An illegal shisha cafe on the Curry Mile in Manchester has had a huge sum of cash confiscated and been slapped with a hefty fine.
Dubai Cafe on Wilmslow Road has had £174,074 of income confiscated for breaching a planning enforcement notice and operating as an illegal shisha cafe.
T&M Property Investment Ltd – the owner of the lease for the property – has also been ordered to pay an £18,750 fine and court costs of £5,700.
It was back in September 2018 that enforcement officers from Manchester City Council noticed that Dubai Cafe in Rusholme was being operated as a shisha bar.
The Curry Mile premises had also been altered without appropriate planning permission.
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The landlord was ordered to cease operating as a shisha cafe and put right all the works made without planning permission through an enforcement notice – which was ignored.
The Council entered the property on two occasions to seize shisha pipes and tobacco, but more than four years later found that Dubai Cafe was still being used as a shisha bar.
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Inside Dubai Cafe. Credit: Manchester City Council
T&M Property Investment Ltd was sentenced following a guilty plea at a Manchester Crown Court hearing on Friday 5 May to offences committed under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Councillor Gavin White, executive member for Housing and Development, said: “These premises had been operating illegally as a shisha café for a number of years and despite receiving enforcement notices from the Council to stop, they continued and have now been held to account through the courts.
“Local residents have had to put up with this criminal activity for too long and this judgement – along with the confiscation of their illegally obtained profit – sends a clear message to other businesses flagrantly breaking the law that we are looking for you and we will prosecute.
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“This case also shows that landlords can’t hide behind their tenants – they will be held responsible for criminality in their property.
“Operating a premises without the correct permissions is not only illegal but can also be dangerous. It’s a welcome result following months of hard work to bring a prosecution and ensure this property is safe.”
Featured image: Manchester City Council
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Manchester City reveals details around the first Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City have released the first details surrounding their inaugural Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Campus.
One of the most important charities in the UK when it comes to male mental health and suicide prevention, Andy’s Man Club and even its logo alone have become a recognisable force for good over the past few years, and the significance of bringing it to such a big scale as City cannot be overstated.
The football club first announced the partnership back in February and has already been working closely with the non-profit organisation to promote better wellbeing amongst men, getting first-team stars such as defender John Stones to open up about his own experiences with mental health just last month.
With that in mind, the word is now out that Man City will be providing yet another location for groups to meet and crucially talk through Andy’s Man Club sessions, confirming details around their first meeting from next week onwards.
It's less than two weeks before @andysmanclubuk launches at the Etihad Stadium! 🩵👌
Before we open doors on the 13th May, our fans sat down to share their experiences 💭
Set to kick off in the East Stand of the Etihad Stadium from 7-9pm on Monday, 13 May, Man City will not only help deliver a vital outlet for men in the East Manchester area but become just the latest in a long line of teams to back the regular support group.
Joining over 180 clubs nationwide – including the likes of Altrincham FC, Ashton United and Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few in the Greater Manchester area – Andy’s Mans Club is currently helping well over 4,000 men open up and combat their struggles through peer-to-peer sessions.
Founded by a group of nine blokes from Halifax back in 2016 to create positive change in men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club now helps gather men aged 18 and over across the country every week throughout the year.
In alignment with other partnered clubs Andy’s Man Clubs across the country, attendees will be asked to arrive from 18:30 (UK) ahead of the 19:00 start time.
We’re excited to be launching an Andy's Man Club at the Etihad Stadium next month 🩵
Ahead of the first session, John Stones sat down to find out what it is all about 🙌
The sessions are free with registration or ID required and, more importantly, there’s no pressure to talk if you don’t want to. The first step is easy: just listen.
Just because it’s being held at City’s ground doesn’t mean you have to be a season ticket holder, have an official Cityzens membership to attend or anything like that, you can simply arrive via the East Stand reception (Door F) and join the session.
Attendees will be greeted on arrival by trained volunteers from Andy’s Man Club who will guide them through the stadium. With the club now on board, group sessions will be running at the same time every week (except bank holiday Mondays) with the first dates scheduled for the following nights this month:
Monday 13 May
Monday 20 May
Monday 3 June
Monday 10 June
Well done to all those involved in bringing Andy’s Man Club to Manchester City and the East Manchester community. We hope the sessions will help those going along as they have done for thousands of others.
Co-op Live boss issues statement as troubled Manchester venue takes ‘a short pause’
Daisy Jackson
The top dog at Co-op Live has issued a statement addressing the immediate future of the venue, which last night announced more high-profile event changes.
The enormous new arena out by the Etihad Stadium confirmed that Take That – who were lined up to play a whopping SEVEN shows at Co-op Live – would be moving their five May gigs across to established venue the AO Arena.
It follows the postponement of Olivia Rodrigo (Friday and Saturday), Keane (Sunday) and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (called off on Wednesday with fans already queueing outside) – not to mention Peter Kay and The Black Keys.
The Co-op Live has now said it will be taking ‘a short pause’ from events while it works to make the state-of-the-art space safe and secure for fans and artists.
Details of all the rescheduled shows, new dates and venue changes are towards the end of this article.
An independent inspection of the arena ceiling will be taking place in the next fortnight.
The venue has apologised again, saying ‘we are aware our actions have frustrated and angered ticket holders’.
Take That is one of the acts affected by Co-op Live’s delayed openingA Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig from Co-op Live to AO Arena after cancellation
In a statement it also said that the ‘significant impact’ on fans would be addressed and recognised, at the request of naming rights partner The Co-op Group – details on what that will look like will follow.
Tim Leiweke, Chairman and CEO of Oak View Group (which owns and operates Co-op Live), has now also released a statement offering his ‘sincere apologies’.
He said: “As many of you will know, it’s not been the smooth start we had planned for, and I know that has caused a huge amount of disruption and frustration to thousands of people.
“On behalf of all of us at Oak View Group, I’d like to express my sincere apologies to all those that have been affected. We understand that there is work to be done to rebuild your trust in us.
“This starts now and at the request of the naming rights partner, The Co-op Group, we will be addressing impact on affected ticket holders, details of which will be shared soon.
“I’d like to reiterate my sincerest apologies to everyone that has been affected by the delays around the opening of Co-op Live.
“The team here is working incredibly hard to get the building up and running, and we look forward to welcoming you to the arena from 14 May 2024.”
Co-op Live’s full statement reads: “Ticket holders and fans. Following the events that led to the cancelled A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show on 1 May, we have decided to take a short pause to events at Co-op Live to fully ensure the safety and security of fans and artists visiting the venue.
“This time will allow for an independent inspection of all elements of the arena ceiling.
“We have worked with promoters to limit the impact on fans, keeping as many shows as possible in Manchester.”
As for the rest of Co-op Live’s opening gig programme (the next scheduled show is Elbow on 14 May), it continued: “At this time, we do not expect further impact on our opening season.
“We are aware our actions have frustrated and angered ticket holders.
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“We know you’ve incurred significant disruption, and are finding a way to help make it right.
“We are taking the pause to think about the best ways to do that.
“Our naming rights partner, the Co-op Group, has also expressed the importance of ensuring that the significant impact on ticketholders is recognised and addressed, with more detail to follow soon.”
New dates and venue changes for Co-op Live’s rescheduled gigs
Peter Kay – original dates 23 and 24 April. Rescheduled dates 29 and 30 April. NEW DATES 23 and 24 May.
The Black Keys – original date 27 April. New date 15 May 2024.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – original date 1 May – new date 4 May and venue change to AO Arena.
Olivia Rodrigo – original dates 3 and 4 May – new dates to be announced.
Keane – original date 5 May – new dates to be announced.
Take That – original dates 7, 10, 11, 12 May – venue change to AO Arena.
Take That – original date 8 May – new date 9 May and venue change to AO Arena.
Take That’s June dates remain unaffected.
Ticket holders for each event will be contacted by their point of purchase, and refunds will be available if preferred.
Daisy Jackson -
9th May 2023 
