Manchester’s first ever Scottish-Indian restaurant has closed the doors at its Chorlton home, owners have announced.
A fixture in the South Manchester suburb for the past two and a half years, Roti has made quite a name for itself with out-there fusion dishes like Indian-spiced Scotch eggs, haggis pakoras, cheese and onion bhajis, mince and tatties, and curried aloo and chickpea-filled roti ‘chip butty’.
But despite its popularity, bosses revealed today that they have made the decision not to extend their lease in Chorlton and ‘will not be reopening’ their doors.
Breaking the news in a post shared on Roti’s Instagram, the team thanked everyone that had visited and supported their business over the past few years.
An Indian twist on fish and chips. Fresh Panga fried in Roti gram flour batter with fluffy masala potatoes + curried chickpeas ‘mushy peas’. / Image: Roti
Deep-fried Mars Bar in Chana spiced batter with ice cream. / Image: Roti
Adding that Chorlton is a ‘special place’, they hinted that they could be back in the future: writing they will be focusing on their Sale restaurant for now and hope to open a new site ‘when the time is right.’
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Roti opened its second site in Sale’s Stanley Square last summer whilst many eateries were battening down the hatches, so to speak.
Inspired to expand after building up a loyal following of takeaway customers in Chorlton during lockdown, the restaurant – described as ‘not your average Indian joint’ – moved into the newly refurbished Sale shopping precinct in 2021.
Joining hospitality heavy hitters like Rudy’s, Greens, Sugo Pasta Kitchen, alongside fellow Chorlton favourite The Oystercatcher, it arrived in the new foodie neighbourhood with a bang last year to rave reviews.
But now it seems that, like many other small businesses, it’s having to make tough calls to ensure its long-term future.
The full post announcing the Chorlton restaurant’s closure read: “See you again Chorlton… Our time in Chorlton has come to an end for now. We’d like to thank each and everyone one of you who visited and supported us over the past 2.5 years, especially during the harder times.
“We have decided not to extend our lease in Chorlton, focus on Sale during this tough time and look to open a new site when the time is right.
“And who knows… We may return! Take care Chorlton.”
Throughout January, owners will be running a number of dining deals at the Sale site including ‘Tiffins for a tenner’ and a ‘dine and drink for fifteen’ offer. To find out more and book a table in Sale, visit the Roti website here.
NHS launches new AI and robot cancer detection pilot offering ‘glimpse into future’
Emily Sergeant
The NHS has launched a ‘trailblazing’ new AI and robot pilot to help spot cancers sooner.
Patients who are facing suspected lung cancer could get answers sooner under the new pilot that makes use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology to help doctors reach hard-to-detect cancers earlier, and all without with fewer tests too.
At the moment, patients are faced with weeks of repeat scans and procedures to come to a diagnosis.
But this could soon be replaced with a single, half-hour cancer biopsy – reducing prolonged uncertainty, and avoiding more invasive surgery.
According to the NHS, the new approach uses AI software to rapidly analyse lung scans and flag small lumps that are most likely to be cancerous, before a robotic camera is then used to guide biopsy tools through the airways with much greater precision than standard techniques.
A new NHS pilot using AI and robotic technology will help doctors reach hard-to-detect lung cancers earlier.
Weeks of scans and procedures could be replaced with a single biopsy, reducing uncertainty and avoiding more invasive surgery.
The robot can reach nodules as small as 6mm – which is around the size of a grain of rice – that are hidden deep in the lung and are often deemed too risky or difficult to access using existing methods, and once AI has highlighted higher-risk areas, doctors can then take a precise tissue sample, which is sent to specialist laboratories and reviewed by expert cancer teams to confirm or rule out cancer.
The NHS’s top cancer doctor hailed the pilot – which is currently being carried out at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust – as ‘a glimpse of the future of cancer detection’.
“Waiting to find out if you might have cancer is incredibly stressful for patients and their families,” admitted Professor Peter Johnson, who is NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Cancer.
The NHS has launched a new AI and robot cancer detection pilot that’s offering a ‘glimpse into future’ / Credit: rawpixel
“Our lung cancer screening programme means that we are picking up more cancers at an early stage than ever, and by bringing AI and robotics together in this trailblazing NHS pilot, we’re bringing in the very latest technology to give clinicians a clearer look inside the lungs and support faster, more accurate biopsies.
“This is a glimpse of the future of cancer detection.
“Innovation like this is exactly how we can help diagnose more cancers faster, so treatment can be most effective, and why the NHS continues to lead the way in bringing new technology safely into frontline care.”
If successful, the pilot will help the NHS to generate evidence to develop a national commissioning policy for robotic bronchoscopy.
It will also support more consistent access to the technology across the NHS in future.
Featured Image – Tima Miroshnichenko (via Pexels)
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Chester Zoo announces new spring date for its popular running event to help UK wildlife
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has announced that its popular Run For Nature is back again this year, and this time, there’s a new spring edition.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo seen success with this event in the past few years, with thousands of runners signing up for one of the North West’s most unique athletic experiences and all funds raised going towards efforts to protect highly-endangered giraffes in Africa.
This year though, the much-loved event’s focus brings conservation ‘a little closer to home’ and will protect some of the UK’s most threatened species instead – with all funds helping to safeguard hedgehogs, kingfishers, otters, harvest mice, and more.
It comes as the UK is currently considered one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth.
Participants will first get to wind through the zoo and enjoy glimpses of elephants, lemurs, and other incredible species along the way, before heading out into the picturesque Cheshire countryside.
Adults can choose from a 10K or 5K route, while younger runners are invited to take part in a one-mile ‘Zoom’ race, open to children aged four-15, which takes place entirely within the zoo’s incredible 130-acre grounds.
All runners will receive free entry to the zoo for the rest of the day as part of their registration, along with a 25% discount for friends and family who come along to show support.
Chester Zoo’s popular 10K charity run is returns with a new spring date / Credit: Chester Zoo
Lorraine Jubb, who is the Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, called the Run For Nature a ‘really special event’.
“In previous years, runners have already supported conservation efforts for Asian elephants, Eastern black rhinos and Northern giraffe,” she explained. This springtime though, we’re turning our attention much closer to home in the UK, and to the wildlife we share our gardens, parks and countryside with.
“With one in six species now at risk of extinction in the UK, every runner will be playing a vital role in helping us protect animals and supporting our growing nature recovery work across right across Cheshire.
Georgina Pellant -
10th January 2023 
