Next year will mark four decades since the opening of Manchester’s infamous Hacienda nightclub: the birthplace of modern clubbing and arguably, for many, the spiritual home of acid house music.
In classic Hacienda spirit, such an occasion can’t be allowed to pass without a big old Mancunian party.
The team has been hard at work putting together a huge show to mark the 40th anniversary of the FAC51 nightclub.
The Hacienda Classical gig at Castlefield Bowl will see all hits from the ‘Madchester’ era, plus other iconic tunes from the Hacienda’s heyday, performed by a live orchestra.
But that’s not all. The 70-piece Manchester Camerata orchestra will be joined by original Hacienda residents Dj Paulette, Graeme Park, Tom Wainwright, and New Order member Peter Hook on the decks, as part of a huge line-up that will also feature 80s chart-toppers Soul II Soul.
Expect to hear everything from Inner City’s Good Life to Snap!’s Rhythm Is A Dancer, as the Hacienda Classical crew takes well-known favourites and new versions of club classics and mixes them into a non-stop live set.
Considered the UK’s cathedral of house music and the epicentre of the ‘Madchester’ scene, The Hacienda first flung open its doors back in 1982, transforming the run-down Central Manchester yacht showroom into what has become one of the most iconic and influential nightclubs in history.
The now-infamous venue chronicled the emergence of indie to the mid-’80s, then redefined club culture, as the scene adapted to the emerging dance music sounds coming out of the US and the UK.
Today, it continues to inspire generations new and old, producing world-class events that pull in partygoers of all ages and still remain true to the ethos that guided the original club in its heydey.
Hacienda Classical is now entering its seventh year and has performed to audiences nearing 750,000, with more reportedly tuning into recent successful streams.
As well as the Manchester show at Castlefield Bowl, which will take place on Friday, July 8 2022, there will also be an anniversary show in London next at the Royal Albert Hall on the following Friday, July 13.
Speaking on the upcoming 40th-anniversary show, Graeme Park said: “It’s amazing for myself and Hacienda Classical to be back at Castlefield Bowl for our sixth show and also our fifth appearance at Royal Albert Hall.
“It’s astonishing what we’ve all achieved since 2016 and I’m really proud of everyone who’s taken part. To see it going from strength to strength makes all us very proud.”
The collaboration between The Hacienda, Manchester Camerata, DJ Graeme Park and musical director, Tim Crooks has proved remarkably enduring, especially with the revisions and renewals made year on year to the set.
The Hacienda Classical shows are always massively popular and sell out every year. Tickets for both dates will go on sale on Friday, 19 November 2021 at 9.30 am here.
Manchester dessert and sandwich stars Gooey are set to open another city centre site
Danny Jones
0161’s world-famous dessert stars, Gooey, are set to open another city centre site – their third in Greater Manchester and soon-to-be fifth overall.
Known for their incredible cookies, doughnuts, brunch, legendary French toast and plenty more, Gooey made their first foray out of their hometown with a Liverpool location last year, and are now set to consolidate their Manc base even further.
Set to open in a prime piece of real estate, the latest Manchester Gooey store will be opening in a sizeable empty unit over on Circle Square, right next to the Asda Express and in the heart of the student living and leisure complex.
Benefitting from being easily seen from along the bustling Oxford Road Corridor, you can expect this place to be packed to the rafters from the off on day one.
The signs are already in the window.That unreal French toast dripping in syrup.Credit: The Manc Eats
There are few details on what the new arrival might have in-store beyond all the brand favourites at this early stage, but each Gooey store shop does have its own charm.
From their original bakery and cafe over in the Northern Quarter, to the three kiosks in Ducie Street Warehouse, The Trafford Centre Selfridges and over on Merseyside’s iconic Bold Street, they all offer something a little different.
As for any hints at the launch plans, fans are yet to be given an official opening date, but you best believe you’ll be the first to know the second we do.
In case you’ve never tried or even come across the indulgent and fast-growing independent business before, another popular part of their menu is the bits between bread.
Touching on the upcoming addition, Charlotte Wild, Head of Retail & Leisure at Bruntwood SciTech – the team behind Circle Square’s ever-expanding offerings – said: “Gooey is an incredible local brand who are continuing to grow, evolve and innovate, with ever more exciting desserts.
“They will make a fantastic addition to the Circle Square community, and we look forward to seeing the impact they make in the coming months.”
In case you wonder how much we love this place and just how excited you should be about another one landing here in the city centre, sometimes we just put together random appreciation posts for that one, aforementioned butty alone.
Local foodies will also be buzzing to hear that they’re not the only calorific cult favourites that are bringing more to our mouths in 2025.
First, it was Brewski, followed by American Pies; then it was Foldies, and now the beloved culinary brand is launching yet another new concept here in Manchester.
There’s a ‘not snobby’ cheese tasting evening coming to Manchester this autumn
Thomas Melia
An evening dedicated to celebrating all things cheese is coming to a Manchester city centre pub this autumn.
Leeds-based cheese company Homage2Fromage launched its cheese-focused company back in 2011 as a monthly service highlighting all the delicious dairy offerings.
Since this, Homage2Fromage has gone on to host incredible events and activities, including an all-you-can-eat cheese festival right here in Manchester back in 2023.
Now, the cheese fanatics return with a brand-new event titled ‘Extreme Cheese’, where it’s bringing lots of creamy and crumbly varieties to local Manchester city centre pub, The Wayfarer.
You can expect to sample eight dairy delights, with some expected to be ‘very strong’, as the company adds ‘fromage not for the faint-hearted’, so if you like your cheese strong, then this one’s for you.
Homage2Fromage host cheese tasting experiences across the country including Manchester / Credit: Supplied
This cheese provider offers tasting experiences up and down the country, including prime spots in the north like Halifax, Harrogate, Leeds, and Sheffield.
The newest cheese-inspired event is set to be no different, with an itinerary packed regarding all things cheese.
You can grab a drink on arrival, and as soon as you hear ‘CHEESE’ the tasting begins, followed by scoring and, most importantly, an informative chat where you learn all about this dreamy delicacy.
For those who are cheese aficionados, the company even lets you host your own cheese event and provides everything you could ever need – including that golden flavour-packed good stuff.
If you’d rather put your hosting skills to one side though, and just simply tuck into some of the best cheddar varieties there is, then you can do just that at this upcoming cheese testing evening this autumn.
Homage2Fromage is bringing an exclusive cheese tasting evening, ‘Extreme Cheese’, to Manchester city centre at The Wayfarer on 24 September, and you can find tickets HERE.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
Georgina Pellant -
18th November 2021 
