“You’ll have to forgive him. He’s from Bolton,” is a line we expect you’ll hear this August Bank Holiday weekend if you’re planning to attend the town’s food and drink festival.
Organisers are bringing the festival’s popular Fawlty Towers dining experience back for 2023, meaning that Basil, Sybil, and Manuel will all be tipping up to the North’s biggest foodie event once again with their signature mix of mayhem and hilarity.
Serving up a 70s-inspired three-course meal to diners with a large helping of laughter on the side, ticket holders should expect the appearance of retro dishes like rich tomato and basil soup, roast chicken with seasonal vegetables, and indulgent chocolate mousse cake.
Created in homage to the original much-loved British sitcom written by comedy legends John Cleese and Connie Booth, actors will give Fawlty Towers fans the chance to peek behind the curtain of the infamous sitcom as they tuck into a sit-down dinner.
Image: Supplied
Image: Supplied
As part of the UK’s leading tribute to the BBC series, fans will get to experience the hilarity of the show from the inside as impersonators of the series’ infamous trio deliver an interactive two-hour comedy spectacular.
Promising to have you in stitches, anything can happen – with over 70 percent of the event set to be improvised by actors on the spot.
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Hugely popular in London, the immersive 70’s experience made its northern debut at Bolton Food and Drink Festival last year and returns for a sold-out 2023 show on Saturday 26 August.
Doors will open at 6.30pm for the show to start at 7pm, and will be held at the iconic Bolton Albert Halls.
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The event at Bolton Food and Drink Festival has no affiliation to the BBC, John Cleese, Connie Booth, or their TV scripts. The performers delivering the event are all impersonators.
Bakery chain Gail’s is attempting to win over Prestwich after spelling mishap
Daisy Jackson
Gail’s has announced a plan to try and make amends with Prestwich after spelling the village’s name wrong on the new bakery’s signs.
The massive bakery chain finally confirmed that it would be moving into the suburb on the fringes of Bury and Manchester, but made a fatal flaw at the first step.
The huge posters are missing the letter ‘T’, instead saying ‘Hello Preswich’.
More than a few eyebrows were raised locally, with people saying it’s ‘not a great first impression for the locals…’.
And now Gail’s is attempting to put things right by offering free tea to Prestwich residents.
In new material released today, they wrote: “Oops… people of Prestwich, we owe you a ‘T’.
“You may have seen how we missed out a ‘t’ in our new bakery signage.
“We’re sorry for the mistake, and to make up for it we’d like to brew you a tea when we open.”
The new advertising has a QR code which people can scan to claim their free cuppa.
Gail’s has also passed its thanks on to ‘local resident Clair’, who actually came up with the suggestion on The Manc’s LinkedIn post here.
With this development, Gail’s has now confirmed it’ll be opening in Prestwich – directly opposite the new Rudy’s – in early 2025, with free tea served then to those who scan the QR code.
Gail’s will hand out free tea in Prestwich to apologise for spelling the village’s name wrongHuge bakery chain Gail’s confirms move to Prestwich – but spells village’s name wrong in signage
Salon Madre – A new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A new tequila bar and pool hall is set to open in Manchester in a couple of weeks, from the same team behind Madre.
The huge new space, Salon Madre, will be serving up the tacos and burritos that have made the Mexican restaurant at Kampus so well-loved.
And all that’s alongside a drinks menu that centres around tequila, including frozen, classic and flavoured margaritas and palomas.
Can’t stomach tequila? There’ll also be wines on draft, Corona and local beers.
The food menu will show off signature dishes like al pastor tacos, with daily rotating specials, plus Gringas, nachos and Madre’s huge burritos.
Salon Madre has taken over a spot just off Kampus’s lush garden that was previously home to a Seven Brothers taproom, right next door to Madre itself.
Salon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc GroupSalon Madre is a new Mexican pool hall and tequila bar in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
As well as all the Mexican food and drink goodness, the bar will have four pool tables and will be screening Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) and American sports.
The dream is to bring the fun and liveliness of a Mexican pool hall to the heart of Manchester, in this beautiful spot right near Piccadilly and Canal Street.
Salon Madre will open on 6 December at Kampus, with bookings for Christmas groups and parties now available.
Georgina Pellant -
7th August 2023 
