The Hardy’s Well poem was designed to be a tongue-twister for inebriated customers of the pub itself, with every word starting with the letter W.
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The pub attracted its fair share of student drinkers, as well as hordes of Manchester City fans thanks to its proximity to the club’s old ground, Maine Road.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Lemn said: “When that poem was put up poets weren’t doing that. They weren’t putting their poems on the side of buildings.
It happened at the start of bank holiday weekend otherwise Manchester's National Poetry Library or the folks from Manchester's UNESCO city of Literature would have spoken up. Yawn. Etc. pic.twitter.com/Vb3kZqkuvf
“It became a landmark, and that’s not something you can make happen, people make landmarks. People still contact me from all around the world saying the poem reminds them of their time at university or in Manchester, that it reminds them of a brilliant time in their life.
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“I’m extremely proud of that. The poem has done me a lot of good, it’s really helped me and my career, but I don’t think it’s a sad moment.
“I would have loved it if it could have been put somewhere else, but life moves on, things change, Manchester changes. I don’t have a problem with it going now.”
Dozens of locals are now sharing their fond memories of the Hardy’s Well – whether it was as a punter or a passer-by.
— Carol Ann Whitehead FRSA CMgr CCMI #NPW Power List (@Zebra_carol) May 27, 2023
One person wrote: “Half of my life time passing it on the way to school, town or raving! Thanks for the moments inspired by reading in every passing Lemm.”
Another said: “Gutting. One of my first memories of Manchester – used to love going past it on the bus twice a day.”
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Someone else said on Twitter: “Noooooooo! Worked behind the bar there for about 4yrs. Loved that place. Always loved the pre match crowd when City still played at Maine Road.”
And another wrote: “Used to live round the back of here during my student days! Very sad. Lots of Mancunian culture being lost.”
Lemn Sissay’s Hardy’s Well poem
Wait waterless wanderer. Whoever walks to the well will wade into a wonderous world. A world which will waken the wilting wallpaper of work and worry. Well? Worry will wait while wells wand whirls a warm- hearted wackiness into a weary week. Whereafter waves and waterfalls of wonderment will wash all weakness. A way? Well? A world wide web of wholehearted wholesome wisdom and wit waits wipe away worries. Wells work wonders for wrinkles. Why wait. Why wonder. Why worry. Why wain. Why whittle. Why wither. Walk in. Well. What we waiting for. It’ll double you. At Hardy’s Well.
Featured image: Google Maps
Eats
Popular outdoor dining event returns to MediaCity waterfront this summer
Emily Sergeant
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Greater Manchester’s popular outdoor dining concept is back again this summer, and there’s a proper tasty lineup of traders.
Kargo on the Docks, which is MediaCity‘s al fresco dining pop-up, has taken over the waterfront and gardens once again with a fresh wave of local food traders and stunning artwork by Salford-based creatives, all as the sun shines down on Salford Quays this summer.
A handful of Greater Manchester‘s most popular independents have set themselves up Quayside inside those signature re-imagined shipping containers.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours including Caribbean, Lebanese, Mexican, Ethiopian, and Pan-Asian dishes.
Loads of local indie food vendors have taken over the Salford Quays waterfront for the summer / Credit: Supplied
Afro Shack – the sister brand to Kargo.MKT favourite House of Habesha – will be serving fusion food combining East African flavours with indulgent American fast food, while new kids on the block Wok Bros will deliver sizzling, wok-tossed Pan-Asian street food and 100% halal dishes inspired by authentic flavours and fresh ingredients.
Iconic Jamaican dishes will also be on offer from Sunrise Caribbean, while Quiero Tacos will bring slow-cooked Birria tacos, cheesy quesadillas, and vibrant rice bowls packed with the spirit of Mexico.
Last but not least, Mediterranean food lovers can expect juicy lamb koftas, golden halloumi, and richly spiced chicken shawarma from Habibs.
Foodies can expect a menu packed with bold new flavours / Credit: Mark Waugh (via Supplied)
As well as the tasty food on offer, as mentioned, Kargo on the Docks also features a range of artwork and installations from local independent talent – with each container adorned with murals from creatives including Fernandes Makes, Kelly Ma, and Caroline Daly, bringing a feel-good summer vibe to the MediaCity Gardens.
Visitors can also enjoy an art trail display through the gardens, featuring structures designed by, A Studio Called Jane, Luke Passey, and Tasha Whittle.
There will also be a range of pop-up events hosted at the venue throughout the summer, with more announcements to be made very soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
Kargo on the Docks is now back at MediaCity from today (9 May) and will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm-9pm throughout the summer.
Featured Image – Mark Waugh (via Supplied)
Eats
I went all the way to Paris to test out Big Mamma ahead of Manchester’s most exciting new restaurant opening
Daisy Jackson
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Hospitality heavyweights Big Mamma Group are finally heading to Manchester, opening a Circolo Popolare Italian restaurant in the city centre – so we nipped over to Paris to see exactly what’s in store for us.
In the 10 years since launching their very first restaurant, East Mamma in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, the group have spread their wings wide.
There are Big Mamma Group restaurants, under several different names, all over Europe – and although they all belong to the same family, each one is treated like a total individual.
Some have maximalist, kitsch interiors with animal print furniture, gilded ceilings and retro prints of men in Y-fronts; others are more traditional trattorias with exposed brick, terracotta floors and crisp white tablecloths.
These interiors are fun, which is so refreshing in an industry which sometimes takes itself a bit too seriously.
On our tour of Big Mamma restaurants in Paris I came across delightful details like a loo wallpapered in pictures of Rod Stewart, a cocktail menu designed like a retro football sticker book, and an ice cream parlour built into an old train station carriage.
Every corner is packed with whimsy and wonder and there’s a whole team dedicated to sourcing these little touches from antiques fairs, second-hand shops and independent makers, stashing them all in an Aladdin’s Cave of a warehouse. Each restaurant even has its own crockery pattern.
East Mamma, one of Big Mamma’s Paris restaurantsNo Entry cocktail barA Big Mamma speakeasyPink MammaLa Felicita food hallLa Felicita food hall
So yes, the interiors in Manchester will be similarly interesting and lavish.
Big Mamma Group has already confirmed that the huge two-storey Circolo Popolare trattoria will be inspired by a Sardinian Festa, meaning cosy alcoves, more than 8000 bottles of vintage booze, and a vast room inspired by an overgrown Mediterranean courtyard.
As it takes shape in Gary Neville’s £400m St Michael’s development, they’ll be moving in big sharing tables, antique trinkets, reels of twinkling lights and even an Italian wishing well ahead of the big launch next month.
But not enough of us are talking about the food yet – this is a restaurant group that sources its produce from 160 different Italian artisans to ensure that everything you’re eating as authentic and delicious as possible.
Food at Big Mamma
While the menus shift between restaurants you can expect hearty bowls of handmade pasta laced with truffle or tomato or cheese, crispy-soft pizzas layered in creative sauce bases (like zucchini cream or black truffle cream, along with their classic San Marzano DOP tomato sauce), and per iniziare starters like giant burrata balls, melt-in-the-mouth croquettes, and slivers of cured meats – all prepared in an open kitchen run by Campanian-born Alfonso Esposito.
And a show-stopper for Manchester will be an outrageous six-inch lemon meringue pie, with a wibbly wobbly tower of Italian meringue on top.
Circolo Popolare will officially open its doors on 6 June – and before then, there’ll be a very limited soft launch where you can snag yourself 50% off your bill. Sign up HERE, with bookings live on Monday 12 May.
Daisy Jackson -
29th May 2023 
