A brand new seafood restaurant and cocktail bar is popping up in Manchester this spring bringing marine-inspired small plates and drinks to Deansgate Square.
Called Pesky, it’s the brainchild of Zaide O’Rourke – a former bartender at the Alchemist with a masters degree in food science and nutrition.
Inspired by Zaide’s time spent living abroad in Sweden, the restaurant will aim to make seafood accessible to all with nibbles and small plates starting from just £4.
Oysters will be a speciality, served with pickled rhubarb and herb oil, or as ‘Drunken Oysters’ with recommended shot pairings.
Elsewhere, further seafood small plates will include panko-breaded cod cheeks with tartare, hake and chimichurri, and king prawn okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancakes) with bonito flakes.
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Inspired by Zaide’s time spent living abroad in Sweden, the restaurant will aim to make seafood accessible to all with nibbles and small plates starting from just £4. / Image: Pesky
It won’t all be seafood, though, with another small plates section mostly dedicated to plant-based ‘land food’ like corn ribs, shaved fennel and grapefruit salad, and grilled aubergine and labneh with pomegranate molasses.
For pudding, guests can enjoy kladkakka (a Swedish sticky chocolate cake with olive oil and sea salt) or a refreshing green apple sorbet with ginger crumb
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As for drinks, think seaweed-flavoured martinis and pale ales, grapefruit negronis and whiskey sours softened with black cardamom – plus a good selection of classic cocktails, beers, wine and soft drinks.
The restaurant’s interior has been inspired by nature. Inside, diners will find a calm setting with neutral tones, ashy dark walnut furniture and an elevated bohemian vibe peppered with natural materials such as wild grasses.
Guest djs will play a soundtrack of deep and soulful house mixes with some added disco vibes.
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Speaking on the new opening, Pesky owner Zaid O’Rourke said: “I am so excited to start feeding the folk of Manchester, and hopefully I get to meet loads of friendly faces over some cocktails (or seaweed pale ale if that’s your thing) next month.”
Pesky will open from 2- 27 March at Deansgate Square.
BBC releases first look of new drama series based on inspirational journey of England men’s football team
Emily Sergeant
First look images of a new BBC drama series based on award-winning play Dear England have been released.
The four-part series based on James Graham’s Olivier-award winning play of the same name tells the story of Gareth Southgate and the England men’s football team journey to renewed success, and it’s set to air on BBC One and iPlayer next year.
Dear England is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews.
The stage play premiered at the National Theatre to five-star reviews, winning an Olivier award for ‘Best New Play’, and enjoying a sell-out run in 2023 before it returned to the National Theatre earlier this year and then embarked on a national tour.
The first look images of new BBC series Dear England have been released / Credit: BBC
With the worst team track record for penalties in the world when he takes over as manager, Gareth knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take England back to the promised land.
The country that gave the world football has delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t the England team win at their own game?
Joseph Fiennes will reprise his Olivier award-nominated role as Gareth Southgate in the new series.
Joseph Fiennes will star as former manager Gareth Southgate / Credit: BBC
The first look pictures see Fiennes in his role for the first time in scenes depicting England’s triumphant Euro 2024 Semi-Final celebrations, where the men’s team reached their first final of a major tournament on foreign soil.
Fiennes is joined by Jodie Whittaker as England men’s team psychologist Pippa Grange, and Daniel Ryan as Steve Holland the former assistant manager, whilst Will Antenbring stars as Harry Kane, joined by an ensemble cast of upcoming actors as the rest of the team.
Among the squad cast is Adam Hugill, Josh Barrow, and screen newcomer Lewis Shepherd, who are all reprising their respective stage roles as Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford, and Dele Alli.
Dear England will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the new year, with exact air dates set to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – BBC
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World’s rarest lions arrive at Chester Zoo as part of global breeding programme
Emily Sergeant
Two of the world’s rarest lions have arrived at Chester Zoo as part of efforts to protect the highly endangered animals from extinction.
The pair, a male named Nilay, who has travelled from Köln Zoo in Germany, and a female named Shanti, who has arrived from London Zoo, are Asiatic lions who have been carefully matched with each other following what has been described as a ‘detailed genetic analysis’ as part of an international conservation breeding programme.
Conservationists say the pair have ‘formed an instant connection’, and are hopeful that they’ll go on to have cubs in the future.
Chester Zoo has been identified as a ‘key player’ in helping to safeguard the long-term survival of Asiatic lions – a breed of which there are thought to be fewer than 900 of in the wild.
The world’s rarest lions have arrived at Chester Zoo as part of a global breeding programme / Credit: Chester Zoo
Carnivore experts at the zoo have released the first images of the iconic cats exploring their expansive new home, which has been specially designed to recreate the dry forests and scrublands of India’s Gir Forest – the only place on Earth where Asiatic lions still exist in the wild.
Asiatic lions are classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which only reinforces the need for urgent conservation intervention.
Experts warn that, without effective conservation, the big cats could follow in the footsteps of the Barbary and Persian lions – that once roamed North Africa and the Middle East – and vanish from the wild all together.
“The arrival of Nilay and Shanti marks an exciting new chapter in our conservation efforts to protect one of the world’s most extraordinary and endangered animals,” explained Dave Hall, who is the Team Manager of Carnivores at Chester Zoo.
“Now that they’ve had time to settle in, we’ve successfully introduced the pair to one another in a special behind-the-scenes area, and the early signs are incredibly positive.
“We’re hopeful that as their bond grows stronger, we may one day have a pride again here at Chester, which would be another truly special milestone for the safety-net population of Asiatic lions.”
Georgina Pellant -
28th February 2022 
