A bar in the centre of Manchester is giving away free pies and pints this Friday to celebrate the start of the Easter long weekend.
Turning Good Friday into ‘Good Pie-Day’, accessible archway theatre bar 53Two has teamed up with award-winning Bolton pie makers H.M. Pasties and Manchester-made Brightside beer to kick start the Bank Holiday in style.
From 5.30pm this Friday, the team will be giving away free food and drink to the first 50 people through 53Two’s doors.
The bar at 53Two under the arches. / Image: Brightside Beer
There’ll be something for everybody, with vegan-friendly bottles and cans provided by Manchester brewery Brightside and a choice of different pie fillings courtesy of H.M Pasties – who ust won the overall vegan category for their chickpea curry pasty at the British Pie Awards last month.
If you’ve not yet made it down to this quirky little indie theatre bar with its baby grand piano, upcycled furniture and cosy book-lined nooks, well, we think a free pie and pint offers the perfect excuse.
A relative newcomer to Manchester’s bar scene, arts charity 53Two opened its doors under the city’s railway arches last summer and has made waves in improving Manchester‘s reputation for accessibility by training all of its staff in basic sign language skills.
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Image: 53Two
The team here can take orders and explain the menu to hearing-impaired guests, whilst tactile card reader pads have been installed for partially sighted customers, and all of the bar tables are designed at a level that allows wheelchairs to fit underneath comfortably
There’s also a lowered bar space and till for wheelchair access, making the new bar and arts hub one of the most accessible venue in Manchester by a mile.
And as well as operating as a theatre bar, 53Two also runs an ‘artists members club’ – meaning that, after 11pm, those working in the cultural sector are able to enter via a secret ‘members entrance’ for a late night post-work drink.
It also hosts a range of events in its second archway and, as a charity, supports diversity and gender equality in the arts, so know that when you spend your money here it’s going to a good place.
To find out more about 53Two and its various comedy, theatre and music nights, live podcasts and quizzes, visit its website here.
Feature image – 53Two
News
The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home
Emily Sergeant
The Council is now offering financial help to support people moving into a smaller and ‘more manageable’ property.
Ever heard of ‘rightsizing? Well, according Manchester City Council it’s a process where a tenant in a larger social rent, Council, or Housing Association property, that may have more rooms than they need or perhaps are struggling to manage a big house as they get older, can be supported into a smaller property that better suits their needs.
The benefits of this process include cheaper bills, lower rents, and overall, just homes that are easier to clean and manage.
The aim of it is also to free up larger Council properties for families who are on the housing register – of which there are said to be around 20,000 of them currently at this time, with larger homes having some of the most significant wait times.
Are you struggling to look after a big Council or housing association home? We can help!
We are offering £2,500 to help people move into a smaller more manageable home, freeing up larger homes for families that need them.
It’s also estimated, according to the Council, that a third of all social rented family homes are thought to ‘underoccupied’.
This is why financial support and grants are now being offered.
Last year alone, 109 households were helped to ‘rightsize’ and were supported in the process by a dedicated team of Council officers, as well as benefitting from the Rightsizing Incentive Scheme – with a further 432 households having expressed interest doing so in the future.
Residents interested in ‘rightsizing’ could get a cash incentive of £2,500, which can be spent on anything they like, along with moving costs.
The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
“Rightsizing could be a brilliant option for older people who are renting a Council home who may have spare rooms they don’t need or would benefit from looking after a smaller property,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development.
“Often a barrier to moving is the cost, but the Council will take care of the financial burden to help a resident move into a new home.
“The benefit for the city is that we can free up more larger homes for people who are waiting for a property that properly meets their needs. We think around a third of Council tenants could be under occupying their home, which means they could be paying more than they need to or they could be hit with the bedroom tax.”
Does this sound like you? Are you ready to ‘rightsize’? Find out more and begin the process via Manchester City Council’s website here.
Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)
News
Trailer released for Netflix’s new Lucy Letby documentary with ‘unprecedented access’
Emily Sergeant
The trailer for Netflix’s new documentary about the investigation of Lucy Letby has been released.
The feature-length film about Lucy Letby – the infamous neonatal nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others under her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital – hears for the first time from the police officers who investigated the case that shook the nation.
It features never-before-seen footage of Letby during her arrests and police questioning, and even includes interviews with experts and lawyers on both sides, as well as with the hospital consultants who initially raised the alarm.
Tragically, it also includes an anonymised interview with a mother of one of the victims, who also speaks for the first time about her experience and involvement in Letby’s trial.
Produced as a result of years of research and relationship-building, the film – simply titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby – is described as being the most ‘comprehensive’ look at one of Britain’s most notorious crimes, and traces developments from her arrest to trial in chronological order.
Viewers will be given ‘unparalleled and exclusive access’ to those central to the story.
“This was an exceptional and demanding project, marked by significant creative and ethical responsibility,” commented director, Dominic Sivyer. “Our aim was to craft a powerful, emotionally resonant depiction of the events surrounding the case.”
Caroline Short, Head of Global TV at ITN Productions – who produced the documentary – added: “The access to all our contributors came with a huge responsibility to present everyone’s perspectives with care and understanding.
“We are grateful to all those people who trusted us to tell their story.”
Georgina Pellant -
13th April 2022 
