News

Euro 2020: Manchester restaurant The Botanist to close early on Sunday to give staff night off

In a generous move, bosses are closing restaurants early so teams can watch the match from home

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 9th July 2021

Manchester restaurant The Botanist has confirmed today that it will be closing early on Sunday night to give its staff the night off to watch the Euros.

Bosses at the group have confirmed today that as football is coming home, their staff should be going home to see it.

In response, numerous Botanist venues across Manchester will be shutting early on Sunday ahead of the 8pm Euro 2020 Final kick-off to allow hundreds of staff to watch England play Italy with friends and family.

Inside one of The Botanist restaurants / Image: The Botanist

Some venues in Manchester and Alderley are already fully booked for the football, so they will be staying open – namely The Oast House and The Botanist in Altrincham.

However, for the most part, all of The Botanist venues will close early on Sunday ready for staff to head home at 7.30pm.

ADVERTISEMENT

In Greater Manchester, Deansgate, MediaCity and Didsbury will all shut.

Throughout the day, guests can enjoy The Botanist’s botanical cocktails and kebabs whilst they count down to kick-off with the last booking on Sunday at 5:30pm – which will give them just under two hours at the table.

ADVERTISEMENT
The Botanist is known for its legendary hanging kebabs / Image: The Botanist

“Gareth Southgate has shown us all the value of teamwork in the past few weeks – and how every squad member is vital to being successful. That is why we are announcing we’ll be closing early on Sunday to allow as many of our staff as possible to watch the game,” said Matt Bamber, Operations Director for New World Trading Company who owns The Botanist.

“We still have a handful of sell-out sites showing the game in Alderley Edge, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham and Cardiff – we don’t want to be a jinx for any superstitious fans who’ve visited us for every game.

“We’re incredibly grateful to those staff that remain committed to working in this final game.”

The Botanist isn’t the only restaurant in Manchester to be doing this – in fact, quite a lot of venues in the city – including Sugo and Wood Fire Smoke – have been posting about implementing their own “self-imposed curfews” this Sunday ahead of the Euros 2020 final.

The Botanist will be open again as normal from Monday, 12th July – and you can check out their menus and opening times on their website here.

News

Fans are preparing to pay tribute to Mani from The Stone Roses ahead of his funeral service

Danny Jones Danny Jones pay tribute to Mani funeral plans procession route Manchester

Stone Roses fans and Greater Manchester locals alike are getting ready to pay their respects to the late, great, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, following his tragic passing last month.

As well as details surrounding his funeral being announced earlier this week, the iconic Manc musician’s cause of death has also finally been revealed.

Mani was sadly confirmed dead on 20 November, aged just 63, just over a month on from attending fellow local legend and friend Ricky Hatton’s memorial and public procession.

While Hatton’s service featured a high-profile cortège which started all the way from his hometown of Hyde, past multiple landmarks and ending at the Etihad Stadium, those local to Mani’s family home on the edge of Stockport are also being welcomed to help send him off.

It has now been confirmed that Mani – born in Crumpsall but raised in Moston and Failsworth – unfortunately passed away from long-term respiratory issues.

He had been struggling with emphysema for some time; he was declared dead at his home in the suburb of Heaton Moor, and is said to have died peacefully in his sleep.

As you can see from the posters put in various places around the area, residents wishing to pay their own tributes to Mani before his private funeral service at Manchester Cathedral are encouraged to line the long street leading down from St Paul’s and Heaton Moor United Church as he heads towards the city.

Departing Parsonage Road from 10am on Monday, 22 December, before turning right onto Heaton Moor Rd, then Wellington and eventually on to the Cathedral, you can expect plenty of people to show up.

One of those people will be his former bandmate and another influential guitarist, John Squire, who is one of many famous musical names to have honoured him in their own way over the last few weeks.

Other members of The Stone Roses, as well as Primal Scream (who he joined in 1996), are expected to join the close family and friends at the service itself.

Nevertheless, we have no doubt that plenty will be observing the funeral in their own way.

So, for those of you also looking to honour him, you know what to do; and to quote the poster itself, “together we can show this local legend and his family that he was truly adored.”

Rest in peace.

Read more:

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

Featured Images — @gachayatta (via X)/@aktivioslo (via Flickr)

News

Plans to transform Chorlton’s old shopping centre have been green-lit

Danny Jones Danny Jones Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre being redeveloped

Yes, after a prolonged period of uncertainty, the plans put together for redeveloping Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre are now moving forward.

Following an extensive consultation period back in 2023 and planning permission having now been approved by Manchester City Council, the transformation of the long-neglected retail complex has been green-lit, and the project will be moving forward even sooner than you think.

As confirmed earlier this week, Stretford-based construction company PJ Livesey will be working in tandem with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund to deliver the major regeneration, which will see even more living spaces and leisure facilities arrive in the already thriving suburb.

Following an official press release on Thursday, 18 December, we’ve now been given a latest glimpse at what the developers are hoping the new Chorlton Cross district will look like.

new chorlton cross plans CGI pics
Credit: Font Communications (supplied)

Plans for the transformation of both the high street and the old Leisure Centre date back to 2023 and even further when taking into account the Council asking the public for their thoughts on what should happen with the area, but Chorlton Cross, specifically, has been the subject of debate for some time.

The bulk of units in and around the largely forgotten shopping centre are now empty, with just a few hold-outs still clinging on to their space.

You can find countless videos on YouTube, TikTok and other social media platforms of people touring the once bustling but now abandoned main square.

Now, following extensive feedback from native Mancs and those who have flooded into the South Manchester town over the past decade, the approved plans have now been revealed.

They include:

  • A mix of 262 one, two and three-bed apartments, all with access to outdoor space through balconies and gardens
  • 20% affordable homes available through a mix of tenures, with 18.5% of these being available for social rent
  • Around 3,500 sq metres of public open space, including a fully walkable route through Manchester Rd and outdoor seating areas to encourage people to stop and dwell
  • A mix of flexible retail spaces, such as a new ‘Makers Yard’ suitable for smaller, start-up businesses
  • Up to 60 new trees across the site with maximised retention of existing trees

Manc filmmaker, Bernard Leach – who has been making videos about the region since 2007 – shared a longer look at how the vision for this next chapter in Chorlton‘s residential and retail history is currently shaping up earlier this month.

As you can see, some sections of the old Lancashire village and ‘cum-Hardy’ parish could look rather unrecognisable sooner than you think.

Should everything go ahead as scheduled, those involved are hoping to get work underway in the New Year, with the ‘decommissioning’ of all existing buildings, including Graeme House, undergoing demolition by early 2026.

With the majority vacating their premises in recent years, it’s fair to say that it’s been vastly underutilised for far too long.

Posting on social media back in September last year, nearby resident Nigel Woodcock wrote: “Serious question, not just councillor-baiting, but can anyone explain why the retail businesses in Chorlton Precinct were booted out before any decisions were made about what’s going to happen to it?

“It makes no sense to me. No plans have even been submitted, so far as I’m aware, so why kick out those businesses and leave it derelict for so long? The land and buildings are actually owned by the combined GM Local Authorities, so one might expect a modicum of political and business nous to be applied.”

Similar to the new plans being put together for the stretch of land between Castlefield and Salford, most are just glad something is finally happening with the space.

Plans unveiled for new ‘island district’ in Manchester

Commenting on the plans progressing, PJ Livesey’s Managing Director, Georgina Lynch, said in an official statement: “This is a landmark moment for Chorlton, marking the transformation of the former
shopping centre into a vibrant new hub for the community.

“Working closely with Manchester City Council, we’ve carefully balanced the delivery of much-needed new homes – including 20% affordable – with the creation of lively, welcoming spaces to shop, relax, and spend time.

“This site is at the heart of Chorlton, and we’re bringing it back to life, cementing the area’s reputation as a truly great place to live.”

What do you make of the Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre regeneration plans?

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more:

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

Featured Images — Nigel Woodcock (via Facebook)/CGI (supplied via Font Comms)

More News

Sign up for Great Manchester Run place in 2026

City Centre

Be part of the biggest Great Manchester Run ever

New Year's Eve fireworks display Manchester City Centre

Christmas

New Year’s Eve fireworks and special Albert Square party confirmed for Manchester city centre

See the Highland Cows in the Peak District

Feature

The most-read Manchester stories of 2025, from Primark Home to Peter Kay’s sass

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches