Northern Quarter favourite Home Sweet Home has announced it will close its doors for good after one final service on Saturday.
The popular brunch and burger restaurant – beloved for its cakes, pancakes and milkshakes – has been feeding loyal fans on Edge Street for over a decade, but now bosses say it’s time for them to ‘move forward’ with ‘new projects’ instead.
Sharing the news of the eatery’s closure in a heartfelt post on social media on Thursday night, bosses wrote: “After 10yrs of milkshakes, cheeseburger toasties, a million breakfasts and a whole bunch of happy tummies sadly guys it’s time for us to go.
Saying, unequivocally, that ‘it sucks’, they continued: “sadly HomeSweet just has to float away into the chocolate river.”
Image: Home Sweet Home
“It’s been the most wonderful of times and we will miss soothing your hangovers and satisfying your cravings. Drop in, say goodbye and get your final fix.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The American comfort food joint first opened on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter in 2012, followed by a second site at the Great Northern Warehouse in 2015, which closed in 2019.
Beautiful Drinks, the company behind Home Sweet Home, also owns a number of other restaurants in the city including burger bar Almost Famous, Tex Mex eatery Lust Luck Liquor and Burn.
ADVERTISEMENT
In recent years, it has also closed its ‘hidden’ cocktail bar Convenience Store, which sat in the same building as Almost Famous and Lust Luck since 2017, having previously been known as tiki bar Keko’s.
Comments poured in from Home Sweet Home fans last night following the announcement, with one person saying: “End of an era! Me and @maguire40 lived round the corner when you opened and for your first 5 years. We were major fans of your cheeseburger toasties and milkshakes! Kept me fuelled when I was preggo with the twins. You’ll be missed.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Another person added: “Very sad news. Many brunches, lunches and cakes have been consumed on your premises!”
A third commented: “Absolutely gutted to read this. Home sweet home became the place I’d reunite with my uni friends and catch up over lovely food from lovely people. I will miss this so very much”
The cheeseburger toastie will have a place in my heart forever
The full post read: “Bittersweeet… After 10yrs of milkshakes, cheeseburger toasties, a million breakfasts and a whole bunch of happy tummies sadly guys it’s time for us to go. I know it sucks right, your go to place for fun and friends and a warm glow will be no more.
“HomeSweet will close its doors forevers after service on Saturday 23rd July.
“We’re moving forward with exciting new projects and sadly HomeSweet just has to float away in to the chocolate river. It’s been the most wonderful of times and we will miss soothing your hangovers and satisfying your cravings. Drop in, say goodbye and get your final fix.
Home Sweet Home will close its doors for one last time following its final service on Saturday 23 July. It is not yet clear what new projects Beautiful Drinks is working on next.
Feature image – Home Sweet Home
News
Four rare African ducklings have been hatched at Chester Zoo for the very first time
Danny Jones
More conversation celebration down the road at Chester Zoo, as the award-winning wildlife park has welcomed four African ducklings who belong to a rare breed.
As is so often the case with the work they do all year-round, their arrival could help signal the species’ survival in the long run, whose status was sadly upgraded from vulnerable to endangered on the official IUCN Red List.
The particular type of fowl we’re referring to is the Maccao duck, a stiff-tailed bird that typically belongs to the fresh and brackish inland waters of Eastern and Southern Africa.
Medium-sized, chunky, with big bills and subtle striping around their heads, they’re gorgeous creatures as is, but especially so as ducklings…
If you didn’t say ‘awww’ out loud, then you’re just lying.
As the Zoo itself put it, they are “rare, fluffy and VERY cute.” Celebrating what is “a breeding breakthrough for one of Africa’s rarest ducks […] so these little guys are kind of a big deal.”
These little delightful little duckies are known for diving down to the bottom of lakes and riverbeds to forage for aquatic invertebrates and plants; in fact, given the choice, they tend to prefer going underwater over flying pretty much full-stop.
As a resident species that doesn’t migrate like many other birds, they are native to nations like Namibia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. They’re identifiable by their dark black heads, blue bills (among the males, at least) and presence within the wetlands.
However, their estimated numbers continue to drop, and unfortunately, just 14 of their kind currently remain in Kenya and only 100 in Tanzania, with fewer than 5,000 believed to be left across the entire African continent.
Not only is this the first time the species has ever been successfully bred by bird experts at Chester Zoo, but conservationists hope ducklings will put a spotlight on the threatened species.
Their scientific name is ‘Oxyura maccoa’.Just like human babies, they prone to stuff all over their face.As far as ducklings go, these adorable little African variants are pretty special. (Credit: Supplied)
The zoo’s Head of Birds, Andrew Owen, said of their birth: “As one of just seven zoos in Europe – and 12 zoos globally – that care for Maccoa ducks, these ducklings are very special as they’re the first of their kind to ever hatch here at the zoo – making it a really historic moment for our team,
“This success gives a real boost to the future of the species, and these vital new additions will contribute to the safety-net population in zoos. These birds are facing rapid decline in the wild, so every hatchling really does count.
“To see them now out on the water inside our new Heart of Africa habitat, which is dedicated to helping Africa’s most threatened species thrive, makes this milestone even more special.”
Nothing short of brilliant news, we’re sure you’ll agree; better still, in addition to the crucially charitable and conversation-based tourist attraction being named one of England’s most popular destinations once again, but these are the only rare birds welcome by the zookeepers this month.
Vogue’s immersive ‘Inventing the Runway’ show is coming to Manchester
Thomas Melia
A Vogue immersive show titled ‘Inventing the Runway’ is coming to Manchester, and it’s even co-created by Anna Wintour herself.
Ever fancied learning more about the fashion world? Well, now’s your chance to hear everything you need to know from global fashion leaders and lifestyle magazine Vogue.
The Anna Wintour-approved immersive experience comes alongside the announcement of Factory International‘s Winter lineup, which features another new event all about voyaging to the moon.
This Vogue-fronted experience will incorporate interviews, visual media and more to help attendees visualise fashion shows of the past, present and future.
As well as understanding how fashion shows became the pinnacle of a designer’s vision, this runway-themed display also includes looking back at iconic moments of fashion and pop culture.
‘Inventing the Runway’ by Vogue is focusing on outfits worn by models and A-listers alike, with narration from the one and only Cate Blanchett.
You can expect to see curated pieces by significant creative minds in fashion history like Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and lots more.
Throughout the Vogue experience, as well as coming visually face to face with fashion, you will also hear a soundscape that perfectly reflects this innovative industry with a fusion of classical and pop music.
This fashion exhibition uses the same Lightroom technology behind the impressive David Hockney experience that opened back in December.
Vogue is using this show to honour anyone who has made an impact in the fashion world.The Met Gala has become a staple in everyone’s calendar year in and year out.First Northern Quarter’s Chanel show, now this… Très chic. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/GoodFon)
Anna Wintour, Chief Content Officer, Condé Nast, and Global Editorial Director, Vogue said: “At Vogue, we’ve been lucky enough over the decades to see many incredible runway shows, which have often told the story of fashion as much as the clothes themselves.”
“This Lightroom experience is a wonderful opportunity for a lot more people to experience first-hand the thrill of watching the history of fashion unfold right in front of them.”
You can experience Vogue’s ‘Inventing the Runway’ immersive show from 18 December to 10 January when it visits Aviva Studios this winter.
Find out more information and grab your tickets HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
8th July 2022 
