Roger Aytoun made a lot of dreadful decisions during his lifetime, from gambling away his inherited fortune and getting so paralytic on his wedding day he had to balance on his comrades. But choosing to visit Manchester proved to be one his better moves.
The trip would ultimately result in his name being immortalised in local history – with ‘Aytoun’ slapped on street signs, student campuses and apartment blocks hundreds of years later.
But this Major General also went by another moniker during his heyday – commemorated by the eponymous pub in Miles Platting: The Spanking Roger.
It was a nickname unlike any other – seemingly inspired by Aytoun’s love for fisticuffs and ironman reputation.
Originally from Scotland, Spanking Roger galloped into Manchester in 1769 to bulk out his regiment and bring in more soldiers – employing an unusual recruitment tactic.
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Aytoun would challenge punters in local pubs to drunken brawls – and if they lost they’d have to join him at war.
The soldier’s penchant for scrapping was his strong suit and he rarely lost – meaning many in Manchester might have signed up.
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But the best part of his trip to the North West was undoubtedly bumping into old wealthy widow Barbara Mynshull.
Whilst in Manchester, Spanking Roger had visited Kersal Racecourse and caught the eye of wealthy local widow Barbara Mynshull – who’d become one of the region’s richest figures after her marriage to successful apothecary Thomas Minshull.
Some reports say he’d turned her head after participating in a ‘Male Nude Race’ on the track that day. But at 6ft 4”, Aytoun cut an imposing figure regardless, and Mynshull was instantly besotted.
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Despite being more than four decades apart in age, the pair quickly got married – a shocking scandal that would have been talk of the town.
Mrs Mynshull of Chorlton Hall was a prestigious local personality, and despite Aytoun’s heroics at war (he also fought at the Great Siege of Gibraltar), his ‘reckless and improvident habits’ were another reason the pair appeared an unsuitable fit.
Mynshull might have realised what she was getting herself in for on the day of the wedding – when a deliriously drunk Spanking Roger had to be propped up by his pals to actually take part in the ceremony – but the worst was yet to come.
After moving into the grand Hough Hall, Mrs Aytoun’s new husband spent the remainder of her years squandering her fortune on gambling and booze – leading to some of her property becoming liquidated (some of the land they owned is still there today – forming the KAMPUS site developed by Capital & Centric and HBD).
Mrs Aytoun passed away in 1783, and Spanking Roger went on to remarry – tying the knot with Jean Sinclair who was the daughter of John Sinclair of Balgregie.
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He died in 1810.
But it was today – February 2 – Roger and Barbara’s wedding anniversary, that paved the way for this chaotic character to imprint himself in Manchester’s history.
His legend has even transcended international borders and led to the creation of a Spanking Roger Gin in Gibraltar – inspired by his participation in the Great Siege.
The logo, quite suitably, shows Aytoun with his fists raised.
That’s how he always liked it.
Feature
Review | PinkPantheress turns Victoria Warehouse into one huge party on first night in Manchester
Emily Johnson
There was a point during Pinkpantheress’ set at O2’s Victoria Warehouse where you almost forgot you were watching someone perform an album that barely stretches past the 20-minute mark.
Instead, night one of two Manchester shows felt like one huge club night curated by one of the most exciting British artists around right now.
From the second you walked into the venue, greeted by an army of plaid, the world of PinkPantheress (real name Victoria Beverley Walker, for those who didn’t know) completely took over.
The stage itself mirrored that energy too, with a two-tier setup that allowed her to constantly move around the space, appearing and disappearing throughout the night alongside outfit changes, dramatic lighting and eventually, a pair of angel wings.
Backed by her dancers and DJ Joe, the entire show felt slick, immersive and miles away from the early days of PinkPantheress nervously clutching onto her handbag on stage like a comfort blanket. Ironically, the handbag did make a brief appearance during the evening.
It’s a reminder of just how much her performances have evolved – and evolve they have.
What could have easily been a short and simple set instead became a fully realised live show, complete with extended dance sections, rave-inspired moments, drum solos and seamless transitions that made the whole thing feel bigger than the music alone.
There’s also something undeniably British about a PinkPantheress show: the UK garage influences, the fashion, the awkward humour, and the understated confidence all combined into something that felt distinctly hers.
At one point, she paused to laugh: “It’s hot in this venue, f*** me,” which summed up the sweaty chaos of the night perfectly.
At one point, she joked that the last time she was in Manchester, she made it all the way to the final stage of Pointless, before being told she was now “too famous” to go on the show – a perfectly PinkPantheress anecdote that had the crowd laughing immediately.
By the end of the set, Victoria Warehouse felt less like a gig venue and more like the best house party you’ve ever accidentally ended up at.
And with another Manchester show still to come, it’s safe to say the party isn’t over just yet.
Starting off life as a little coffee trike back in 2021, and now based inside a bright-yellow shipping container in Levenshulme‘s Cringle Park, Grounded MCR CIC is a social enterprise that does more than just make you a brew.
Set up with the idea of creating a welcoming space for the whole community to gather, with a key focus on sustainability, Grounded serves up specialty coffee, lots of other hot and cold drinks, and yummy homemade food – much of which is grown by hand, on and around the container.
This is Grounded MCR / Credit: The Manc Group
Coffee beans sourced from a local roaster that pays farmers properly, tasty bakes on offer from a handful of local makers – including bread from the incredible Stockport-based charity, Pure Innovations – and dozens of free community events organised throughout the year are just a few of the reasons why Grounded goes above and beyond your typical cafe.
Sustainability – and affordability, especially amid the ongoing cost of living crisis – are two huge driving factors for Grounded, especially through their partnership with FareShare Greater Manchester and utilising the ‘Too Good To Go’ scheme.
By delivering and using surplus food that would’ve otherwise gone to waste, Grounded is able to keep their prices low whilst still creating some delicious scran.
The Levenshulme community cafe crafting coffee for a great cause / Credit: The Manc Group
Their ‘FareShare Fridays’ are hosted each week, where that morning’s delivery is dedicated to one specific dish and served up for just £1.
To top it all off, Grounded also works with vulnerable adults in honing their barista and hospitality skills, and is also in partnership with ‘Women in Probation’ too to ensure their impact goes further than just what comes in a cup or on a plate.
”We’ve worked hard to create a space that feels safe and welcoming for all,” Grounded declares in a statement on it’s website – and we think they’ve succeeded.
The Manc -
2nd February 2021 
