News

Manchester’s lasagne restaurant is moving to a new home this month

Lazy Tony's Lasagneria is moving out of the Alvarium kitchen

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 2nd August 2022

After a brief stint at Alvarium, Manchester’s lasagne kitchen is on the move again.

Five-layer slab favourite Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria is leaving its temporary post at the Tib Street kitchen for a new Northern Quarter home later this month.

It will close up shop at Alvarium this Sunday, 7 August before moving across to Northern Monk Refectory Taproom from Wednesday 24.

Image: The Manc Eats
Image: The Manc Eats

When Lazy Tony’s takes over the kitchen at Northern Monk this month, slab fans can expect to find some exciting new dishes waiting for them – including some yet-to-be-confirmed new slab flavours and Italian subs.

Chef-owner Danny will also be serving up the signatures for which his Lasagneria has become known over the past couple of years, including classic and chicken alfredo slabs, giant mozzarella sticks with a truffled honey dip and espresso martini tiramisu.

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He’s also got another trick up his sleeve this month as he prepares to host a one-off supper club with late-night ramen fusion restaurant CBRB on Tuesday 16 August.

Image: THe Manc Eats

For this, he’ll be offering a special menu – teasing the likes of matcha and limoncello tiramisu, lasagne dumplings, porchetta ramen and (possibly) a Nagoya noodle lasagne slab.

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The menu is yet to be confirmed, with full details set to drop this week.

Taking over the kitchen at Alvarium will be tiny tapas bar Abeja, serving homemade tapas from the southern Spanish region of Granada.

Abeja owner Ana Villegas, formerly a biochemist for twenty years, first launched her business at Hatch but was forced to close during the pandemic.

`Abeja has just completed a short kitchen takeover at The Chorlton Green/ / image: Abeja Tapas Bar

She’s since hosted several pop-ups across Manchester, taking over kitchens at Sale and Stretford Food Halls and at The Chorlton Green before agreeing Abeja’s next move.

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Read more: The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | August 2022

Known for serving up authentic tapas dishes from her home region of Granada, many passed down through generations, tuck into staples like croquetas, tortillas and patatas bravas alongside more unusual Spanish dishes from Wednesday 10 August.

Feature image – The Manc Eats / Lazy Tony’s Lasagneria

News

Man who stabbed beloved gran to death sentenced to hospital order

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Man who stabbed beloved gran Michelle Hodgkinson to death sentenced to hospital order

The man who stabbed Michelle Hodgkinson to death in broad daylight in Tameside has been sentenced to a hospital order.

Paul Hughes, 30, was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court today after his arrest on 3 June 2023 on suspicion of murder.

He was deemed too mentally unwell to stand trial – at the time of Michelle’s murder he was suffering from a schizophrenic attack at the time of the incident and still is suffering from Schizophrenia.

On 2 June 2023, Hughes brought a four-pack of kitchen knives, boarded a tram to Droylsden and headed to a canal path, where he appeared to be ‘lying in wait’ for someone to walk past him.

Tragically, that person was Michelle Hodgkinson, who walked past on her way to meet her mother.

She was followed, attacked from behind and stabbed multiple times.

The attack was captured on dashcam footage and several witnesses came forward to police with statements.

The court heart this week that despite being unwell, Hughes carefully planned the attack.

Hughes bought a pack of kitchen knives and waited down a canal path before he stabbed a stranger, a 51-year-old woman, on 2 June 2023.  

Michelle died at the scene on Edge Lane despite the best efforts of passers-by who tried to give her first aid, and the emergency services.

Detective Chief Inspector Danny Lee of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “Michelle’s death has left a void in her family, and nothing will fix the pain they are feeling. I hope that they can gain some form of closure and justice from the sentence passed today.

“I’d like to thank the members of the public who rushed to Michelle’s side and the first responders, both paramedics and response police officers who also attended the scene to give CPR in an attempt to give her the best possible chance of life.

“It is a moment to recognise, however, the devastation knife crime causes in our communities. Across Greater Manchester, officers and staff are working hard to fight, prevent and reduce this type of crime.

In a previous tribute to Michelle Hodgkinson, her family have said: “Everyone who knows Michelle are still in utter shock at the attack she endured and how horrific her last moments were.

“Our Shelly B was the most amazing, loving, selfless and funny daughter, mother, mother-in-law, sister, auntie and most recently a nanna. It was a privilege to have been known and loved by her. She loved helping people in her community and was known for volunteering as an appropriate adult, her charity work and loved creating hampers to make people smile.

“She would be there for anyone and the day she was taken from us, she was doing just that – walking to meet her mum to take her shopping and to go for a coffee.

“Our family and friends are heartbroken. In one moment our world has crumbled and will never be the same. We will support each other, and we thank and appreciate the love and support shown by our family and friends. Please hold your loved ones close, tell them you love them and make memories.

“Words cannot describe how much she will be missed. Our biggest cheerleader, our confidant, our rock – she will never be forgotten. We love you to the moon and back!

“Love you forever and always!”

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Featured image: GMP

News

10 ‘high-risk’ Manchester football fans arrested following recent violent disorder

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Several arrests have been made this week following an incident of violent disorder linked to a football match a few months back.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Specialist Operations branch were joined by colleagues from across the force – including those in Challenger teams – as they conducted several arrests around Greater Manchester this past Wednesday (13 December) in relation to violent disorder that recently took place.

The violent disorder in question occurred the day before Manchester United and faced FC Twente in the Champions League back in September.

Prior to the match, police say it is believed that a targeted and organised large-scale fight took place in the Lower Broughton area of Salford, all before the group of supporters then headed towards Manchester city centre.

As a result, 10 supporters – who are men aged between 20 and 64, and police say are suspected to be “high-risk” – are now in custody for questioning as investigations continue.

On top of this, when officers entered two properties on their search mission, two separate cannabis farms were found, and this meant that a 36-year-old woman was also subsequently arrested on suspicion of cultivation.

With the Manchester Derby now only days away, GMP says these arrests are a reminder that violence of any sort, whether it’s linked to football or not, “will not be tolerated” in our region.

Speaking ahead of the massive Premier League clash this weekend, Chief Superintendent Colette Rose, from GMP’s Specialist Operations division, commented: “With another big fixture coming this weekend, we want to send a strong message and reassurance that our specialised officers will be deployed to ensure you remain safe and peace is maintained, so you can enjoy the game.

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“On occasions when enforcement is needed, those who are intent on causing harm will have to answer for their actions.”

Featured Image – GMP

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