A campaign has been launched by some of Manchester’s leading business owners and public figures to drive footfall back into the city centre post-lockdown.
Bury-born ex Manchester United star and pundit/commentator Gary Neville has joined forces with other prominent figures – with the backing of Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham – to create United City.
The collective of business leaders want to encourage people to return safely to towns and the city centre.
United City says increasing footfall is “critical to the success” of the entire region, and will campaign to get Greater Manchester on the road to economic recovery, fix its “broken ecosystem”, and also commission independent research to back up its messages, with hard data and use findings to negotiate with central government.
The founders of United City are Gary Neville of Relentless Group, Chris Oglesby of Bruntwood, Lisa Morton of Roland Dransfield PR, Will Lewis of OBI and Frank McKenna of Downtown in Business.
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The group hopes to get the region “back on its feet” and back to supporting retail, leisure, culture, and sports businesses, as well as provide support and advice for business owners to make sure workforces are welcomed back safely.
Raising funds for vulnerable citizens is also included in the plans.
United City‘s strategy plans – which looks to creating COVID-secure environments – include input from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Manchester City Council, and its privately-funded research will help to bridge the gap by providing clear data to manage safety in workplaces, hospitality venues and on transport.
The research will also allow Greater Manchester leaders to negotiate with the government on local lockdown restrictions and navigate their own way out of them.
Gary Neville – Founder and Director of Relentless Group – said: “Manchester is built on community and entrepreneurial spirit [and] it’s imperative that this crisis doesn’t remove that from our DNA [so] United City will create a clear path forward for the region and will help to effect genuine change for the people and businesses that are based here.
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“To make this happen, we need as much support from the business community as possible.
“We are looking for business leaders to step up and lead the change to our working habits, to get our teams back into the office, and back together again.”
I’m delighted to be part of the launch of @UnitedCity. We are a collection of businesses coming together to get GM going again. We will fund independent research to support our messages with data to encourage people to return safely to our towns and cities in a Covid secure way
Chris Oglesby – CEO at Bruntwood – commented: “It goes without saying that the region’s ecosystem is broken without a confident and collective return to a more normal life, and that an economic recovery for the city – and millions of people who rely on that ecosystem – is impossible without a shared impetus to get things moving again.
“Within the UnitedCity steering group, we have professionals who can support and advise business leaders to ensure that they are able to practically and emotionally support their returning workforces.
“The city centre in particular needs life breathed back into it; it’s nothing without its people, and the culture, hospitality, retail and leisure businesses within it have helped create Manchester’s reputation as a hotbed of innovation and dynamism.
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“We’ll be looking to build a broad coalition with other business organisations and political leaders, with the long-term aim of ensuring Greater Manchester can recover in a way which is sustainable and healthy.”
'What we need is a balanced approach… Rather than the ups and downs that've existed and create anxiety.'
Will Lewis of OBI added: “A lot of people still haven’t even been back to the city centre since March.
“We’re so concerned for all sorts of different sectors, so we hope that this organisation will encourage and help Manchester and encourage people to get back to the city – not in a cavalier way, in a COVID-secure way.
“It’s got to be done safely.”
You can find out more about the United City campaign and objectives here.
Business
Manchester institution Salvi’s announces closure of original city centre restaurant
Danny Jones
One of Manchester’s oldest and most loved Italian restaurants, Salvi’s, has sadly announced that they are closing their original restaurant after more than a decade and a half.
Having served authentic recipes from Naples and been at the forefront of the cuisine in this city for well over 15 years, it can be hard to remember a time before Salvi’s.
With that in mind, we’re gutted to hear that their OG location over in the Corn Exchange is now shutting its doors imminently.
But fret not: it’s not all doom and gloom, as they promise this isn’t the last you’ll see of them.
Often considered the first true Manc-Neapolitan eatery, which turned from a small counter and deli into, at one point, a big and beloved group of local independent restaurants with multiple locations, most people know the name and the sign, and plenty have patronised them since day one.
Sharing an emotional message in the caption of the post above, founder Maurizio Cecco and his wife Claire said: “For sixteen years, Salvi’s has been part of Manchester’s story. We’re incredibly proud of everything we’ve built together.
“As the city changes, independent businesses have to change too. Today will be our last day of trading at Corn Exchange. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey all these years.
“This isn’t the end of our story; it’s the beginning of a new chapter – stay tuned. Grazie Mille.”
Unsurprisingly, the reaction to the news has been bittersweet, with people obviously saddened to hear of this latest closure but also looking back fondly on its past.
One person wrote in the comments: “I remember launching this amazing place all those years ago and have continued to watch you thrive!! Best of luck for the future!” Another added: “Will miss Salvi’s great food, great staff, not forgetting the Italian festival. All the best, Maurizio and family in your new adventure
As mentioned, it’s also worth noting that Maurizio and Claire are also behind the equally famous Festa Italiana, which draws crowds of tens of thousands across a full weekend every single year.
Having been regulars and firm fans of both their first family-owned flagship site and the aforementioned festival for many years, we’re equally gutted to see it go.
But as they made clear, this is not a definite ending for the brand, and it’s safe to say we’ll be eagerly awaiting whatever comes next.
Thanks for the memories and all the incredible food and drink you’ve served us – we hope we hear from you again sometime very soon.
Locals left stunned and excited by ‘unrecognisable’ plans for returning Stockport pub
Danny Jones
Stockport locals have been left “stunned” and “buzzing” after seeing the plans for the soon-to-be reborn Golden Hind pub in Offerton.
We’ve seen plenty of refurbs over the past couple of years, but this one really does look unrecognisable – both their words and ours.
The Golden Hind, a former Hungry Horse and then Greene King pub, sadly closed in November of 2023 after more than half a century of serving Stopordian punters under the previous operators, with nearby residents rallying together to save the “community hub“.
While the initial efforts weren’t enough to prevent the no-nonsense boozer from closing, another Manc brewery is set to bring it back, having now revealed their vision for a major overhaul. The video below cycles through an overview of the plans:
Safe to say it’ll be quite the transformation should everything go ahead as expected.
Some residents have already noted similarities to the Puss in Boots on Nangreave Road in Heaviley, one of multiple Almond Family Pubs locations in the borough, but they’re hoping that restoring a food menu in line with their ‘traditional’ vision will help it rival the native group’s offerings.
Although ‘The Hind’ already had a popular SK beer garden, most notably, the updated ideas for the venue included a brand-new outdoor terrace, with planters, hanging baskets and other green elements, along with a brand-new glass porch and extra covered areas around the building.
The public house last saw renovations back in 2017, but these were mainly cosmetic (new chairs and tables, as well as a fresh lick of paint, etc.); this time, it’s getting a full relandscaping and more.
You can take another look at the proposed blueprints in full detail right HERE.
Further reinforcing what a loss it was to the area, plenty have not only expressed their excitement about the Golden Hind, but already asked whether dining will return as mentioned, not to mention enquiring about jobs both in a potential kitchen, behind the bar, as part of prospective cleaning staff and more.
As always with hospitality closures, it isn’t just food and drink that people lose out on; it’s jobs, steady incomes, and for many, an important social outlet.
That’s why so many people signed the previous petition to keep the much-loved watering hole alive, and while it may be under new ownership, they’ll be just glad to see it being revived.
Speaking on the project, Joseph Holt’s CEO Richard Kershaw said: “Joseph Holt is a brewery committed to putting pubs back into the heart of local communities.
It is at the core of our ethos, since we know they play such an important role not just as places to enjoy a drink, but as welcoming spaces to meet others, take part in social groups, and enjoy live events. All of which will be happening once again once we complete our redevelopment of the Golden Hind.
“That’s why we are investing over £1 million in a comprehensive and carefully considered redevelopment, creating a pub in the truest traditional sense — complete with open fireplaces, generous outdoor spaces, and comfortable, characterful furnishings.”
Emily Sergeant -
23rd November 2020 
