Rock band Royal Blood have scrambled to reschedule a run of gigs they had to cancel after testing positive for Covid – but a lot of fans say they’re ‘disappointed’ and have blasted the ‘p*ss poor’ planning of the new dates.
The duo were supposed to perform at the AO Arena in Manchester last Saturday, 2 April.
But lead singer Mike Kerr announced that they had to postpone the show, writing: “This morning I’ve woken up to discover I have lost my voice. Unfortunately, this isn’t something I can ‘power through’, I currently cannot sing a single note. My voice has gone.”
He added: “I’m absolutely gutted. We were having the time of our lives up there, and your support and passion is not taken for granted for one second.”
The statement issued at the time stressed that the band and its management would ‘work as hard as we can to reschedule to shows for as soon as possible’.
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Royal Blood. Credit: Publicity picture
It’s a promise they stuck to, with new dates now announced in just a few days’ time.
Royal Blood are now going to be on the stage in Manchester on Monday 11 April, also announcing new dates for Glasgow and Leeds.
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Despite the speed at which the shows have been rearranged, some ticket-holders are unhappy, saying it’s ‘nowhere near enough notice’ and adding it’s ‘really poor’.
One person said to the band on Twitter: “Surely not, less than 1 weeks notice?! I’ve just spent over £200 to go to Manchester this weekend for the concert not to take place, cannot afford to do that’s again especially on a week day.”
Someone else said: “So you cancel and then give people a week’s notice to book time off work and make arrangements?! Yeah excellent.”
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Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Others were unhappy that the gig is now on a weeknight rather than a Saturday, with one ticket-holder saying: “You don’t wanna mention how to get refunds for these gigs you’ve moved from the weekend to weekday with one f***ing weeks notice then?”
One person Tweeted: “This is a shocking, what are you guys thinking ? Been excited about seeing you live for a long time but with such late notice I won’t be able to get it off work, place will be half empty with all the refunds.”
Another commented: ‘Not happy at all. It was a Saturday in Manchester, now a Monday. With a week to go? What about work, childcare, travel arrangements? And no refunds. Sorry, but that’s not great at all…my favourite band, but this leaves a sour taste.”
Lots of people are delighted they’ll get to see Royal Blood so soon though.
One person pointed out: “Shouldn’t we just be happy bands are back touring and take covid postponements with a pinch of salt? I had 36 shows rescheduled due to covid, some I could make and some I couldn’t. Surely we haven’t already forgot how much we took live music for granted?”
One Twitter user reasoned: “I’m gutted cos i won’t be able to make it to the rescheduled date, but looking at the touring schedule the guys have for the next few months in usa/Canada and the Europe until June I can see why it’s been done like this.”
And another said: “Well done lads for getting this on so quickly. I’m on leave next week so good times incoming. As for the naysayers, look at their tour schedule for next few months, chill your beans and am sure you’ll get a refund.”
Ticket-holders who can’t make the new dates are advised to contact their point of purchase for information.
Featured image: Publicity picture
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‘Stunning’ Old Rectory pub in Stockport suffers permanent closure
Danny Jones
One of Stockport town centre’s most beautiful pub venues, The Old Rectory, has officially closed down permanently following notices about its “final stages”.
Built circa 1740, the historic space itself has been there since before the Regency period.
Stockport‘s Old Rectory pub on Churchgate has been a number of different things over the decades, and has changed hands multiple times in more recent years, but now the Greene King site has shut down, what seems like, for good.
In fact, if you look online, it is already listed as ‘permanently closed’ on Google, as does a temporary sign now stuck to the gates of their entrance, with the most recent service last week being their final one.
With the news having since been shared on the Stockport Tourism notice board on Facebook, a post from the ‘Old Rec’ team reads: “We are sad to announce that The Old Rectory will be closing its doors at the end of this month. Thank you to everyone who has visited and supported the venue over the years.”
An update has also now been shared on the official CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) website.
Issuing a statement directly to The Manc, a spokesperson for Greene King said: “Following a period of team member consultation, we can confirm that the Old Rectory has now closed.
“We are grateful to everyone who has supported the Old Rectory over the years, and we look forward to welcoming them into our other pubs in the local area soon.”
They also go on to assure that they have worked with the team members who have sadly been put out of work to try and find new positions at other locations, with the operators urging Stopfordians to try other nearby pubs such as Gardeners Arms in Offerton and the recently refurbished Carousel in Reddish.
Described by CAMRA as a “multi-roomed pub-restaurant that still maintains a country house feel with plenty of dark wood and plush décor”, not to mention praising the all-day food service and “top notch” beer selection, its heyday may have been long ago, but it’ll still be missed by regulars and natives.
It’s also worth noting that the former Hungry Horse public house also long-served as an accommodation spot, too, with Premier Inn’s ‘Stockport Central Hotel’ attached to the back of the building.
There are no updates on this front at present, and they could easily repurpose what natives have hailed as a “stunning” Georgian structure – not to mention the expansive garden grounds – but the company is also currently cutting more than 3,800 jobs as part of a wider savings strategy.
Elsewhere, as SK residents bid goodbye to one veteran pub, they’re also gearing up to welcome back another former favourite…
Sacha Lord set to back local hospitality again with money behind the bar of Manchester pub
Danny Jones
Local figure Sacha Lord is once again looking to help support Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene once again this spring by putting a total of £2.5k behind the bar of one lucky pub.
Well, let’s be honest, we’re about to be the real lucky ones.
It’s far from the first time that the Night Time Economy Advisor has done this, having previously put sizeable sums towards shared tabs on a few occasions over the last few years.
Lining up his next handout for this coming early May bank holiday (perfect timing), it’s going to be a super and potentially very sloppy Sunday…
Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester.
Bank Holiday Sunday 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.
Sharing the video above online earlier this week, the 54-year-old simply wrote, “Tell me your favourite pub in Greater Manchester. Bank Holiday Sunday, 3rd May, I’ll be turning up and putting £2500 behind the bar.”
The message is as straightforward as ever: “Support your local pub.”
Now obviously, the fact that people can reply with their go-to boozers and help influence the decision is one thing – something that has certainly always created an attraction each time he’s done this – but it’s also just a good way of marketing these watering holes to begin with.
Whether or not someone’s favourite public house tucked away in one of the 10 boroughs, or their bar of choice here in Manchester city centre, ends up being selected or not, it’s obviously great publicity having their names plastered on a notable social media account.
This is especially so when you see how much the post itself ends up being reshared and the overall exposure Lord ultimately lends them via creating such a big crowd discussion.
Confirming the chosen pub in a subsequent post, he said: “I asked you to choose a pub you wanted me to support. This Sunday, 4pm, I’ll be turning up at The Ape and Apple on John Dalton St, Manchester, and putting £2500 behind the bar.”
Here’s hoping we get proper beer garden weather over that long weekend – especially with that lovely refurbished outdoor terrace space up on the first floor of the Joseph Holt watering hole.
It’s also worth noting that the further support stunts like this have helped garner support for other regional businesses – in particular, indies that are battling the cost of living crisis and so many other challenges within the sector – has proved crucial for some places to stay open to begin with.
A good example is the Thirsty Korean, who teamed up with the Altrincham-born entrepreneur to cover hundreds of bills back in 2023, and has now been able to expand into a larger venue down the road from their original Chorlton location.
The obstacles facing the hospitality industry remain varied and numerous, but gestures like this can go a long way to helping prop up those who need it.
Which ones are you calling your favourites these days?
Daisy Jackson -
5th April 2022 
