A northern brewery has banned children from its waterside taproom amid fears for their safety.
Torrside Brewery in New Mills, Derbyshire, has caused a stir online after being the latest boozer to tell parents to leave their offspring at home when heading out for a drink.
Writing that ‘the brewery is not a safe environment for children to move around unsupervised’, owners published a statement explaining their decision to ban children from the venue after ‘a number of incidents at recent events.’
The team stressed that they had ‘very reluctantly’ made the decision to ban under 18s as the result of ‘some parents’ allowing their children to ‘wander around the brewery and the marina unsupervised.’
Explaining that ‘the Marina is private property with a large body of water’, the team continued to say that ‘there is too great a risk of accident, injury or damage’ – adding that they ‘don’t have the staff or capacity to manage these risks.’
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Image: Torrside Brewery
Image: Torrside Brewery
The full statement, posted on Twitter, reads: “Following a number of incidents at recent events, we have very reluctantly decided to adopt an ‘over-18s only’ entry policy at the brewery.
“As we have often repeated, the brewery is not a safe environment for children to move around unsupervised, the Marina is private property with a large body of water. In particular, now that our events are getting increasingly busy, there is too great a risk of accident, injury or damage. On a practical level, we don’t have the staff or capacity to manage these risks.
“We feel we have exhausted other options: we’ve asked nicely in person, posted regular reminders on social media, put posters all around the brewery, and attached details to every table. Every time we open however, we have some parents allowing their children to wander around the brewery and the marina unsupervised.
“We are truly sorry to those of you who have visited the brewery with your children and behaved impeccably. We know this is a minority who are unwilling or unable to follow our very clear requests, but this constantly causes a disproportionate amount of work and stress.
“Simply put, we are not comfortable having responsibility for these risks placed over our heads. We want our events to be safe and enjoyable for everyone, including the brewery team, and we don’t feel we can achieve that without making this change.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Users were quick to comment, with one person saying: “It’s a shame that you have to do this. But unreasonable people are always going to be unreasonable… Shame you can’t weed them out and stop them returning…”
A pub owner in Sheffield wrote: “IMO, a small amount of parents will allow their children to freely express themselves with little consequence to their actions. ‘He’s just being himself’ was quoted back to me after one cherub had ripped every flower head off in the beer garden. You’ve made the right decision.”
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A third person commented: “It must always be frustrating for the brewery staff that an irresponsible minority spoils it. Respect your decision in this matter.”
Popular outdoor dining event returns to MediaCity waterfront this summer
Emily Sergeant
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
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.
Georgina Pellant -
11th May 2023 
