Salford Rum open the city’s first rum garden under the railway arches
As well as hosting the brilliant-sounding rum garden, the new space will also be home to the company's first proper distillery and bar - giving fans of their Salford Docks-inspired spiced rums the chance to drink straight from the source.
Today, Salford Rum is a well-known brand in the city – but like many popular craft enterprises, it started from humble beginnings.
Founded by two lads from Leigh, today Salford Rum Company is stocked nationwide in supermarkets like Morrisons and Co-Op but it first began life as an idea conceived during a drunken night out.
Rugby-league-playing high school friends Tommy Gaughan and James Harrison were sat watching their wives sip from a list of gins as long as their arm when they had their very own ‘eureka’ moment.
Founders Tommy Gaughan and James Harrison run the business alongside their 9-5 day jobs / Image: Salford Rum Company
Based upon the logic that if there’s a market for craft gin, surely there might also be one for craft rum, the pair spent the following eight months researching everything they could about distilling their own concoctions whilst continuing to work their day jobs.
Drawing inspiration from the history of the local area and ingredients imported to the old Salford Docks, they went on to create two core expressions since launching in 2018: a golden Salford Spiced Rum and Salford Dark Spice.
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Now, they’ve revealed plans to open Greater Manchester’s very first rum garden as part of a new expansion into the railway archways on Viaduct Street.
The new distillery will be housed on Viaduct street in a former Martial Arts centre, with the rum garden on accompanying land under the railway line / Image: Google Maps
As well as hosting the brilliant-sounding rum garden, the new space will also be home to the company’s first proper distillery and bar – giving fans of their Salford Docks-inspired spiced rums the chance to drink straight from the source.
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Here, the pair plan to create some new small-batch expressions and unique blends using a shiny, new craft copper still which will be on display for all to see.
It’s exciting times for the duo, who continue to work their 9-5 jobs whilst running Salford Rum Company alongside using all the free hours they can find.
Speaking on the new opening plans Tommy Gaughan, one half of the duo responsible for launching Salford Rum, said: “The support we’ve had locally for Salford Rum is nothing short of incredible.
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“When looking for somewhere to take the brand to the next level, it was always going to be in Salford, and always going to be a place whereby our supporters can come and feel like they’re part of the Salford family.”
“We’ve got so many ideas and can’t wait to see the distillery space, bar and rum garden come to life over the next couple of months,” added James Harrison.
Salford Rum’s first expression Salford Spiced Rum is infused with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and dried Caribbean fruits / Image: Salford Rum
With the opening date set for early 2022, we expect to see some enticing new additions added to their repertoire – which currently spans core expressions, as well as some special editions like their new Honey Rum, made with honey from local beekeepers.
Aptly named The Dirty Old Town Distillery after the song ‘Dirty Old Town’ which featured on The Pogues 1985 album Rum Sodomy & the Lash, the distillery will be located in Arch 33 on Viaduct Street, Salford.
Coronation Street and Emmerdale cancel filming after news of cutbacks and reduced schedule
Danny Jones
Coronation Street and Emmerdale production crews are said to have cancelled at least one day of filming this week following news of more cutbacks and a reduced schedule of programming.
The beloved British soaps have been up against it for some time now, with viewing figures and costs struggling at both ends of the spectrum, and the latest development doesn’t spell great news for the cast and crew, not to mention audiences.
According to Digital Spy, regularly scheduled filming was due to take place in Manchester and Leeds on Tuesday, 5 February, with each show shooting roughly six to eight weeks in advance of storylines.
However, following reports of more hits to the industry and the latest steps ITV, specifically, which will see fewer episodes of both Corrie and Emmerdale air each week, film crews are said to have been stood down as they await further updates.
Part of the Coronation Street set over in Salford Quays. (Credit: The Manc Group)
Announcing steps at the start of February, ITV confirmed that Coronation Street and Emmerdale are to see their content cut by an hour a week between them from next year.
While Corrie currently broadcasts three hour-long episodes per week and Emmerdale four half-hour episodes plus one full-hour instalment, the new slate will see both soaps dial back to only air 30-minute episodes, with a so-called ‘soaps power hour’ every both shows at 8pm and 8:30pm.
Put in simplest terms, viewers will have half an hour less of their regular soaps to watch overall each week but with episodes airing at more regular intervals, which the network claims is “viewer-led” and will allow fans to enjoy the shows “in the most digestible way.”
Metro writer Duncan Lindsay has labelled the decision as a tough one to make but something that could ultimately “save” the two long-standing soap operas in the long run.
On the other hand, this obviously means a big chunk of work being lost for those working on sets across the board, with ITV having already taken steps to cut costs ever since the pandemic, and the UK’s viewing public has given mixed reactions, to say the least.
The hour of scripted content saved from the overdue cut to Corrie and Emmerdale should be pumped into a new continuing drama. It’s the only way to justify the loss to the industry.
With an increased focus on streaming and making both shows more accessible, episodes will continue to be released from 7am on ITVX before airing on live telly later that evening.
Responding to the changes, the performing arts union Equity admitted that the steps do cause “further cause for concern”, especially following the cancellation of other soaps like Doctors and Hollyoaks also having recently seen its schedule adjusted.
It remains unclear when the respective cast and crews will return to filming.
What do you make of the cutbacks: will you miss the sum total of 60 minutes being shaved off your Corrie and Emmerdale catch-ups, or do you think it’s a bittersweet step that could help freshen up the format and sustain it for years to come?
Already being described as “the ultimate African safari experience right here in the UK”, some of the lodges will be located at the side of a lake, while others will offer views of a private savannah-style habitat that are home to Northern giraffes.
Bookings officially went live last Wednesday (29 January), and demand was “nothing short of phenomenal”, with the website crashing for a brief period and more than 550 bookings made so far.
But merely moments after this, people began hitting out at the prices for overnight stays.
Those working on the “very special” project say a stay at The Reserve will help to fund Chester Zoo’s global conservation projects.
Chester Zoo has issued a statement after people slammed the ‘totally ridiculous’ prices for safari-style lodges / Credit: Supplied
In the off-season, prices for the lodges start from £375, while one-night stays in summer start from £672.50, and then in peak season, for the more luxurious lodges, prices can go all the way up to £2,486, but it’s worth nothing that this does include guided safari tours and going behind-the-scenes with the giraffes.
“As an international wildlife charity we wholly rely on public funding to carry out our species-saving work,” a Chester Zoo spokesperson said in defence of the pricing.
“The Reserve is the latest way that people may wish to help to directly fund our global conservation projects and make a difference to the future of some amazing, but sadly endangered, species.
“A stay at The Reserve includes so much more than a room for the night.
“Packages include elements such as a range of exclusive behind-the-scenes and animal experiences, breakfast, dinner and out-of-hours access to the zoo, as well as two-day passes and the chance to view wildlife straight from your lodge balcony.”
Find out more and book your stay in the new lodges on the Chester Zoo website here.
Georgina Pellant -
13th September 2021 
