For those who missed it, last week a bakery in Yorkshire went viral after its owner clapped back at a request to provide more than 100 cakes for free to a Mancunian celebrity.
Yorkshire baker Rebecca Severs received the request from a PR company, who said they were working for a ‘well-known’ local celebrity who was about to celebrate their 40th birthday.
The publicist said that payment ‘would be made in the form of promotion on their socials with over 700k followers, as well as OK Magazine’, adding: ‘they will be crediting all the suppliers on this platform.’
The message continued: “The party has a guest lists full of celebrities, and industry people from tv / film and music, so loads of work would come from it.
“NVRLAND would also use you for our future events and parties.”
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However, Rebecca, who has been running her Three Little Birds Bakery in Keighley for seven years, turned the offer down.
She has since been praised for her snappy reply, which told the publicist they ‘do have availability for your date’, before adding: “I’m so sorry to hear that your client has fallen on such hard times they can’t afford to pay small businesses for their products.”
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Image: Catherine Tyldesley
Image: Three Little Birds Bakery
That celebrity was later revealed to be none other than ex-Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley, who then took to her own personal Instagram to defend her publicist’s request – saying: “I mean, I hope the cake lady got the exposure she was craving.”
The bakery has since revealed that it has been inundated with ‘vile’ abuse after going viral, sharing messages in which a person called the owner an ‘entitled millennial’ and told her she ‘deserve[s] to go bankrupt.’
Taking to Facebook to share another update to the ongoing drama, first branded cake gate by Tyldesley in an exasperated video filmed from her car, the bakery joked: “Sounds like someone might need some cake. Even if it is Keighley cake.”
They then shared a series of screen shots of some of the abusive messages the business had received, in which one person tells them they are really ‘thick AF’ before asking: “You think you can go public about a legitimate business offer that you don’t like the sound of, and now play victim?”
The message thread continued with a series of laughing crying faces, before the person added: “You deserve to go bankrupt. Entitled millennial. You’ll learn the hard way.”
Further screenshots showed messages in which the baker was told they were ‘Simple MFs’ who are “so out of your depth it’s f*cking hilarious.”
The individual also shared a link to a BBC article covering the story entitled ‘Ex-Coronation Street star and baker in social media cake row” within the abusive message thread.
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Still, despite the keyboard warrior aggression coming from one loyal Coronation Street fan for the most part it appears that people are once again on the side of Three Little Birds bakery, with fans quick to comment their support on a post that has been liked over 1,500 times.
One person commented: “I don’t know what to say … er well I hope Angry Man gets the attention he’s craving! Oh hang on, that sounds familiar. I love Keighley cake especially yours.”
Another fan said: “Why do people think it’s appropriate to speak to others like this behind a screen? Your response was perfect. You have been dignified and professional. Everyone in keighley supports you and your beautiful business and family.”
A third added: “You deserve all that follows” maybe they meant all your new followers you definitely deserve them.”
Featured image – Three Little Birds Bakery
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Luxury £125-a-month Manchester gym Zeno Health Club suddenly shuts down
Daisy Jackson
One of Manchester’s premium fitness facilities, Zeno Health Club, appears to have suddenly shut down.
The luxury £125-a-month gym, formerly known as Hero Training Clubs, sent an ‘urgent’ note to members late last night, saying the club is closed ‘until further notice’.
They then added: “We do not anticipate it reopening.”
The gym has promptly deleted its entire social media history.
Several of the trainers who lead the classes at Zeno Health Club have now shared their own updates and statements regarding the gym’s closure, expressing their heartbreak.
Zeno Health Clubs, located at the foot of Moda Angel Gardens, was split into four premium fitness areas, including a state-of-the-art weights room which held group PT and weightlifting sessions.
The gym also had a spin studio, an open gym with Hyrox and boxing facilities, and a pilates and yoga studio.
In the note sent to members, they said: “Please be advised that the club is closed tomorrow until further notice. We do not anticipate it reopening.
“A further communication update will follow on Thursday 23rd October. We apoligise for any inconvenience.”
Zeno Health Club in Manchester has shut down. Credit: The Manc GroupThe spin studio at Zeno Health Club. Credit: The Manc Group
Head coach Adam North shared: “This evening has been an incredible hard evening. I have put my heart and soul into zeno and from me I am sorry it’s the end of this chapter.
“I will respond to people in time and I understand there will be many questions. When I know anything I will answer them.
“But for now please be kind and rember people have potentially lost their livelihoods, passions and purpose.
“My love to all the zeno members past and today. Just know this isn’t the end from me.”
And another coach, Holli, said: “I do not have the words to express my heart break. I have tried to write this so many times and failed.
Zeno Health Club boxing. Credit: The Manc GroupThe spin studio at Zeno Health Club. Credit: The Manc Group
“But thank you for the most incredible 4 years. The friends, the community, the love, the support, the confidence I have gained will never go unnoticed, or unappreciated. You all have my heart and soul.
“Despite, what you may have to say, or think, please remeber people like myself have lost their job, their livelihoods, where they run their business. Everything they’ve built. please PLEASE be kind in your words.
“What I will say though, please hold onto some hope. Because this journey isn’t over. My hero and Zeno people, from the beginning to now. This family isn’t over. I’m working hard behind the scenes…. And a new door is about to be opened.”
The news comes just months after the shock closure of Blok, a similarly popular fitness and pilates studio across town.
The Manc has attempted to approach Zeno Health Club for comment, but the club has shut down its email accounts and social media.
It’s not yet known what will happen to members who have paid for up-front memberships.
Pizza Hut releases list of 68 branches set to close – including several in Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Pizza Hut has published its list of 68 restaurants that are set to close their doors, and includes several in Greater Manchester.
In case you missed the announcement earlier this week, Pizza Hut confirmed that it had entered into administration, and DC London Pie – the firm running the once-popular chain’s restaurants in the UK – had appointed administrators from corporate finance firm, FTI.
Since its start, Pizza Hut has always been known and loved for its family-friendly dining, particularly its popular pizza buffet, salad bar, and ice cream machine.
But business in the UK has been struggling for the chain for a while, and it had previously gone into administration less than a year ago, but that was when DC London Pie stepped in and saved the chain’s restaurants from insolvency.
Now though, some 1,210 people are due to be made redundant as 68 Pizza Hut restaurants close down.
Pizza Hut has released its list of 68 branches set to close their doors / Credit: Alan Hardman (via Unsplash)
Branches in Bolton, Tameside, Oldham, and Rochdale are among the locations in Greater Manchester set to close their doors, as well as several others in the North West like Liverpool, Preston, and Lancaster, and even major capital cities like Edinburgh and Cardiff.
11 delivery outlets are also set to close, which do not have indoor dining seating – however none of these are in Greater Manchester.
Luckily, a total of 64 branches have been saved as part of a rescue deal by American hospitality giant Yum! Brands, which owns the global Pizza Hut business.
Yum! Brands said it had bought the UK restaurant operation in a pre-pack administration deal, and the rescue has secured the future of 1,276 workers.
Full list of Pizza Hut locations set to close
Ashton-under-Lyne
Beckton
Bolton
Bournemouth
Bradford, Vicar Lane
Brighton, Marina
Bristol
Cardiff
Carlisle
Chatham
Clacton
Cortonwood
Crawley
Cribbs Causeway
Croydon
Dudley
Dundee
Durham City
Eastbourne
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Fountain Park
Edinburgh, Kinnaird Park
Enfield
Falkirk
Feltham
Finchley, Lido
Great Yarmouth
Greenwich
Grimsby
Hartlepool
Hayes
Hereford
Huddersfield
Hull
Inverness
Kettering
Kidderminster
Lancaster
Leeds, Colton Mill
Leeds, Kirkstall Road
Leeds, White Rose
Liverpool
Llanelli
Lowestoft
Manchester Fort
Middlesbrough
Norwich
Oldham
Poole, Tower Park
Portsmouth
Preston
Reading Gate
Rhyl
Rochdale
Romford
Russell Square, London
Scunthorpe
Shrewsbury
Silverlink
Solihull
St Helens
Stratford-upon-Avon
Thanet
Truro
Urmston
Wellingborough
Wigan
Yeovil
A spokesperson for Pizza Hut UK said it was ‘pleased’ to secure the continuation of 64 sites to safeguard its guest experience and protect the associated jobs.
“Approximately 2,259 team members will transfer to the new Yum! equity business under UK TUPE legislation, including above-restaurant leaders and support teams,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.
Nicolas Burquier, who is the Managing Director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, called Monday’s agreement a ‘targeted acquisition’, Sky News reports.