and if you head downstairs there’ll be a DJ workshop and sound system experience taking place.
This music-oriented event is a collaboration between iconic music venue New Century, city centre neighbourhood NOMA, and DJ and music aficionado, Living Room Dance Club.
So get ready to dig through the crates, create a few demos of your own, design an album cover or two and enrich yourself in all things music because this event has it all.
The Very Good Plus record fair is coming to NOMA and New Century in Manchester on Saturday 23 August from 11am until 6pm, and it’s completely free – apart from all the money you spend on some good quality vinyl, of course.
Featured Images – Jamakassi via Unsplash/ Phillip Blocker via Unsplash
Manchester
Award-winning Northern Quarter cafe and brunch spot announces shock closure
Daisy Jackson
Another Heart to Feed, an award-winning coffee shop and brunch favourite in the Northern Quarter, has stunned Mancs with the news of their closure.
The popular spot on Hilton Street has been operating in the heart of the neighbourhood since 2020, serving dishes like Turkish eggs, breakfast buns, and French toast.
By night, it transformed into a natural wine bar, with great cocktails too.
Before it moved to the Northern Quarter, Another Heart to Feed started life as a cosy Australian-style cafe over on Chapel Street in Salford.
It’s been a much-loved name on the city’s brunch circuit and last year was crowned Coffee Shop of the Year at the Manchester Food and Drink Awards.
But despite all that success, and regularly having queues around the block, Another Heart to Feed is closing for good.
They said they ‘have not been immune’ to the challenges that have been beating the hospitality industry to a pulp, despite appearing to be a real local success story.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Another Heart to Feed said: “Rather than run a risk of letting our brilliant staff and suppliers down we have decided to call it a day.”
The team thanked everyone who has visited the cafe over the years, as well as the past and present team.
Another Heart to Feed in the Northern QuarterAs well as coffee, Another Heart to Feed was known for its wines
They then announced that a new operator is already teed up to move into the space.
Another Heart to Feed’s full statement reads: “Unfortunately, we have to announce that Another Heart to Feed will be no longer operating in the Northern Quarter as of the 1st of September.
“The past 18 months have been incredibly tough. We have not been immune to the many real challenges that hospitality businesses are facing at the moment and rather than run a risk of letting our brilliant staff and suppliers down we have decided to call it a day.
“We want to thank everyone who has visited us over the years, whether that was in the early days in Salford, on Burton Road in Didsbury or at our place in the Northern Quarter. It’s been so great being involved in a place that has brought people together the way AHTF has.
“To our team, past and present, thank you so much for all your hard work. You were the essence of the business and it was a pleasure to work with you.
“A new operator will be moving into the site and we wish them every success, please go and support them!”
Georgina Pellant -
11th November 2021 
