The former home of the BBC on Oxford Road is now home to Manchester’s highest private dining space.
Boasting stunning views across the city, at 35 storeys high Circle Square’s top-floor Astronomer private dining space is officially the highest private dining space in Manchester – sitting a staggering 14 floors above the dining room at Spinningfields’ restaurant 20 Stories.,
Inside The Astronomer, Manchester’s new highest private dining space and roof terrace / Image: Vita Group
Housed at the top of the new residential development, the dining space also features a bookable private roof terrace, which stands tall at over 110 metres above city level and celebrates breath-taking views across the city.
It has been built as part of the huge regeneration project Circle Square, a joint venture between Vita Group and Bruntwood SciTech that is currently one of the north’s largest urban regeneration projects.
The development will also bring the first and largest public park created in the city in a decade, by way of a beautifully designed new green space created to be enjoyed by residents and passers-by.
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Called Symphony Park, the new green space is open to the public and brings some much-needed greenery to the busiest bus route in Europe.
Inside The Astronomer, Manchester’s new highest private dining space and roof terrace / Image: Vita Group
As the joint venture nears completion and heads into its final stage, tenants are now being welcomed to take residence in the building’s luxury apartments designed by Vita Living.
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As well as the breathtaking top floor dining room, the snazzy new building also features three more private dining rooms which have been purpose-built for the enjoyment of residents.
First launched in January 2021, Vita Living East is now nearing full occupancy with only a handful of the 266 apartments still available.
Vita Living North also boasts 417 design-led apartments across 35 storeys, with class-leading amenity space over three floors, bookable suites, a 24-hour gym, communal lounges, and casual workspaces.
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Inside The Astronomer, Manchester’s new highest private dining space and roof terrace / Image: Vita Group
Boutique fitness studio TRIB3 has also now to officially opened its doors to the public, alongside a host of retail and leisure brands such as Canvas and Hello Oriental all heading into their final stages of fit-out ready to open.
They join Circle Square’s thriving urban village of quirky independent retailers at Hatch, which has been bustling since it first opened in 2017 and now welcomes over 55,000 visitors each month.
Inside Circle Square, the home of Manchester’s new highest private dining space and roof terrace / Image: Vita Group
Vita Group’s Mark Stott said: “The sheer sense of occasion really hits you when you arrive at Circle Square now that park is open, and work draws to a close. Symphony Park, Manchester’s first public park to open in decades creates a harmonic escape from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Road.
“Vita Living North completes the puzzle, boasting some of the very best luxury apartments in the city with unbeatable views. The scale of investment which has gone into Manchester’s Circle Square is something which hasn’t been delivered in a city outside of London and Vita Living North apartments offer the very best in terms of place, amenities, and location. As such, we’re expecting unprecedented demand as these apartments launch to market for the first time.”
Feature image – Vita Group
Manchester
Pixies to play three Manchester gigs as part of major European tour in 2024
Emily Sergeant
Pixies are heading out on a European tour in 2024, and they’re stopping off here in Manchester for three nights.
After recently playing to intimate Manchester crowds at the relaunch of iconic music venue, Band on the Wall, and to thousands at Castlefield Bowl as part of 2023’s Sounds of the City concert series, Pixies have announced they’ll be making a return to our city once again next year, and they’ve got three gigs lined-up.
The influential and pioneering US alt rock band are set to head out on a tour of some of the biggest cities in Europe tour in 2024, and will be performing a selection of tracks from their hugely-acclaimed albums, Bossanova and Trompe Le Monde – which were released in 1990 and 1991 respectively.
Black Francis and co will be taking over Manchester’s iconic Albert Hall for three major gigs on Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13, and Thursday 14 March 2024.
Bossanova was the band’s third studio album, and was praised by critics for showing their less primal side, with a recurring sci-fi theme running throughout, and surf and space rock influences at the forefront.
‘Alison’, ‘Dig For Fire’, ‘Velouria’, and ‘Cecilia Ann’ were just some of the notable tracks from the album.
Trompe Le Monde, on the other hand, was known for having bookended a run of landmark records for the band, and although it was their fourth album, it’s arguably the most playful in their catalogue – with singles ‘Planet of Sound’, ‘Alec Eiffel’, and ‘Letter to Memphis’ featuring lyrics on UFOs, conspiracy theories, and more to prove Black Francis and co were still restless to push their sound forward.
Both albums are described by critics as sounding just as fresh and relevant today in 2023 as they did when they were released over 30 years ago.
Bossanova (1990) and Trompe Le Monde (1991) by Pixies / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Pixies’ celebration of these two iconic albums will see them perform across major European cites such as London, Dublin, Paris, and Amsterdam, as well as Manchester for three nights.
Pixies – Bossanova x Trompe Le Monde Tour 2024
8, 9 & 10 March – Olympia Theatre Dublin
12, 13 & 14 March – Albert Hall Manchester
16, 17 & 18 March – O2 Forum Kentish Town (London)
20, 21 & 22 March – Paradiso Amsterdam
25, 26 & 27 March – L’Olympia Theatre Paris
Tickets to the Bossanova x Trompe Le Monde Tour 2024 are officially set to go on general sale this Friday 9 June from 9am.
Hit Stockport sandwich shop Rack is opening a second cafe in Sale
Georgina Pellant
Stockport’s favourite sandwich shop is coming to Sale, it has been revealed this week.
The small but mighty butty shop is expanding, as owners unveiled plans to open a new cafe and brunch spot inside a former barber’s shop in Sale.
Set to open on School Road later this year, the team will move into a characterful and quirky space in M33 following a full refurbishment.
With a hidden entrance down a side alley and then up a flight of exterior stairs, it might not be the easiest to find but – based on the calibre of butties coming out of their original shop – we know with certainty this will be worth seeking out.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Promising to keep it ‘all things sandwich’, just as they do at the original Stockport shop, on the Sale menu fans of things in bread will be as well catered to as ever with a dedicated grilled sandwich menu, plus staple breakfast butties and regular specials.
That’s not all, though. Given the increased size of the new space, the Rack team is also planning on introducing a new brunch menu – although details are currently being kept under wraps.
Sharing the news with fans online in a post that has been liked over 500 times, the Rack team wrote: “Huge Sandwich & Brunch Announcement.
“We’re opening a brand new sandwich and brunch spot on School Road in Sale M33! Taking over the space that once was a quirky first floor barber shop on the high street – The entrance is down the side alley and up the stairs, it’s got bags of character.
“Swipe to see how buzzing we were to start smashing walls down and see some of the progress. Keep your eyes peeled for progress pics and the menu drop – opening soon!
“We’ll be keeping it all things sandwich but with the addition of a new brunch menu. It’s a much bigger space than the Stockport OG store and we’re very excited!”
Fans have been quick to share their excitement for the new opening, with one person writing: “Down the road from my office? Oh this is great news!”
Another person said: “It’s gonna be a good one! Great addition to Sale after the Foodhall sadly shut. New lunch spot right here!”
A third person added: “Brilliant news. Welcome to Sale!”
To find out more about Rack and keep up to date with the team’s news ahead of the Sale opening, make sure to follow them on Instagram here.