Last night was monumental for Manchester, with the world’s most famous fashion house, Chanel, bringing its prestigious Metiers D’art fashion show to the city.
Only a few hundred guests got to see the invite-only spectacle with their own eyes, though it’s been hard to miss the massive behind-the-scenes work that’s gone into the show in the Northern Quarter.
Now, Chanel has released a video of the Manchester show in full, as well as footage of the pre-fashion show dinner at Salford Lad’s Club, with a performance from local legend John Cooper Clarke.
It means that those of us who missed out on an invite to the real thing can watch the beautiful show back at home.
The video, streamed live this morning, shows dozens of models strutting down Thomas Street, showcasing the incredible craftsmanship behind Chanel’s dresses, jackets, bags and more.
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The models walked beneath a purpose-built canopy (which we all think should stay forever) past local boozers like the Bay Horse Tavern, Smithfield Social, and Cane & Grain.
There was a star-studded front row, as you’d expect, too.
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Kristen Stewart, a Chanel ambassador, and Hugh Grant were two of the big names spotted in and around Manchester over the last two days.
Local famous faces were out in force too, with rappers Aitch and Bugzy Malone both in attendance.
Sofia Coppola, Tilda Swinton and Jenna Coleman were all sitting front row for the beautiful Chanel Metiers d’art show in Manchester.
Fashion royalty Alexa Chung posed in a Chanel outfit, while Oldham-born supermodel Karen Elson walked in the show.
And Liam Gallagher’s sons Gene and Lennon – who are the absolute spit of their dad, eyebrows and all – were also there representing Manchester.
Guests were then whisked away to Victoria Baths for an almighty afterparty.
Chanel said: “The finale – the CHANEL 2023/24 Métiers d’art show took place on an emblematic street in Manchester, one of the most effervescent cities of pop culture and an avant-garde one, whose bands, spanning all genres, have changed the history of music.
“In a shimmering pop palette, with a dash of the sixties, the collection imagined by Virginie Viard celebrates the CHANEL art of tailoring and tweed, while wraparound skirts, miniskirts with godets and Bermuda shorts highlight the British accents of the silhouettes.”
You can watch the full video of the Chanel catwalk through the Northern Quarter in Manchester below.
Andy Burnham pledges to build 10,000 new council houses in Greater Manchester by 2028
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has pledged to build 10,000 new council houses across Greater Manchester before 2028 arrives.
Following his declaration back in January that 2024 would be the year Greater Manchester “gets serious about housing”, the Mayor of Greater Manchester – who was re-elected for his third term as the region’s Labour mayor this past weekend – has vowed to tackle the housing crisis within the next decade, and is promising to build a “new generation” of council homes.
Mr Burnham is keen to put housing “centre stage” and make it a “top priority” over the course of his next mayoral term, and by 2028, he wants there to be 1,000 new council houses in each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs.
This will involve identifying brownfield sites and land owned by public bodies where the homes can be built in each borough.
Also, as part of his wider housing mission, Mr Burnham has also asked the Government to devolve powers to suspend ‘Right to Buy’ on these new-build council homes and in areas of greatest housing need in a bid to help “stem the critical loss” of social housing to the private rented sector in Greater Manchester.
This request comes after it was revealed that our city-region has lost nearly 24,000 homes to ‘Right to Buy’ within in the last 20 years – including 571 sold in 2022-23 alone.
Some of the other housing measures announced by the Mayor yesterday include the introduction of a pilot scheme – which would be rolled-out across Greater Manchester by the end of 2024 – that offers residents the right to request a property check, and the opening of the new ‘GM Good Landlord Charter’ to applications by the summer, setting out standards for rental properties, and supporting landlords to meet them.
Mr Burnham will also look to expand the much-valued ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme to at least 600 places every night during his third mayoral term to provide “crucial support” to rough sleepers as the rising cost of living crisis continues.
The Mayor has confirmed he will continue to donate 15% of his salary each month to support the scheme.
“Greater Manchester can’t achieve its full potential as long as it remains in the grip of a housing crisis,” Mr Burnham explained as he set out his plans for the future as Greater Manchester’s Mayor.
“That is why I am setting a new ambition for the city-region to end it within a decade.
“Everyone deserves to live in a good, safe home, and by building new council homes, and by suspending the Right to Buy on them, we can give our Councils the breathing space they desperately need to replenish their stock, so that all of those waiting in temporary accommodation or on the housing registers have the chance to access good homes.”
Featured Image – Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
Manchester
Crown & Kettle team confirm takeover of infamous Mother Mac’s pub
Daisy Jackson
The team behind the Crown & Kettle pub have taken on a new challenge – the legendary Mother Mac’s pub on Back Piccadilly.
The boozer, which has something of a gruesome past, is being almost completely gutted ready for its transformation into a three-storey pub.
Soon to be reborn as The Rat & Pigeon, the independent watering hole will have seven separate areas across its three floors.
Since The Manc first reported the closure of Mother Mac’s, the team behind Crown & Kettle have been busy stripping the city centre pub back to its bones.
They said in a statement online that the historic building has been left ‘rotting behind a veneer of naff refurbishments’ (the pub changed hands a few years ago).
The Rat & Pigeon has been given vital structural support ready for the next stage – ‘breathing life into this historic boozer’.
They said it’s taken 16 skips, a few electric shocks, and ‘an eight week stint at the chiropractors’, but now pictures inside the pub show that it’s coming on nicely.
The floors on the first and second floor have been restored to their former glory and there are even paint samples on the walls now.
The Rat & Pigeon wrote: “They say you shouldn’t pick at a scab. The thing is, over the years this building has been slowly rotting behind a veneer of naff refurbishments plastered one on top of the other. We haven’t just picked the scab, we’ve peeled entire layers and took it right back to the bone… and then found the bones were buggered n’all.
“In for a penny, in for a pound.
“16 skips, multiple electric shocks and a 8 week stint at the chiropractors later we managed to tear out the crap and provide the old lady with the structural support required to see out the next 150 years.
They later added: “Transforming a tired ground floor only pub into 3-floor behemoth isn’t without its challenges.
“Once the building was structurally secure we turned our attention to the 1st and 2nd. With every layer of plaster removed or board lifted we were uncovering new ‘challenges’. It got to a point where we were scared to take a peek. But peek we did.
“Debris carted down two flights of stairs, full fixed wiring and plumbing throughout, new structures built and plaster applied with floor lovingly restored to its former glory – our vision to breathe new life into this historic boozer is starting to become a reality.
“There’s 7 separate areas over three floors, each with its own purpose and appeal – something for everyone. We genuinely cannot wait to welcome you in.”
The official launch date, and the full transformation of Mother Mac’s into The Rat & Pigeon, will be announced soon.