Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester Sacha Lord launched a legal challenge against the government last year
Sacha Lord has revealed that the government dropped the ‘substantial meal’ rule for pubs and restaurants from their recent lockdown exit roadmap as a result of his court case.
Under the COVID tier system in 2020, ministers introduced a rule for ‘high risk’ regions that pub customers must order food with their drinks – creating confusion as to what constituted a ‘substantial meal’.
When quizzed on the matter, Michael Gove flip-flopped on whether scotch eggs fell into the ‘starter’ or ‘main’ category, whereas Robert Jenrick claimed a Cornish pasty would qualify if it was ordered alongside chips or a salad.
However, the latest plan to reopen the economy states that hospitality venues can resume trading from April 12 without any item-ordering regulations.
In his address to parliament on February 22, Boris Johnson declared that the “scotch egg debate will be over” and there would be no further confusion as to which dishes justified the accompaniment of an alcoholic drink.
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On Monday (March 1), the Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester revealed the decision not to reimpose the rule came as a direct result of his court case against the government.
Lord called the result a “landmark victory for hospitality”.
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Today I can announce the Government dropped the substantial meal requirement in their recent roadmap as a result of our court case.
Judges in our case ruled the measure was arguably discriminatory towards certain sections of society.
Lord launched a legal challenge against the government last year, claiming that the sector has been treated unfairly throughout the course of the pandemic.
Previous restrictions have led to the closure of ‘wet’ pubs that could not serve food alongside drinks, with the 10pm curfew also causing issues for late-night venues.
Following examination of the case put forward by Lord and his legal team, judges have ruled “the substantial measure was arguably discriminatory towards certain sections of society.”
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All court costs recovered are set to be distributed evenly between Hospitality Action and the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity.
Following the ruling, Lord said that work is ongoing to determine why indoor hospitality is reopening at a later date than shops in 2021.
“We will continue to work on behalf of the night time economy and hospitality sectors to ensure measures imposed are fair to both operators and the public,” he stated.
“Finally, I can confirm my legal team and I are now in discussions regarding the lack of evidence to justify the delay of the reopening of hospitality compared with non-essential retail.”
The substantial meal rule gained notoriety amid debate over whether a scotch egg was a starter or main / Image: Kake / Flickr
The Warehouse Project and Parklife founder has been one of the leading voices for hospitality during the pandemic, appearing on multiple media outlets to campaign for fairer rulings for the sector.
Lord added: “If something’s clearly wrong, we shouldn’t just accept rules made by the government.
“They should be challenged.”
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Medlock Square: Manchester’s new £300 million entertainment destination on the Etihad Campus
Danny Jones
Manchester’s newest entertainment destination, located over at the ever-growing Etihad Campus, has finally been given a name ahead of its launch later this year.
Alongside the recently announced and Radisson-run hotel, Medlock Square will see the Manchester City-partnered mini leisure district aim to become a new must-visit part of the city.
Hoping to draw in crowds beyond just matchdays and those heading to concerts across the way, approximately £300 million is being pumped into the project.
With Co-op Live having already brought huge revenues into Greater Manchester, it isn’t just set to be a pricey development, but one that will look to serve as yet another money spinner for the wider City Football Group (CFG) and the City Region.
Credit: CFG (supplied)
Unveiling the first CGIs of the square this week, this new area will essentially see attractions and activities spill out of the Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live and the soon-to-open Medlock hotel and on to the campus as a whole.
With other parts of Sportcity already revolving around the footballing epicentre, such as the Manchester Regional Arena and National Squash Centre, this will not only see even more sporting events and supporters brought to the roughly 80-acre plot, but also fans of various other forms of entertainment.
For instance, within the plans that already include the food and drink offerings you would expect – with Radisson Blu backing more of the relaxation and indulgent side of things – other activities include everything from “an adrenaline-fuelled sky walk experience”, as well as zip-wire and abseiling.
We already knew about some of these from the details in Man City’s stadium expansion plans (including the likes of The Medlock and rooftop bar), and glimpses of the impending hotel opening gave us a better idea of the overall look, but there looks to be plenty more in the pipeline.
You can see a trailer for what they have in mind for Medlock Square down below.
Welcome to Medlock Square. Manchester’s newest entertainment destination. A place where mouthwatering cuisine and world class entertainment, experiences and events converge. Coming soon! pic.twitter.com/4bC7NQbMHT
As per an official press release by the fledgling team, more information on further business and employment opportunities has also now been confirmed, centring around the new ‘One Medlock Square’ structure that will be built on the campus.
“Designed to accommodate up to 300 employees, the state-of-the-art workspace will offer high-quality, modern office facilities alongside access to shared event spaces and wellness amenities, uniquely positioned within Manchester’s most exciting new destination”, the statement reads.
There’s certainly some ambitious stuff in the works, put it that way.
And, of course, these will also slot into a renovated club shop turned meagstore, an all-new Man City museum, the Co-op arena, live music and other open-air events, just to name a few. A specific opening date is yet to be scheduled, but you can guarantee it’ll be a big deal when it does launch.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via City Football Group)
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Staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals to start wearing body-worn cameras after rise ‘abusive behaviour’
Emily Sergeant
Frontline staff at four hospitals in Greater Manchester are set to start wearing body-worn cameras on their shifts.
In a move designed to protect and keep frontline healthcare colleagues safe following a noticeable rise in ‘abusive behaviour’ directed towards them, Northern Care Alliance has announced that it has made the decision to introduce body-worn cameras across all four of our hospitals in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, and Salford.
It’s hoped that these small cameras will help create an overall ‘safer environment’ for staff and visitors, and also allow the NHS to use the footage as evidence in any criminal or civil court action.
— Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) (@NCAlliance_NHS) March 4, 2026
They will be worn by all designated clinical staff with the aim of reducing violent incidents of threatening behaviour for both staff and other patients.
So, how will they work?
The Northern Care Alliance has explained that the cameras are only activated when a worker feels threatened and only after informing the individual involved. Once switched on, they record both video and audio, creating a clear, unbiased account of what happened. This footage can be used to support investigations and deter future incidents.
Staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals are to start wearing body-worn cameras after a rise ‘abusive behaviour’ / Credit: Pxhere
“As a team working on the frontline of emergency care, we have welcomed the introduction of body‑worn cameras as an important step in protecting both our staff and our patients,” commented Julie Newton, who is the lead nurse in the Emergency Department at Fairfield General Hospital.
“Unfortunately, incidents of violence and aggression do occur, and these devices provide an objective record that helps ensure situations are managed safely and appropriately.
“Knowing that footage can support investigations and, where necessary, prosecution gives our colleagues greater confidence and reassurance.
“Most importantly, the cameras help us create a safer, more respectful environment so we can focus on delivering the best possible care to those who need us.”
The Manc -
1st March 2021 
