Demolition work has officially begun to pull down two of East Manchester’s most memorable landmarks.
It comes after it was announced that the Gorton landmarks would make way for a new state-of-the-art high school and housing estate, with planning permission for the scheme granted in December 2019.
Despite it being reported last September by the MEN that campaigners had launched an 11th hour bid to save the venue, the former Belle Vue Stadium – which opened in 1926, and was seen as a crown jewel of the community as the first purpose-built greyhound racing stadium in the UK – is set to be replaced by 167 houses and 80 apartments.
Due to its listing as an ‘asset of community value’, campaigners were given a six-month window to try and raise enough money to make a bid for it, but that window has now sadly passed and developers have now acquired the 12-acre site.
Local residents and passers-by have noticed that the stadium has now been fenced off, with demolition work underway and that is set to last around 26 weeks.
Speaking on the start of demolition work, Gordon Innes – Managing Director at Countryside Properties – said: “We’re making great progress in our regeneration of this important site and have now commenced a delicate demolition and remediation process following the detailed archaeological excavation of the land.
“It is extremely important to us to recognise the heritage of Belle Vue and pay homage to its iconic status.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We have taken great care to record original parts of the stadium during the soft strip of the structure so that its history will be preserved while we strive to deliver much-needed affordable housing in East Manchester”.
Showcase Cinema – which occupied the site of the famous Belle Vue entertainment complex – was unlike anything the area had ever seen before when it first opened on Hyde Road back in 1989, and it was one of the first multi-screen venues to open up in Manchester – bringing blockbuster flicks, quick queues, and car parks to fit a 1,000 cars along with it.
It was a pretty eerie sight for anyone who has fond memories of the place, but it wasn’t set to be an eerie sight for long as Showcase Cinema agreed to sell the land to Manchester City Council last year.
This news also gave Mancunians a glimpse at plans for The Co-Op Academy Belle Vue – which will be a free school for 1,200 pupils – for the first time, before it will welcome its first set of 120 Year 7 students this September.
The plans released to the public showed a modern L-shaped building split into three ‘zones’.
ADVERTISEMENT
It starts with a two-storey sports block, which will boast a sports hall, auditorium, and a drama studio, and the central three-storey building includes the school’s reception, a community hub with a library on the floor above, and a dining hall.
Sir Robert McAlpine / Space ArchitectsSir Robert McAlpine / Space Architects
An adjoining sports hall also has a separate entrance for out of hours use by the wider Belle Vue community, alongside a 140-space car park.
To the rear of the proposed building – which is currently a car park – two large playing fields will be provided, along with a multi-use games area (MUGA) and training grids, which would have three courts to accommodate tennis and basketball courts, a five-a-side football pitch, and practice areas for netball and hockey.
Things are going to look very different, that’s for sure.
“We are very excited about this new school for East Manchester,” said the Head of The Co-Op Academy Belle Vue, Benjamin Barker – who started in the role in January.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Being able to build and help develop the Belle Vue area and help provide much-needed school places is very important and we are very pleased that Manchester City Council chose Co-op Academies Trust to help make this goal a reality.”
He added: “We’re here to improve the whole community, not just those who attend our new school.”
Councillor Garry Bridges – Executive Member for Children and Schools at Manchester City Council – also added: “We’re fully committed to ensuring there are enough school places right across the city in the areas where they’re needed, and that all children and young people in Manchester, regardless of where they live, benefit from the best education in the best buildings.”
Featured Image – Exploring With Jake
Manchester
Liam Gallagher says he’s ‘ready’ to make a surprise appearance at the World Cup final
Danny Jones
Liam Gallagher has said that he is “ready” to play at the World Cup final should England make it all the way to the last two later this month.
He may have just been having some fun on social media as usual, but you never know – after all, we never actually thought we’d see him and his brother reconcile, but look how that turned out…
In his words, he may have “Irish blood”, but the Manchester-born Britpop and rock icon has an English heart, and after one person online said it’d only be right for him to fly out for the conclusive fixture if Thomas Tuchel’s side make it all the way, he gave a typically off-the-cuff response:
You could argue there’s not much in this besides an impromptu comment from a famously keyboard-happy lead singer, but stranger things have happened.
For instance, it may have come after a gradually increasing barrage of old tweets, pestering and a bit of positive peer pressure in full view of the public eye, but we did at long last get to witness an Oasis reunion with the ‘Live ’25’ world tour; however surreal it felt, it’s soon set to be relived in a documentary.
This reply comes as a response to LG’s initial post on X, in which he wrote: “It’s hard work that singing Harry Kane cmon ENGLAND cmon WONDERWALL.”
It also isn’t the only time he stoked the fire of this still only pie-in-the-sky idea, either, as after another user similarly asked if he’d fly out and sing it at the final, he simply responded, “Oh I’ll show Harry how it’s done.”
He’s not the only one to have made a rather big public proclamation this tournament, either.
The England and Man United legend set himself up for a fall.
As for the 53-year-old musician, he also jokingly quipped at the expense of those less keen on the idea with just as straightforward a clap-back: “Stop crying your heart out.”
Now, obviously, we’re taking this one with a big pinch of salt (enough to season ‘some lasagneee’, you could say), but who knows? There’s been plenty of big and strange showbiz stuff happening at this year’s competition in North America.
Maybe we all need to just keep tagging the Burnage boys, FIFA, England and the official World Cup page as much and hope for at least some kind of Oasis-centric surprise.
Come on, just imagine how much this would go OFF if even one of the Gallagher brothers was in the crowd, let alone this unthinkable hypothetical…
You can now get a pre-holiday carvery at Manchester Airport as new lounge opens
Daisy Jackson
Forget a pre-flight pint or a meal deal – passengers travelling through Manchester Airport can now fill up on a carvery before they go on holiday.
It’s believed to be the UK’s first-ever airport lounge carvery, and has opened as part of the new lounge at Terminal 2.
As well as the carvery, passengers will find live cooking, premium drinks, made-to-order dishes, and barista coffee.
AND before you head to your gate, you can visit the bespoke “One Last Treat” gumball machine, where tokens reveal locally inspired sweets, surprise rewards and complimentary future experiences.
For The Executive by Escape Lounges premium lounge, Manchester Airport has pulled together an impressive roster of local suppliers and makers.
You’ll find everything from Chorlton Cheesemongers cheese to Martins Bakery baked goods, plus Grandpa Greene’s ice cream, Manchester Gin, JW Lees beers, and Ground Effect coffee.
And of course, the decor features a few bee-inspired details and textile references, as well as artwork installations and carefully selected local stories.
Passengers can visit the carvery at the new loungeThere’s also a bespoke gumball machineThe Executive by Escape Lounges lounge at Manchester Airport
There are five distinct areas to explore at The Executive, with fresh pastries at Leaf & Loaf, deli-style options at The Humm, and hot dishes and live cooking at The Loom.
The Loom is also where you’ll find that new carvery experience, so you can load up on roast meat and Yorkshire puddings before your flight.
Sarah Marshall, General Manager at The Executive by Escape Lounges, said: “We wanted to create something genuinely different. The Executive has been designed to feel special from the moment guests arrive, with hospitality, food and thoughtful details at the centre of the experience.
“Dining plays a huge role in how people connect, celebrate and relax before they travel, so we wanted to create a lounge where food and drink are a defining part of the experience rather than simply something that’s available.
“From live cooking and chef-led dishes to local suppliers and seated dining, every element has been carefully considered to create a memorable start to the journey.”
Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world. Our £1.5bn investment in Terminal 2 has transformed the experience for millions of passengers and The Executive is another exciting addition to that offer.
“Passengers increasingly want choice when they travel, and this new lounge provides something genuinely different. It combines premium hospitality with a distinctive food and drink experience, giving passengers another great way to start their journey.”
The Executive by Escape Lounges is now open in Manchester Airport Terminal 2 and can be booked online HERE.
Prices start from £57.99 per person for the Buffet experience. Seated Dining is priced from £82.99 per person and will open for booking later this year, initially available exclusively to eligible airline guests.
Emily Sergeant -
25th May 2021 
