A popular restaurant in Ancoats has shared a gut-wrenching statement after being hit by a fourth break-in.
Blue Eyed Panda on Jersey Street said that the burglars once again only made off with ‘a few bottles’, with no cash or valuables left in the restaurant overnight.
They say the break-in happened at around 6.15am on Tuesday 2 April, just one day after they celebrated their fifth anniversary.
The restaurant has been the victim of multiple break-ins over the years, each time leaving them with costly repairs.
And Blue Eyed Panda has once again pleaded with those who are breaking in to ‘just leave us alone’.
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They slammed the people who broke in for causing so much damage and heartache even though they ‘get nothing’, saying: “We do not keep any valuables or money in the restaurant!!! We have also eaten all the cake from last night!!!”
The Blue Eyed Panda in Ancoats has shared a heartbreaking statement after yet another break-in. Credit: Instagram, @blueeyedpanda
Blue Eyed Panda also stressed ‘how difficult is it for local family business is at the moment to be alive in this industry’.
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Their heartfelt statement said: “Do you know how many staff are depending on our restaurant jobs to feed their families? Of course you don’t!”
The Chinese favourite has been able to remain open for business as usual but told followers it feels ‘very angry and frustrated’ to have been targeted again.
Their full post titled ‘Break In No. 4’, reads: “To the guys who like to visit us out of hours:
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“YESTERDAY(1 April): We were very very happy and thankful to be able to survive and celebrate the 5th Anniversary of our Blue Eyed Panda!! Hooray!!
“Then, TODAY (2 April) 6:15am: ‘’YOU’’ Yes!! ‘’YOU’’ decided to break into our restaurant again!!!!!! Come on, it is not the FIRST, SECOND or THIRD TIME!!! You came for the FORTH times now, and EVERYTIME you guys come in, you get NOTHING!! We say it again: ‘We do not keep any valuables or money in the restaurant!!! We have also eaten all the cake from last night!!!’’
“The only thing I could think of is that you enjoy making damages to our shop and get few bottles on the way out!! Thanks to you we have to do repairs again!!!
“Please STOP!! We have enough pressure already everyday and night…….Do you know how difficult is it for local family business is at the moment to be alive in this industry? Do you know how many staff are depending on our restaurant jobs to feed their families? Of course you don’t! Please just leave us alone and let us breath!!!”
The restaurant’s customers have suggested they start up a crowd funder to help pay for repairs and for shutters to protect it from future break-ins.
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One person wrote: “So sorry to hear this has happened again. How brain dead do they need to be to not realise most people pay by card and that restaurants don’t keep cash on the premises nowadays.”
Another said: “Really sorry to hear this. You’re a great local business, and it’s horrible that you’re being put under this pressure. Hope that’s the last time.”
Someone else posted: “This is awful, nobody deserves this and its shocking that people think its okay to destroy somebody else’s hard work. I’m so sorry to hear this!”
Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants
Daisy Jackson
Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.
In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.
The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.
Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”
The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”
After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.
The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.
He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.
Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.
“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.
“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.
“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”
Indie food and drink festival to return to popular Greater Manchester town for second year
Emily Sergeant
A food and drink festival shining a spotlight on independent businesses is returning to Greater Manchester this summer.
Following the success of last year’s tasty debut, Urmston’s very-own independent food and drink festival, YUM! – Your Urmston Matters, is back for its second serving later this month, and will once again be transforming the Trafford town’s M41 site on Railway Road into a buzzing hub of ‘flavour, fun, and local pride’.
Organised by Love Urmston and hosted by Urmston resident and food and drink presenter, Matty White, this community celebration will bring together top local street food vendors, artisan producers, and drink retailers, alongside live cooking demos, family activities, and loads of entertainment.
Now in its second year, YUM! continues to shine a spotlight on Urmston’s indie food scene and the passion of the people behind it, but as well as local residents, it also invites the rest of Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester community to come together.
So whether you just live down the road, or you are discovering the town for the first time, everyone is welcome to pop down.
“Bringing YUM! back for a second year is incredibly exciting,” commented Fred Davids, who is the Chair of the Love Urmston committee.
“It’s a brilliant way to celebrate what makes Urmston special – its community, and fantastic food and drink scene, welcoming people from near and far to experience the town at its best.
“And as a committee, we’re proud to support our incredible local independent businesses who put their heart and soul into everything they do.”
YUM! is returning to Urmston for another delicious festival this month / Credit: Emma Boyle (via Supplied)
Just some of the independent businesses you’ll find at the festival throughout the day include English Rose Bakery, Inforno Pizzeria, Dan’s Cookies, Banga Curries, JJ’s Caribbean Kitchen, The Greek Village, Pomona Island Brewery, Kelder Wines, and so many more.
The festival is also proudly sponsored by Gecko Homes – a north west property developer that specialises in creating affordable and shared ownership homes across many of Manchester’s most popular suburbs.
You can read more about what Gecko Homes is doing across the region here.
Daisy Jackson -
4th April 2024 
