News

First images released of new ‘waterfront foodie destination’ coming to Salford Quays

Central Bay will be one of the biggest independent food and drink operations in the North.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 8th March 2023

The first images of a brand-new foodie destination on the waterfront down at Salford Quays have now been released.

As part of a wider £3.5 million transformation of the waterfront stretch at Quayside MediaCity, and set to open sometime early this summer, the new drinking and dining destination will be known as ‘Central Bay’, and not only will become the first of its kind in Salford, but also one of the biggest in the Greater Manchester region.

Named after the original stretch of dock that was once a thriving loading bay during the industrial revolution, and sitting at the heart of the areas different cultural landmarks like The Lowry, Imperial War Museum North, and Coronation Street’s studios, Central Bay will take over 25,000 sq ft and fill it with “exciting food and drink experiences”.

Not only that, but the destination will also occupy 2,000 sq ft of south-facing outside terrace space – with room for up to 600 visitors to be able to enjoy unrivalled views of some of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks.

This means Central Bay will be one of the biggest independent food and drink operations in the North.

According to operators Blend Family – which is working in partnership with Quayside MediaCity to deliver the Salford concept, and is the team behind the hugely-successful food halls Cutlery Works in Sheffield, and The GPO in Liverpool – Central Bay will be home to four new independent restaurants, and 13 kitchens.

The food hall area at Central Bay is to be known as Kargo, while the street vendor elements will be branded as Kargo Mkt – which operators say is to “alignin with the area’s rich history”.

Central Bay will also play host to pop-up events, indie markets, and live music performances, as well as a recreation and play space for children.

More announcements are set to be made in the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled.

A map showing where Central Bay will be located on Salford Quays / Credit: Quayside MediaCity

“Central Bay is an ambitious and transformational project for Quayside MediaCity which will be a fantastic place for our growing number of residents, workers, students and visitors to enjoy great food, in a tranquil yet vibrant waterside setting,” Stephen Wild, Managing Director for MediaCity, said ahead of the launch later this year.

“It will be truly unique and a celebration of local food, drink and art.

“Central Bay will add another dimension to MediaCity and Quayside and will bolster its growing reputation as a leading leisure and cultural destination.”

Matt Bigland, Founder and CEO of Blend Family, also called Central Bay an “exciting development”, adding that: “The passion the Quayside MediaCity team have for creating new, exciting experiences for everyone who lives, works, and visits the area is infectious.

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“We can’t wait to announce Central Bay and Kargo’s first line-up of incredible food vendors and bring our offering to Salford.”

Featured Image – Quayside MediaCity

News

There’s a World Gravy Wrestling Championship near Greater Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia World Gravy Wrestling Championships Greater Manchester

Just on the outskirts of Greater Manchester, there’s a country pub set in a rural village that hosts a world gravy wrestling championship.

Leave it to us northerners to organise a world gravy wrestling championship because let’s face it, there’s nothing more northern than plummeting yourself into bucket loads of gravy.

It’s a well-known fact that we Brits, especially northerners, love a good splash of gravy with our meals – so much so, in fact, that according to one study, we drench meals in gravy three times a week.

At The Rose ‘N’ Bowl in the village of Stacksteads, it’s not just their meals they’re drenching in the brown nectar; they drench any willing guest in this beige saucy goodness too as part of the World Gravy Wrestling Championships.

Here’s a little taster from nearly a decade ago.

Participants are expected to wrestle in the gravy for two minutes, with the winner being judged not only on their play-fighting skills but also on their choice of fancy dress, comedy effect and entertainment.

Past wrestlers have rocked up as zebras, racehorse jockeys and famous TV characters like Ali G and Mickey Mouse.

Each wrestler is encouraged to raise money on behalf of a charity of their choice, but if you don’t have one, donations will be sent to East Lancashire Hospice, which has helped people countywide suffering from life-limiting illness for the past 30 years.

The World Gravy Wrestling Championships have been held outside this very pub for over a decade, with the first ever event taking place at a car park in Wigan before it found a permanent home outside The Rose ‘N’ Bowl.

And if swimming in a pool of gravy isn’t for you, don’t fret because there’s a handful of sauce-free activities you can get involved with spread throughout the pub’s car park.

Fret not, past events have included bouncy castles, cheerleading performances, craft beer stalls, cake and tombola stands and even a BB gun shooting range that are all completely gravy-free.

There will even be help from a local fire brigade who will be on hand to wash down wrestlers in between their gravy-filled tournament, so they can wander round all the stalls too.

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The 2025 World Gravy Wrestling Championships are coming to The Rose ‘N’ Bowl in Stacksteads on 25 August, with tickets available in person only, but plenty of information about the event HERE.

If you’re after signing up to be one of the wrestlers at this event, applications are still open and you can get stuck in with all the details you need HERE.

And if that wasn’t enough Northern food competitive action, we’ll catch you at the World Black Pudding Hurling Championships, innabit.

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

Featured Images – Caravanum (via Flickr)

News

Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and more near Greater Manchester

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

There’s a million-pound Victorian-style mansion that has 10 bedrooms and its own personal swimming pool just outside of Greater Manchester.

Just like the childhood nursery rhyme, “There were three in the bed and the little one said… there’s another seven beds, roll over!” or at least that’s how they remember it in this character property.

Located in Warrington, less than an hour away from Manchester city centre, this property is a semi-detached Victorian property built in 1860, with 10 bedrooms and its own private swimming pool, all spread across four floors.

As soon as you enter the foyer, your eyes are drawn to the sleek silver chandelier before you notice the grand staircase, which feels like a piece of living history.

Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market)

The ground floor hosts two of a whopping 10 bedrooms alongside a teal-toned farmhouse-style kitchen and that extremely impressive swimming pool with its own built-in projector.

In the kitchen, the focal point is the large wrap-around kitchen unit, which is accompanied by a variety of hanging lights and a big central island.

On the way to the swimming pool, there are a handful of lockers identical to those found in a leisure and as you enter the room, your eyes are drawn to the island-inspired feature wall.

Venture upstairs to the first floor and you’re greeted by five spacious bedrooms with one having its own en-suite while the rest share a main bathroom.

Each of these bedrooms follows a completely different design style, with the largest following a muted grey palette with pops of yellow thanks to the artwork and bed accessories.

The grand staircase and one of ten bedrooms inside this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
The grand staircase and one of ten bedrooms inside this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
The grand staircase and one of ten bedrooms inside this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market

As you go upstairs again, you’ll find (you guessed it) even more bedrooms, three to be exact, with the standout

The stand-out of this second floor is the navy-walled bedroom with a vintage vanity unit, patterned floor-to-ceiling curtains and a similarly dark-blue rug to match its four walls.

Another flight of stairs and you’ve finally reached the top of this property, and there’s an LED-lined ceiling and a neutral bedroom colour scheme of greys, whites and everything in between.

There are various amenities nearby, including three schools and three train stations… for if you get fed up of strolling around your four-floored ten-bed, swimming pool-owning mansion.

Two contrasting bedrooms found within this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
Two contrasting bedrooms found within this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
Two contrasting bedrooms found within this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market

We know this property may not be in the price range and might not be affordable for a lot of readers, ourselves included, but we can dream, right?

You can check out this Victorian mansion and flick through even more pictures of this property – Snooping never hurt anybody? Official site HERE.

As always, make sure to check out The Manc‘s property page to check all the other stunning structures currently on sale/in progress across Greater Manchester and in the nearby North West.

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

Featured Images – Supplied via On The Market

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