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Bob Mortimer is coming to The Bridgewater Hall for a special interview and Q&A tomorrow

An Evening With Bob Mortimer celebrates the publication of the comedy legend's autobiography ‘And Away…‘

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 14th September 2021

Comedian and national treasure Bob Mortimer will be entertaining fans with a special evening at The Bridgewater Hall tomorrow.

To celebrate the publication of his autobiography ‘And Away…‘, the comedy legend will be appearing in front of a live audience in Manchester on Wednesday 15 September.

The show will consist of a 45-minute interview followed by an audience Q&A.

Mortimer was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2015 which required immediate surgery – forcing him to cancel a tour. But the episode also sets out the framework for his upcoming memoir, which will be discussed in greater detail at the Bridgewater Hall show.

The autobiography also recounts how Mortimer trained as a solicitor and moved to London in the eighties, before a chance encounter in a pub with young comedian Vic Reeves set his life on a different track.

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Six years on from the heart condition that once threatened his career, Mortimer has most-recently found success alongside Paul Whitehouse on BBC2’s brilliant Gone Fishing.

He has also become something of a a social media sensation in recent years with his ‘Train Guy‘ videos.

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‘And Away…’ is Bob Mortimer’s full life story in his own words / Credit: Amazon

An Evening with Bob Mortimer is coming to The Bridgewater Hall on Wednesday 15 September.

You can grab tickets here.

An Evening With Bob Mortimer

  • Date: Wednesday 15 September
  • Time: 8pm
  • Venue: The Bridgewater Hall
  • Cost: £28 or £38 (including a copy of the book)

Featured Image – The Bridgewater Hall

News

Co-op Live has been named the number one arena in Europe following its debut year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Co-op Live arena best in Europe

Despite a rocky opening month or so, Manchester’s Co-op Live made the ultimate instant recovery and has now been named the number one arena not just in the UK but all of Europe.

Manc music venues being best in class? Sounds about right.

Yes, even despite some obstacles, delays and early hiccups, Co-op Live‘s debut year as a live music and indoor entertainment venue has seen it beat out the likes of the long-established and iconic O2 in London to take the top spot.

The inaugural 12 months of the arena have not only seen it welcome all manner of music legends, as well as live sporting events such as the UFC and WWE, but the arena welcomed more visitors than any other venue across the continent during that time.

co-op live top venue for ticket sales in europe
Credit: Press Shot (supplied)

Hosting 105 events since opening, Co-op Live was officially ranked the number one arena for gross ticket sales in the UK and Europe by Pollstar this week.

Names to have graced the industry-leading stage so far include Liam Gallagher, Stevie Nicks and Take That; Peter Kay, Elbow, Sabrina Carpenter, Paul McCartney, and so many more.

Commenting on the successful start, Tim Leiweke (CEO and chairman of the Oak View Group behind the venue) said: “Our ambition was to bring the world’s best music arena to one of the world’s greatest music cities and we are thrilled with the reaction from fans and artists alike over this past year.

“Co-op Live’s revolutionary acoustics investment has already attracted some of the world’s biggest artists and events to Manchester, with many more to come.  And our sustainability commitment will ensure we remain responsible contributors to Manchester and the planet for years to come. 

“We believe that amazing venues can transform cities for the better, and Co-op Live has done just that.”

It’s fair to say we’ve had some truly unforgettable nights in there already – and that’s just in the last month alone. Case and point:

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Artists themselves have fallen in love with it as well, with LG himself putting it on a par with one of the most iconic arenas on the planet.

With a continued commitment to achieving ‘Net Zero’ status too, the venue’s carbon reduction technologies, solar panels, heat pumps and rainwater harvesting, not to mention the recently refreshed CityLink walking in partnership with the Climate Pledge, are all things we can be proud of.

Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, went on to add: “We are delighted with the success of Co-op Live’s first year, and to see it taking the top spot off London.

“It shows Manchester is the home of live music in the UK, with Co-op Live bringing so many exclusives from artists like Bruce Springsteen to the city and Oasis playing massive hometown shows this summer – 2025 is going to be one of the biggest ever for our city’s music scene.”

Meanwhile, things are feeling less fortunate at the grassroots end of the spectrum, as the Music Venue Trust is imploring people to get behind a vulnerable Manc music institution.

Music venue charity issues ‘shocked’ statement ahead of impending Manchester closure
We can’t forget about the small-cap venues that get things started.

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

Featured Images — The Manc Group

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Global sportswear brand PUMA to open new UK HQ in £87m Manchester development

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant No.3 Circle Square CGI

PUMA is set to open its new UK headquarters right here in Manchester.

It has been announced that the global sportswear brand has agreed a 20,000 sq ft lease of cutting-edge workspace in what is turning out to be one of the city’s most exciting destinations for technology, digital innovation, and creative businesses, Circle Square. 

Set to take shape on the Oxford Road Corridor, PUMA’s new HQ will be in the £87 million development being brought forward by Bruntwood SciTech – which is a joint venture between property developers Bruntwood, L&G (Legal & General), and Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

No.3 Circle Square, which is where PUMA will be calling home, forms the latest phase of the neighbourhood’s ‘masterplan’, offering 15 floors of new workspace focused on innovation businesses.

According to developers, the building is currently finalising construction and will open this summer. 

PUMA may already have an existing small presence in Manchester, but this move sees the brand relocate its UK HQ from London to Manchester.

The new Manchester HQ will be home to the company’s sales, marketing, merchandising, finance, people and operations, and direct to consumer departments.

PUMA says its new Manchester base will allow it to work side-by-side with existing forward-thinking and disruptive businesses and institutions that are already located at the Circle Square campus, and in the wider city centre, and provide it with new opportunities to collaborate and innovate as it continues to focus on innovation and advancing performance.

The location will also put PUMA on the doorstep of the city’s world-leading academic institutions too, giving it access to Manchester’s top STEM and creative talent in the city.

“The move to Circle Square and state-of-the-art facilities on offer forms a key part of our strategy for providing PUMA’s employees with a first class working environment with top facilities and amenities,” commented Lucynda Davies, who is PUMA’s UK Managing Director, as the new UK HQ was announced this week.

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“Being surrounded by such a strong line up of industry was an important factor, and to find somewhere in the heart of Manchester’s thriving tech community is exactly what we hoped for.

“We’ve already experienced many of the gains that a thriving city like Manchester affords… and now, through our new UK HQ, we look forward to further integrating ourselves in the city’s innovative community.”

Featured Image – Bruntwood SciTech

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