A new Vietnamese-style restaurant is due to open in the former Blackhouse Grill site later this autumn.
Called Namii Kitchen & Cocktails, it will take over the space in Manchester city centre this autumn – opening just behind Piccadilly Gardens bus station on New York Street.
Now Namii is moving in, bringing the building back to life after over a year of it sitting empty.
Featuring authentic pan Asian cuisine with a heavy Vietnamese influence, the new Manchester restaurant will serve traditional favourites such as Vietnam’s national dish, Pho, Bahn Mi and summer rolls.
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Opening for breakfast and brunch from 10am daily, its mid-morning offering will also include Asian twists on brunch classics like an Eggs Royale with a honeyed miso dressing.
Namii Kitchen & Cocktails features authentic pan Asian cuisine with a heavy Vietnamese influence / Credit: Namii
On the drinks side of things, Namii is promising to deliver an innovative cocktail menu inspired by Vietnamese mythology and folklore.
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One drink called The Horse of Iron combines Roku gin, ginkgo kernel and wasabi syrup – drawing on an ancient legend that tells of a horse belonging to Saint Giong that spit fire from its mouth to defeat invaders, then flew away into the sky.
The restaurant and bar will also offer an extensive wine and sake selection alongside its signature cocktail menu, as well as teaming up for monthly residencies with respected spirit and wine brands.
Namii Kitchen & Cocktails will host four ticketed events each month as part of the residencies from sensory tastings to tasting menus with paired drinks.
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Entertainment-wise, guests can look forward to a variety of live music and DJ’s every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the holiday period, as well as a planned scotch whisky event that is due to take place in January.
The venue has been working to eliminate packaging waste and overall reduce its carbon footprint, collaborating with brands including ecoSPIRITS to ensure that sustainability is at the core of its drinks menu.
The restaurant has revealed its opening date on social media as Saturday, 6 November 2021 / Credit: Namii
Owner and Managing Director Terence Lee, said of the opening: “We can’t wait to open our doors in Manchester.
“The city has established itself as one of the UK’s most exciting food destinations over the past decade and we’re thrilled to be able to add to the line-up.”
Sales and Marketing Manager John Clossick added: “Namii Kitchen & Cocktails is a new, bold concept, blending authentic Vietnamese food, flavours and technique with modern service, style and setting.
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“Food is the centre of so many social occasions, and we want the restaurant to be somewhere friends can get together and catch up over a great dining experience.”
The restaurant has revealed its opening date on social media as Satuday, 6 November 2021 – announcing that bookings are open now.
To keep up with news about Namii ahead of its opening, you can follow the restaurant on Instagram here or email the team directly.
Featured Image – Namii
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Pair jailed after filming themselves driving over 130mph before killing man in fatal Manchester collision
Emily Sergeant
Two men who filmed themselves driving at speeds of over 130mph before a fatal collision earlier this year have now been jailed.
20-year-old Uways Hussain, of Marley Road in Manchester, has been sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison, while 23-year-old Usmon Mahmood, of Buller Road in Manchester, has been sentenced to 12 years and nine months.
Their sentences follow a night of what Greater Manchester Police (GMP) called ‘dangerous driving’ around the South Manchester area, which started at around 11pm on the evening before the collision.
The vehicle – a Volkswagon Golf – belonged to Mahmood, but he allowed Hussain to drive the vehicle at high-speed throughout the night.
On the evening prior to the collision, beginning at around 11pm, Hussain and Mahmood were driving recklessly around the South Manchester area.
According to police, the pair filmed themselves consistently travelling at speeds of over 100mph on 30mph roads, and in several cases, theyvreached over 130mph and seconds before impact, were recorded at 139mph.
Recorded footage also showed them running red lights and weaving through traffic with no regard for the safety of other road users or pedestrians.
At one stage during the night, the pair stopped at a petrol station, where footage shows Mahmood inhaling from a balloon in the passenger seat, while later o Hussain can be seen doing over 100mph and also appearing to be inhaling from a balloon while driving.
The fatal collision happened at around 4:36am on Monday 9 March 2026 at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway, where the victim – Sylvester Abayomi, 50 – was on his way to work and entered the junction on a green light, believing it was safe to proceed, but was then struck by the car being driven by Hussain, which had travelled through a red light at extremely high speed.
Sylvester Abayomi / Credit: GMP
Immediately following the collision, GMP received several emergency calls and an automatic alert from Hussain’s Apple Watch saying he had been involved in a collision.
During this alert, both men could be heard discussing plans to flee the scene and attempting to decide what evidence they needed to remove from the vehicle. They were also heard discussing reporting the vehicle as stolen, and shortly afterwards, they booked an Uber to escape.
Emergency services attended the scene, but sadly, despite their best efforts, Sylvester sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead.
GMP says it received its first report of the incident at 4:37am,, and within 12 minutes the pair had been located, caught, and arrested by officers.
DC Thomas Johnson, from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, described the incident as ‘one of the most extreme cases of dangerous driving we have encountered’.
It’s also believed that this is one of the first times in the country where a passenger has been convicted for aid and abetting causing death by dangerous driving.
Featured Image – GMP
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Stockport band Blossoms set for BIG return to Leeds Festival this year
Thomas Melia
Blossoms have just announced their big return to Leeds Festival, as the four-day music event continues to impress with its stacked lineup.
They might have a ‘Joke About Divorce’ from time to time, but when it comes to entertaining a Leeds Festival crowd, Blossoms take it very seriously, having played at Bramham Park three times in the past decade already.
The Stockport band have captivated audiences since the rise of standout track ‘Charlemagne’ and more recently with the addition of their fifth studio album, Gary, named after an eight-foot fiberglass gorilla.
Known for always putting on a stellar performance, Tom, Joe, Charlie, Myles, and Josh are bringing a brand-new set to Leeds when they visit this August bank holiday weekend.
As well as releasing new music, Blossoms are making a big return to Leeds Festival 2026 / Credit: Publicity Picture (Supplied)
Currently, Leeds Festival 2026 has seven headline acts spanning all genres from Dance and EDM to Pop and Rap with the likes of Charli XCX, Raye, Dave and more topping the bill.
The Stockport five-piece are featured alongside three other insane artists as ‘Special Guests’, appearing next to Skepta, Sombr and Role Model.
Also listed on the lineup are rising stars like R&B vocal powerhouse Skye Newman, pop princess Jade, Merseyside indie rockers The K’s and Wigan-formed The Lilacs with more to be announced.
Although nothing is confirmed yet, this upcoming Leeds Festival set from Blossoms will contain high energy and obviously all their biggest and best bangers from across their four chart topping albums as well as new music.
Whether you’re there for ‘Your Girlfriend’ or ‘What Can I Say After I’m Sorry’, one thing’s for sure, you’re guaranteed to have an absolutely spectacular night.
Blossoms are making their big return to Leeds Festival 2026 which is taking place from 27 to 30 August at Bramham Park with tickets live HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
25th October 2021 
