A massive 20ft golden statue of a naked man that has stood proudly – but somewhat bizarrely – in a car park in Wigan has now been removed.
Anyone travelling through Ince over this past year has probably found themselves looking twice and clocking eyes at what is undeniably one of the town’s more striking and unusual sights – and then promptly questioning what the heck it is, and why it’s even there.
We’re talking about that massive golden statue of a naked man in a car park, of course.
Well, the eye-catching statue itself was used actually used to promote the massive Hollywood blockbuster Gladiator all the way back in 2000, but after that, it was sold and brought to the borough several years ago.
The statue was eventually placed in the car park of Grants Bulldog Forge earlier this year, but despite becoming a popular attraction in the town and winning-over lots of locals, Wigan Today has reported that it has been removed this week on what was described as a “sad day”.
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It was moved amid claims the shop and landlord were advised to do so by Wigan Council following “too many complaints” about it.
“We’ve had to remove it,” store owner Grant Adamson told Wigan Today.
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“Wigan Council didn’t like it, they said they’ve had too many complaints about it. We had one lad come in and tell us it was obscene, but if you go on our Facebook page where we’ve posted about it, they’re all on about petitions to bring it back.
“People just laugh at it, it’s just a talking point.”
Mr Adamson said the statue had been “good for the shop as a landmark”, and he believes that overall, it has “got a good response” from people, so “it’s a shame really” that it had to be removed.
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“It’s a sad day – but I’m sure we’ll see him again somewhere,” he concluded.
Massive golden statue of naked man removed from Wigan car park after complaints / Credit: Grant’s Bulldog Forge (via Facebook)
Confirming that the statue had been removed and providing an explanation as to why, a spokesperson for Wigan Council said: “The statue has been removed very recently, and so the Council is now reviewing its next steps in line with its normal processes.”
They added that the Council has been “liaising with the landowner as regards to the need for the relevant planning permission for the statue”.
Will we see the golden guy return any time soon then? We’ll just have to wait and see.
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Drinks prices revealed as Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub opens inside T2
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… Manchester Airport’s first-ever JD Wetherspoon pub has officially opened its doors inside Terminal 2.
The 300-seater pub – which welcomed its first customers earlier this week – is named The Belle Vue after Manchester’s historic showground.
Throughout the pub, you’ll spot design features that nod to the city’s sporting heritage – including vintage event posters and memorabilia, a ‘locker wall’ hosting trophies and other sporting exhibits, and a cricket-themed design in the carpets and bar panels.
Creating around 150 jobs in the process, The Belle Vue is the final planned new eatery to open in the airport’s redeveloped Terminal 2, marking one of the final steps in the super-terminal’s decade-long, £1.5bn transformation.
Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub has opened inside Terminal 2 / Credit: Supplied
According to the MEN, pints are priced from £6.20 for Carling and Coors lager, £6.45 for Budweiser, £6.60 for Guinness, and £6.70 for Poretti and 1664 Biere.
Prosecco is £9.20 for 175ml glass and £37.10 for the full bottle, while spirts and mixers are £6.80 for singles and £10.20 for doubles.
There’s also the classic Wetherspoons tea and coffee machines, where you can refill as many times as you like for just £3.60.
“It’s a proud moment to see the final new retail unit opening in our new-look Terminal 2,” commented Richard Jackson, who is the Retail Director at Manchester Airport.
“To be rounding off this 10-year programme by adding such an iconic name as Wetherspoon to the terminal is particularly special and we know that it will prove extremely popular with passengers. We think they’ll love the nods to Manchester’s heritage in the décor and design – and of course the name.”
The Belle Vue will be open from the first flight to the final flight each day, and food will be served from opening until 10pm.
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Iconic Manc movie 24 Hour Party People is set to return to cinemas for its anniversary
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most iconic movies is set to return to the big screen next month.
Remastered in 4K and returning to UK cinemas to mark 24 years since its original release, Michael Winterbottom’s 2002 biographical comedy drama film, 24 Hour Party People, tells the story of Manchester‘s popular music community from 1976 to 1992 – specifically about Factory Records‘ founder Tony Wilson.
The film begins with the punk rock era of the late 1970s, before moving through the 1980s into the rave and DJ culture, and of course, the ‘Madchester‘ scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The narrative largely follows the career of Tony Wilson, played by Middleton-born actor Steve Coogan, while also covering the careers of the major Factory Records artists – especially Joy Division and New Order, as well as A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, and Happy Mondays.
If you haven’t seen 24 Hour Party People before, it’s a dramatisation based on a combination of real events, rumours, and urban legends, as the film is sure to make clear.
Coogan is joined by a cast by a mixture of big names and, at the time, rising stars like Paddy Considine, Shirley Henderson, Lennie James, John Simm, Ralf Little, Andy Serkis, Sean Harris, John Thomson, and even Peter Kay, alongside cameos from other figures connected to the Manchester music scene.
Before it returns to cinemas, the film will first open music and media festival/conference, Beyond The Music, at MediaCity in Salford on 6 October.
The screening at the festival will also be followed by a Q&A with Coogan, Winterbottom, and producer Andrew Eaton.
24 Hour Party People will then be re-released in UK cinemas from 9 October, and you can check your local cinema for screening times and book tickets online now.
Emily Sergeant -
14th October 2022 
