As the coronavirus lockdown loosened across the UK yesterday, so did the rules for hospitality businesses who have been out of action for three months.
As doors to our favourite local haunts burst open again with new guidelines in place, people across the country planned their first day or night out on the booze since March.
Greater Manchester was no exception, and by 12pm the Northern Quarter was bustling again – but things looked a lot different. Outside seating had been implemented in the popular food and drinks mecca of town, which has recently been pedestrianised further.
NQ, this is good. Well done @ManCityCouncil. I always pictured NQ like this without the cars. I am enjoying the table service in pubs, am I in Berlin or somewhere. pic.twitter.com/NBLsJcFdXm
Punters lined a new-look Thomas Street, where they sat in new custom built socially distanced seating areas – where they could order their drinks without the usual grim walk to a packed bar.
Wetherspoons pubs across town were also at capacity from breakfast – a sight we are so used to seeing on a regular Saturday in the North West.
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For the most part, our hospitality industry had done a fantastic job of making their establishments COVID-secure, and apart from the odd covidiot, the new rules were followed en masse by punters.
Nathan Whittaker / Manc Wanderer
Drinks were being knocked back until the very early hours while many people had been out drinking since the morning, but according to Greater Manchester Police, anti social behaviour was down to a minimum – and they even thanked the city for “remaining sensible and patient.”
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Insp O’Connor says prior to tonight a concern had been queues outside venues. However, with plenty open it doesn’t seem to have been an issue. He sums up the patrol so far. pic.twitter.com/bIVgMhZjO6
— Charlotte Dobson (@dobbo_charlotte) July 4, 2020
Sam Ridgway
However, this doesn’t mean that July 4th was a completely faultless day for the city’s emergency responders, as a handful of arrests were made across the region – with reports of fighting inside and outside various pubs and bars. But what’s new?
It’s safe to say, Manchester was #BuzzingToBeBack yesterday, but there’s still a long way to go until life feels normal again for our independent bars, restaurants and the people who fill them every week – and while yesterday seemed “relaxed and safe” across the city centre, the government and local councils will not be in a rush to loosen things further until the data tells them that they can.
Well done, Manchester, you did yourselves proud. We hope your heads aren’t too sore, today.
News
Man charged after ‘serious assault’ of police officers in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
A man has been charged after several police officers were seriously assaulted in Manchester city centre earlier this week.
At around 4:55pm on Tuesday 12 May, officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) city centre policing team were patrolling in the Denmark Road area of central Manchester when a man spat at a marked police vehicle as it drove past.
Officers stopped to speak with the man, but he then produced a knife and proceeded to attack them.
During the distressing incident, one officer was slashed in the face and neck and sustained serious injuries in the process, while two other officers were also assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
The offender – who GMP has now formally named as 40-year-old Dwayne Roxbrough – was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, possession of a bladed article, and possession of Class B drugs, and at this time, he remains in custody for questioning.
A man has been charged after police officers were ‘seriously assaulted’ in Manchester city centre/ Credit: GMP
It has now been confirmed that Roxbrough has been charged with Section 18 wounding, two counts of possession of a knife in a public place, possession of a controlled Class B drug, Section 47 assault, and the assault of an emergency worker.
He is due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court today (Thursday 14 May).
“Our officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect the public and this was a violent and potentially life-threatening attack,” commented Detective Superintendent Ian McNabb, from GMP’s City of Manchester district.
“No one should go to work fearing violence and our officers are no exception.
“We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and will work tirelessly to ensure the offender is brought to justice.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Traders to move out of Manchester food hall as it pivots to ‘new chapter’
Daisy Jackson
Manchester food hall New Century will be closing its kitchens, it has announced, making way for a ‘new chapter’.
The New Century Kitchens are home to some top local food traders, including Parmogeddon’s Fricken concept, Wholesome Junkies, and Ply Pizza.
The food hall opened in 2022 as part of the iconic music venue’s rebirth, creating a modern mid-century space with six kitchens.
In the years since, it’s welcomed a rotation of amazing food offerings, including Hip Hop Chip Shop, Banh Vi, and Zumuku Sushi.
Now, New Century Kitchens has announced it will be ‘evolving’ to make live events part of the offering across the venue – not just upstairs in the main gig space.
That means that the traders currently based here will be moving out, though the venue has assured people that they have been supported as they take their next steps.
New Century said that music is in the building’s ‘DNA’ and this chapter will reflect that.
New Century Kitchens will close, with traders moving outNew Century is entering a ‘new chapter’
In a statement shared with The Manc, they said: “The ground floor at New Century is evolving. We are currently finalising plans for live events to become an even bigger part of our offering across the whole of the venue.
“As part of this evolution the current community of independent traders are moving onto exciting new chapters, and we have been working very closely with them to support all of these brilliant businesses in their next steps.
“Music is in the DNA of our iconic building and this new chapter will reflect that.
“New Century is a place for people to come together through entertainment and good hospitality and we’re looking forward to sharing more details soon.”
The Manc -
5th July 2020 
