A landlord threatened with deportation after putting his life savings into a community pub to keep its doors open has been told he can stay in the UK.
Russell Young, who is originally from Melbourne in Australia, moved to Failsworth four years ago to be with his partner, and took up residence in the 200-year-old local pub The Sun Inn on Oldham Road.
The pair ploughed their savings into the local pub to prevent it from being purchased by developers, but after months of enforced closure during the pandemic, Mr Young had been stopped from hitting the necessary earnings threshold for a living visa in the UK.
The Home Office then told him he must leave the country after rejecting his appeal.
Mr Young was left with just 14 days to try to overturn the result, before having to leave his wife Tracie and family behind in the UK.
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His partner, Tracie Young – who first worked in the pub as a barmaid in 1986, before returning as bar manager in 2015 – said it left the duo “in an impossible situation”, adding: “Despite the difficulty of running a pub in the pandemic, we finished our first year in business with a profit.
“Throughout this year, so many people have been separated from their loved ones – and now, through no fault of our own, our life together is at risk.”
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The Sun Inn in Failsworth / Credit: Facebook
Outraged locals set up a petition urging the Home Office to reconsider their decision that received over 20,000 signatures, and a GoFundMe page went on to raise over £2,000 – with Tracie describing the support as “mind-blowing”.
And now, after two months of stress and an entirely new application, Mr Young has been given a five-year visa to stay in Britain.
The pair were waiting in line at the local post office when Ms Young received a call from Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser Sacha Lord – who has been a large backer of the pair’s fight, recruiting a legal team at Manchester-based JMW Solicitors to help secure Mr Young’s future – telling them the good news.
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Taking to Twitter to express his relief, Lord said: “Phoning Russell to let him know we’d made the Home Office do a U Turn was a nice call to make [and] he can now carry one with his life and serving the community, with his local pub.
“Common sense prevails.”
Good news story:
Phoning Russell, to let him know we'd made the Home Office do a U Turn, was a nice call to make.
He can now carry one with his life and serving the community, with his local pub.
A spokesperson for the Home Office also said: “All applications are carefully considered at the time on their individual merits, on the basis of the evidence provided and in accordance with the immigration rules.
“It is up to applicants to demonstrate they meet the requirements of the route they apply under.”
Featured Image – Tracie Young
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Family-run Greater Manchester business calls out customers for punching cakes
Thomas Melia
A well-known independent Greater Manchester business has taken to social media to call out customers who were caught on CCTV punching their cakes.
Known for everything from cakes and pastries to hot baked goods and custom chocolate designs, Slattery’s in Whitefield has been serving up their gorgeous cake and chocolate creations for over 50 years, all while keeping the business family-run.
Unfortunately, the reason they’re receiving lots of attention at the minute is due to two customers resorting to violence on their pre-packaged sweet-treat products.
The social media account for this Greater Manchester chocolatier has uploaded two images which show the outcome of the fatal blows which struck two of their Victoria Sponge cakes.
Although this punch may have cost them the price of two of their delicious traybakes, later on in the post, Slattery’s issues a big thanks to “All the wonderful families who’ve visited so far this summer.”
“We know cake can be exciting, but a gentle reminder that little bakers should remain under adult supervision at all times – Thank you.”
This third-generation family-run “chocolate wonderland” has brought a smile to many locals’ and tourists’ faces alike with their wide variety of unique-shaped chocolate bars, lollies, grab bags and more.
All throughout 2021, Slattery’s were serving up their moreish Slattery’s Chocolate Lockdown Platters consisting of shortbread, brownies, fudge, pretzels, marshmallows and Oreos, helping Mancs continue to get our sugary fix even during one of the country’s toughest times.
Just look at them – they do the lord’s work:
Slattery’s chocolate shop and bakery has called out customers on social media for punching their pre-packaged cakes / Credit: The Manc Group
As well as attracting visitors with its grand three-storey bakery and chocolate shop, Slattery’s also has its very own restaurant, Mason’s Dining Room, where people flock to attempt the ‘Chocolate Challenge’.
To win, two chocoholics must team up to finish an American-style chocolate fudge cake with chocolate ice cream, a portion of fresh cream and two chocolate pots filled with liquid chocolate sauce – oh and two delicious hot chocolate drinks too.
Any sweet tooth successor will bag themselves one of Slattery’s chocolate medals and a box of handmade chocolates too – in case you needed chocolate anymore.
Lastly, anyone after supporting this Greater Manchester sweet-treat provider can find the chocolatier and cake makers on 197 Bury New Road in Whitefield or via Slattery’s official website HERE.
Featured Images – The Manc Group/Slattery’s (via Instagram)
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Plans to build tower next to Manchester’s historic Britons Protection pub scrapped
Danny Jones
Punters, rejoice: plans to build a large apartment tower next to Manchester’s Britons Protection pub have reportedly been scrapped after a long, drawn-out process and widespread protests.
What a relief.
One of the city’s oldest boozers, the Britons Protection was due to be dwarfed by a large development reaching 26 storeys tall, which not only would have encroached on the cultural landmark and storied watering hole, but also blocked out its popular beer garden to the rear.
We’ve seen a similar loss of outdoor drinking space with the recent St Michael’s development, which has essentially removed the equally historic Sir Ralph Abercromby pub – though it is at least getting a refurb – but in truth, the ‘Protect the Protection’ fight has been going on much longer.
As per a notice published on Manchester City Council’s website this week, it now appears that the plans for 72 new flats have been cancelled, with developers Arrowsmith Management having officially withdrawn their application.
Run by Bahraini businessman Mohamed Abbas Haji, the company is now said to be reassessing its options for the ‘Apex Tower’ proposals.
Speaking to the BBC, Mark Brennan – who took over the pub back in January 2025 – said: “I’m quite happy to be honest, a lot of people say the pub might be busier with more people about, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to people coming in here.”
“It would have looked horrendous… It’s Grade II-listed, so the pub should always be here. It wouldn’t have been a good look, having a big ugly building on top of our building.”
Countless Mancunians have echoed the sentiment over the past few years, with appeals dating back to post-pandemic and a big awareness push in 2021.
Standing for more than two centuries and holding countless awards, it was never going to go quietly.
It also happens to be quite comfortably on our list of the cosiest pubs in Manchester and has been since day dot.
Anyone who’s been in will know the sense of a warm welcome the place always puts out, and we’re overjoyed to hear that years of petitions and campaigning to save it have paid off.
These stories don’t always end with the right outcome (not often enough, anyway), so we’ll definitely be raising a glass to the Britons Protected this weekend.
Unfortunately, we do still have some other sad news from the hospitality sector, as our oldest Manc publican has passed away at a fellow favourite pub.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd August 2021 
