Influencers getting free stuff. It’s a given in today’s social media fuelled society. But for the hospitality industry, it’s the bane of their lives.
In 2020, if you have more than 10,000 followers on Instagram and consider yourself a bit of a looker, then it’s quite an easy task to become someone who never has to buy clothes ever again. In fashion social media it’s called gifting, and it’s a mutually beneficial process that has become one of the key fundamentals of marketing. It just it works, and good for them.
What isn’t a mutually beneficial process, however, is attempting to get free food and drinks at an establishment full of hard working hospitality staff who are doing everything they can to keep their venues afloat at the tail end of a pandemic.
But alas, ‘restaurant Insta’ is being constantly bombarded with DMs from influencers who no longer believe in paying for anything, and Crazy Pedro’s has had enough of it.
Posting on their social media accounts tonight, after receiving one DM too many, Pedro’s outed their latest potential ‘collaborator’.
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“READ THE ROOM,” the post begins with.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP6NsMGh4RB/
It continues: “We’ve been open 4/5 months tops out of the last 14 and just last week closed one of our venues in the interest of staff and customers safety – whilst you’re out here after a bit of free food?
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“We’re all for a bit of promotion so why not pay us a visit and shout about our ‘yummy food 😋’ along with every other venue you’ve probably copy and pasted the message to? It’s a no from us unfortunately but we’ll save you a table should you wish to join us as a paying customer.”
It seems their frustration is universal, with both comment sections on Instagram and Facebook popping off with support.
One person wrote: “I like the way they said ‘collaborate’ instead of free food. Just utter disrespect. I will be dropping by hopefully soon as craving that Chippy Tea Pizza that I will happily buy.”
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Crazy Pedro’s
Hospitality in the UK has had it terrible during the pandemic. The majority of pubs, bars and restaurants have only recently been able to reopen, with plenty only managing it by the skin of their teeth.
Right now, and for the rest of the year (and beyond), we should be supporting these venues by putting money in their tills and tips in their pockets.
Don’t be THAT person. Pay for your meal and enjoy the benefits of good hospitality – and put them on your f****** Instagram story because of that.
Massive queues form in Manchester Arndale with Beauty Bay giving out loads of freebies
Daisy Jackson
Popular skincare and make-up retailer Beauty Bay has parked up in the Manchester Arndale for the weekend, handing out loads of freebies.
There’s already a huge queue forming for the first day of its ‘Haul of Fame’ event, which will run until Sunday 1 October.
Shoppers can grab freebies including skincare and eyeshadow palettes from the pop-up space outside Next.
Beauty Bay has built three separate stations to interact with, showcasing some of the star brands sold on their website.
At the Sol de Janeiro section, you can smell their range of body mists, then vote for your favourite by placing a ball in the corresponding tube, to win a free sample.
Sol de Janeiro is the brand behind the cult favourite moisturiser Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.
Beauty Bay’s own make-up brand, By Beauty Bay, is next, where you draw on the wall your hero beauty product and in exchange, receive one of their cult eyeshadow palettes.
And finally, wildly popular American skincare brand Bubble Skincare – brought to the UK for the first time by Beauty Bay – is in situ with more free products.
Beauty Bay has a pop-up at Manchester Arndale this weekend. Credit: The Manc GroupBeauty Bay’s Arndale pop-up showcases Sol De Janeiro, By Beauty Bay, and Bubble Cosmetics. Credit: The Manc GroupBrands include their own make-up range By Beauty Bay. Credit: The Manc Group
Shoppers can spin the wheel to win a mini bottle, or the chance to play hook-a-duck with a bathtub filled with other items.
Beauty Bay is normally online-only with no physical stores, so their Arndale pop-up is a chance for shoppers to actually get to grips with their vast range of products.
There’s live entertainment, competitions, games and experiences joining the huge discounts available all across the city centre.
There’ll be discounts of up to 30% off in more than 120 stores for students within the Manchester Arndale and across the city centre, including Levi’s, Harvey Nichols, River Island, Monki, JD, Mango, Superdry, Kick Game, Jack & Jones, Office and Schuh.
On top of that, hospitality venues including Urban Playground (where you can have a go at ITV’s hit show The Cube), Immersive Gamebox, Archie’s, Krispy Kreme, Pizza Hut and Barburrito will have up to 50% off.
You can visit the Beauty Bay pop-up in the Manchester Arndale until Sunday.
Greater Manchester’s volunteer police officers are now trained to deal with ‘high tension’ events
Emily Sergeant
Dozens of volunteer police officers across Greater Manchester are now being given public order training to deal with “high tension” events.
In case you aren’t too familiar, Public Order Public Safety (POPS) is an arm of policing that covers a wide range of events and operations that could present instances of high or increased tension, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Some events of this nature include protests, festivals, sporting events, and disorder – basically, anywhere where there may be a risk to public safety.
In order to make sure there’s more hands on deck when these situations arise, GMP has now confirmed that it’s beginning the process of training up its volunteer workforce – formally known as Police Specials, of which there are currently about 200 employed to work 16-hours each month – to be able to work such events.
This is so they know how to correctly handle and manage potentially tension-filled situations.
Greater Manchester’s volunteer police officers are now trained to deal with ‘high tension’ events / Credit: GMP
GMP says that around 30 Police Specials completed their level two training over four days at the police force’s specialist training centre in Openshaw this week.
This means they can now be deployed at high-profile events.
Chief Superintendent Chris Hill, who is the strategic lead at GMP, say Police Specials play an “important role” for the police force, as they often join response teams or are put to good use by providing a link between local Greater Manchester communities and GMP.
#NEWS | GMP is now one of three forces in the UK to offer public order training to its special constables.
Around 30 specials completed the training over four days at GMP’s training centre in #Openshaw and can now be deployed at high-profile events
“Special constables have the same powers and look the same as regular officers,” CS Hill explained, “but the difference is they are volunteers and can have regular jobs as well.
“The specials that completed the training are now highly-trained in tactics, as well as how to use equipment including helmets and shields, and can be deployed to high-profile football matches and events or demonstrations where there is an increase in tension.
“We hope this will make joining GMP as a special a more interesting and exciting prospect.”
This is so they know how to correctly handle and manage public order events / Credit: GMP
Mike Walmsley, who is GMP’s Chief Officer and oversees the Special Constabulary, added how great it is to see a “continued investment” in the special constables.
He continued: “Having a team trained to public order level two allows us to further support our colleagues.
“[It will also] unlock more of the potential that the Special Constabulary has.
“We have already started to map out structured learning and supplied them with laptops and, coupled with further opportunities, this will allow our officers to develop further and support in existing and new areas.”
The Manc -
9th June 2021 
