O’Sheas giant beer garden has reopened in Manchester, just in time for the upcoming St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
It was one of the biggest openings of 2021 – launching just in time for the easing of Covid-restrictions, which had seen Manchester’s hospitality venues shut for months in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.
Now, O’Sheas giant Irish beer garden has returned to the city – this time as an indoor venue.
As part of the reopening, operators have decided to kick off their St Patrick’s Day celebrations early with a huge two-week Irish festival running from now until 24 March.
This means for the next fortnight the new and improved venue will play host to some great Irish music and Irish-American street food, not to mention ice-cold pints of Guinness and other popular bevvies.
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Image: Supplied
Still within staggering distance of Piccadilly station, punters can expect dry Irish stout, pornstar and espresso martinis on tap, plus bagels and loaded fries courtesy.
Re-designed and draped in the colours of Ireland, a clear roof above rows of tables will keep revellers dry no matter what the weather.
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Eat New York returns as O’Sheas street food partner, having designed a new food menu with an Irish American twist. Think bagels, burgers and loaded fries aplenty.
Music, meanwhile, will include a fixture of bands and local performers such as Green Hot Clover, The Joe Keegan Band, Live Lounge, Culainn, Nicky Mc Callan, Quare Craic, Harry James and the Irish Ramblers, Mollys, Chambers featuring Richard Sanderson on fiddle, The Last Drop.
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O’Sheas have built a reputation for pouring some of the best Guinness outside of Ireland, brilliant live shows and heart-stopping sports since opening in 1994.
The converted, turn-of-the-century packing and shipping warehouse is set between the traditionally Irish area of Little Ireland and St Austins on Princess Street.
Tickets are limited and expected to fly out, so people are being advised to be quick to book their slots. Book yours here.
Feature image – The Manc Eats / Supplied
News
More than 70,000 home buyers set to pay thousands after missing stamp duty relief deadline
Emily Sergeant
More than 70,000 home buyers across England are estimated to have missed the stamp duty relief deadline.
This sadly means they’ll be required to fork out thousands of pounds extra.
In case you hadn’t heard, up until yesterday (31 March 2025), anyone who was moving and had bought a home in the past was not required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, better-known as just stamp duty, on the portion of the property price up to £250,000.
But from today (1 April), this threshold has now fallen back to £125,000, which unfortunately means that property purchasers are facing an extra £2,500 in moving costs, on average.
While the end of the stamp duty relief will mostly affect those Greater Manchester buyers who had already previously purchased properties, first time buyers are sadly not exempt from the deadline changes too, as their current stamp duty threshold of £425,000 has now fallen back to £300,000 as of today.
Person holding the keys to a new house in their hand / Credit: Maria Ziegler (via Unsplash)
Given that the average property price for a first time buyer-type home is currently around £227,965, according to Rightmove, the new £300,000 threshold may hit those purchasing properties in more expensive areas – particularly the South East.
A third of those estimated 70,000 home buyers who have missed the deadline are thought to be first time buyers.
Leading property platform Rightmove published an analysis in February into just how much of an impact the end of the stamp duty relief would have on home buyers, all while calling on the UK Government to announce a short extension to the deadline to help people in the middle of the property purchasing process avoid potentially thousands of pounds in extra moving costs.
But despite these calls from industry leaders, there was no extension to the deadline announced in the last week’s latest Spring Statement.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Government has not used the Spring Statement as an opportunity to extend the impending stamp duty deadline for those currently going through the home-moving process,” commented Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock.
“We estimate over 70,000 people are going to miss the deadline and complete in April instead, and a third of those are first time buyers.”
Featured Image – James Feaver (via Unsplash)
News
Manchester’s iconic Vimto statue to be removed for repair – with Aitch-sponsored sculpture in its place
Daisy Jackson
One of the city’s most familiar landmarks will soon be leaving its spot in town, as the iconic Vimto statue is removed.
The sculpture has been in Vimto Park off Sackville Street since 1992, and consists of a giant Vimto bottle surrounded by oversized fruit.
But the art piece dedicated to Manchester’s most famous drink has weathered (it’s made of wood, after all) and will have to be dismantled in the coming months for an undisclosed period of time.
This will be the second time the Vimto statue has undergone maintenance work, having last received a colourful paint job in 2011.
Worry not, though, Manchester – a new sculpture, dedicated to another local drinks brand, is already in the works until our beloved Vimto statue returns.
Local rapper Aitch, who launched his own drinks brand SYPS last year, has decided to make good use of the space.
A gigantic statue of a SYPS can is to be installed later this year in place of the Vimto statue, created by a local artist.
I don’t know why any of you are surprised – there haven’t been many product launches or marketing opportunities that Aitch hasn’t jumped on this year.
Rave in the Super Awesome Deluxe burger takeaway? Done it.
‘Launching’ Joe & The Juice back into Manchester? Done that too.
Performing on a train to launch a limited-edition Southern Comfort called ‘Northern Comfort’? Yes, that also happened.
Aitch is funding a temporary SYPS statue in place of the Vimto statue in Manchester
He’s now announced that he’ll be funding a new statue for the city centre while our beloved Vimto statue is gone.
A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “While it’s a shame to see our beloved Vimto statue leave the city centre, it’s important that this landmark is preserved for the future before it’s too late.
“When Aitch kindly offered to fill the space in Vimto Park with a SYPS sculpture, how could we say no?”
Aitch said in a statement: “I couldn’t leave my Manny without a drinks statue, could I? Also happy April Fool’s day you idiots.”
Georgina Pellant -
11th March 2022 
