Manchester

Manchester hospitality bosses to go head-to-head in DJ battle against food poverty

Charity fundraiser Too Many Owners will bring together owners from Flawd, Junior Jacksons, Common, Albert's Schloss, PKB and more for the ultimate hospitality soundclash.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 11th November 2021

A number of Manchester’s best-known hospitality bosses will go head to head in a DJ battle at Tariff and Dale next week to help raise funds for food poverty organisation Eat Well MCR ahead of Christmas.

Taking place on Wednesday, 17 November, Too Many Owners will see bar and restaurant owners from a number of popular venues in the city take to the decks – pulling out their ultimate party selections in a head-to-head battle.

The event will see the likes of Junior Jackson’s owner Lyndon Higginson face off against Ancoats wine bar Flawd co-owner Richard Cossins, Ramona and The Firehouse’s Andy Windsor, and Johnny Heyes of Nell’s / Common / Port Street Beer House.

Lyndon Higginson (Junior Jackson’s, WATD, Cane & Grain, Crazy Pedro’s, The Bay Horse Tavern etc) pictured with Eco Spirit Global’s Zdenek Kastanek / Image: nomadicecospirit

Also due to be taking part in the Dj battle is Mark Flanagan and Jon Wilkin (PKB), Neil Macleod & James Plant (Albert’s Schloss), Matty Farrell (Salt Dog Slims), James Bates & Dom Jones  (Maray), Tom Coates / Jake Burger (Portobello Road Distillery), David Fox (Tampopo), and Nick De Sousa (Tariff and Dale / The Lead Station).

In previous years, the way the battle has works is there have been several rounds – the first focused on showcasing ‘skills’ in which each owner is given a ten-minute set in which they can play whatever they like. This is then followed by a face-off with the crowd, that sees each owner play single tracks in a bid to qualify for the final.

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Image: Eat Well MCR

In the ultimate final round, owners have then gone back to back as they try to show off their best mixing and selection skills. They’re not always very good, but the event pretty much guarantees everyone gets a good laugh.

It’s all taking place in aid of Eat Well MCR, which works with vulnerable residents in the city to eradicate food poverty and provide healthy, nutritious meals to people in need.

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Working with chefs in various restaurants around the city, Eat Well MCR brings in donated food that would otherwise go to waste, and from that partnering restaurants create top quality meals for people sidelined by poverty.

Image: Eat Well MCR
Image: Eat Well MCR

The collective of Manchester chefs and hospitality professionals has prepared and delivered over 50,000 meals to people facing challenging circumstances in Greater Manchester since April 2020.

Kicking off from 7 pm at Tariff and Dale in Manchester’s northern quarter and running until 11.30 pm, the event will be sponsored by a host of different drinks companies including Edrington Beam, Suntory, Bacardi, Hammonds / Naud Distillery, Mangrove, Ten Locks, Boutinot Wines, Brown Forman.

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Fingers crossed that means there’ll be some decent drink offers going around on the night.

Tickets are priced at £16.76 each, with all proceeds donated to Eat Well MCR and grab yours here.

Featured Image – Tariff and Dale

Manchester

Manchester firefighter surprises partner with proposal during new recruits parade

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester firefighter surprise proposal recruit passing out parade

We’re a sucker for a wholesome little video as we know you are, which is exactly why we thought of you lot when we came across this video of a newly graduated Manchester firefighter surprising his partner with a heartwarming proposal.

Just the kind of heartwarming that usually sets us off after a long week at work.

The clip shared by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) on Thursday, 25 April, shows Manc fireman James popping the question to his girlfriend sat unassumingly in the audience at a recent passing out ceremony.

Pass out ceremonies are when trainees go from recruits to fully qualified firefighters after completing their intensive operational training. It’s a long-standing tradition in the emergency services where friends and family gather to celebrate their achievements – it’s almost like it’s the perfect opportunity…

Watch as a Manc firefighter turns his passing out ceremony into a surprise proposal.

As you can see, since the graduates are usually the centre of attention, James couldn’t help but size his moment and instead of walking and lining up normally like everyone else, he decided to head straight over to his wife-to-be and get down on one knee.

You already know the rest.

Welling up immediately and barely able to remove her hands from her face, Melissa nods and says yes as the crowd cheers and the pair share a smooch.

You just love to see it.

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Writing on social media, the GMFRS said: “We managed to capture a VERY special moment at our new recruits pass out parade today… Congratulations to James and Melissa!”, adding, “Certainly one way to start your new career”.

If we don’t see all the groomsmen dressed as firefighters on a random viral video sometime soon we’re going to be gutted.

All the best to the happy couple and if you’ve got any more lovely clips like this to send in so we can make ourselves cry (in a good way), you know what to do.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

Manchester

Whitworth Locke hotel review: This historic Manchester building is home to one of the city’s most beautiful hotels

Abbie Bartlett Abbie Bartlett

Set in a beautiful 19th Century building in Manchester’s civic quarter, Whitworth Locke aparthotel is right in the middle of all the action.

As someone who works in Manchester but lives over in Leeds, this hotel couldn’t be more ideal for me. Less than 10 minutes from both Piccadilly and Oxford road train stations and St Peter’s Square Metrolink station, the ease of getting to the hotel set off my stay to a flying start.

While the beauty of the building is astonishing, it’s almost one of those hidden gems you might miss if you weren’t looking.

Nestled in between the two sides of the building a stunning conservatory marks the main entrance with comfy seating outside I imagine to be an absolute sun trap when Manchester’s weather decides to be kind to us.

As you walk through the glass-roofed bar to get to reception you literally can’t help but be in awe. New York architects, Grzywinski+Pons, embraced the cotton mills’ original features and designed a space to show off bricks and pillars but softened them with pastel paints.

A stunning conservatory marks the main entrance. Image: Whitworth Locke
the glass-roofed bar with cobbled floors. Image: Whitworth Locke

The bar area has an inside-outside feel, cobbled floors and covered in plants with light beaming in from all angles. Even if I wasn’t spending the night, I could see myself spending the afternoon enjoying some cocktails in this space.

I immediately had a cheery welcome as I approached the reception to check in, which I think really does make all the difference. I was asked about my day, if I needed any help finding my way around Manchester (actually incredibly useful for someone who gets lost as much as I do) and talked through all of the hotel amenities.

The hotel hosts a large gym, perfect for yoga, which is free to use over your stay but I opted out as I wouldn’t have the time. There’s also a lovely coffee shop, Foundation Coffee, serving breakfasts, toasties and of course a lovely cup of joe.

The main attraction though, in my eyes, is the free to use co-working space which takes up a huge part of the ground floor. Happily being used by throughout my visit, the Wi-Fi was great, the seats were comfy and although it was busy, it was nice and quiet.

A large seating and working area.
Comfortable king-sized beds.

Now let’s get onto the rooms, I had the privilege of trying out one of the suites and what a treat it was. Rooms are decorated with blush pink and pastel green with brass finishes, very chic and brings almost a holiday feeling even on a rainy day in Manchester.

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It’s not all about style though, there’s a fully-equipped kitchen with a huge fridge, lovely comfortable king-sized beds and loads of space to unpack your things. An added touch that really made me feel special was the hand written note hoping I enjoy my stay along with a bottle of red wine and chocolates. Safe to say, you know the way to my heart Whitworth Locke.

Kitchen space with table and chairs and larger TV.
The fully-equipped kitchen.
Hand-written note with bottle of red wine.
My handwritten note and bottle of wine.

Overall, I woke up feeling very refreshed from a good night’s sleep and even more so after a long waterfall shower. It was really easy to check out, they even looked after my luggage for the day, and with the great location I was out and on a train to my first meeting of the day with pure ease.

The moment we’ve all been waiting for, let’s talk money. Double rooms are from £99 in low season, and from £199 in high. Competitively I think it is good value for money, the facilities and location matched with the service and cleanliness there isn’t really anything I could knock.

If you’re after a really central Manchester stay with a lovely team and a super cool aesthetic, you won’t go wrong with this one. Book your stay here.

Featured image: The Manc Group

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