A new Joy Division-inspired bar has opened in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, taking over the old Walrus site on High Street.
Featuring a mural of Ian Curtis by local street artist Akse P-19 and a menu of Asian fusion food with a decidedly Mancunian twist, the space has been completely transformed since its heyday as Walrus.
With restaurant-style seating in front and a speakeasy-meets-nightclub vibe downstairs, new opening Disorder (a nod to the opening track of Joy Division’s seminal album Unknown Pleasures) is the brainchild of longtime Stockport friends James Stewart and Sam Koropisz.
It reminds us of the glory days of Northern Quarter bars, how they used to be maybe ten years ago – in the very best way with drinks and food upstairs and a party waiting to happen down below.
The new green-tiled bar has been shortened to make room for a new snug in the back corner, with sunken Chesterfields in the front windows looking out onto the High Street and a green neon sign nodding to Joy Division’s 1979 album Unknown Pleasures.
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The Ian Curtis mural inside Disorder. / Image: The Manc Eats
Owners and longtime Stockport friends James Stewart and Sam Koropisz. / Image: The Manc Eats
As for the drinks, Disorder boasts 10 beer lines with a range of different options on draught and in bottles, as well as a large collection of whiskeys, sake, gin and more.
On the beer list you’ll find lagers and sour beers from local Manchester breweries and established global ones – including DEYA, Schöfferhofer, Guinness, Delirium and Cloudwater, whilst cocktails continue the pan Asian theme with drinks like the Japanese Slipper.
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The food menu, meanwhile, features items like Japanese sandos made with black pudding, chicken katsu, pickled watermelon, and fried chicken with PB&J, with sides like kimchi crispy noodle salad, smoked togarashi corn ribs and chicken and oyster mushroom karaage.
Elsewhere, you’ll find skewers loaded with the likes of smoked lamb merguez sausage, mushroom bulgogi, chicken yakitori and pineapple and gochujang tofu, and tostadas with ahi watermelon, smoked cauliflower, chicken karaage, tomago and kimchi.
Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats
Underground, a huge DJ booth and club space will welcome in local artists. with an opening weekend set to play host to Manchester legends Bez and Rowetta as well as a live brass band.
Opening in Manchester this weekend, the new bar will be open until late going until 4am on the weekends. To find out more, visit its social media pages here.
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Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
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All students in England to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE
Emily Sergeant
All students in England are soon to be offered the chance to do a new Ukrainian GCSE.
Said to be part of the UK’s ‘enduring support’ for the Ukrainian community and continued commitment to stand with Ukraine and its people, young people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will now have the opportunity to study for a new Ukrainian GCSE, the Government has announced.
While the qualification will be open to all students, it marks a ‘particularly significant’ milestone for Ukrainian children and young people living in the UK.
It’s hoped that the introduction of the new GCSE will help Ukrainians to preserve a vital connection to their language, culture, and identity.
It’s also hoped that it’ll open pathways to future education and employment for all pupils.
In line with the other modern foreign language GCSEs that are currently on offer, the qualification will assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, while also recognising the cultural and historical contexts that shape the Ukrainian language.
Examination board AQA will now begin the next phase of development, bringing together language and subject experts to design what will be a ‘high-quality’ qualification reflecting the richness of Ukrainian language and culture.
Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, commented: “As they build their lives here in the UK, it is right that Ukrainians and their children should have every opportunity to maintain that connection to their heritage and to be proud of who they are.
“This new qualification is available to all pupils and will give them the chance to develop their language skills and celebrate Ukraine’s rich culture and history, while also opening pathways to future study and employment and strengthening our partnership with Ukraine.
“Through that enduring partnership, we are building the lasting ties between our countries that will see the young minds of the future move forward together, and foster connections that transcend borders.”
The Ukrainian GCSE is expected to be available for first teaching from September 2028 – with first assessments taking place in 2029.
Georgina Pellant -
15th February 2023 
