News

StreamGM and The Manc launch campaign to support the region’s struggling culture venues

"Greater Manchester is the city of 24-hour party people and these places need people to truly come alive."

The Manc The Manc - 9th July 2021

StreamGM and The Manc have a plan to show some serious love and support to the region’s renowned theatres, nightclubs, and live-music venues.

Over the past 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve watched musicals from our cars, experienced Zoom parties, solo kitchen discos, and seated half-capacity gigs – but nothing beats the buzz of a live show, right?

Nightclubs were forced to close back in March 2020, and while theatres and live music venues in Greater Manchester have been able to open for short periods for performances, this has been under strict restrictions around capacity, movement, masks, and social distancing to keep people safe.

This week though, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that the final stage of the roadmap will commence from 19 July, with rules on the wearing of face coverings, social distancing measures, and mass gathering all set to change.

With the country’s so-called ‘Freedom Day’ imminent – our venues need us back.

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SeeGM will shine a spotlight on events, club nights, gigs and shows in Greater Manchester / Credit: Flickr

To mark this long-awaited moment, on 15 July, The Manc and the region’s multi award-winning streaming platform StreamGM are launching SeeGM – a digital campaign to shine a bright spotlight on many of the amazing events, club nights, gigs and shows in Greater Manchester.

Through promotional videos, digital content and interviews with some of Greater Manchester’s most respected operators and cultural figures, SeeGM will inspire residents to revisit their favourite haunts, buy tickets for future events, and safely experience more of the region’s vibrant culture and nightlife.

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SeeGM will encourage people to post happy memories of times spent at gigs, shows and events on their social media platforms, be kind and respectful to staff, other audience members and partygoers, and share their first experiences of heading ‘out-out’ after 19 July.

As the region’s premier digital media publishers with an audience of over 1.2 million and currently ranked 10th most engaged news publisher in the UK, The Manc is well placed to promote Greater Manchester’s venues alongside StreamGM.

SeeGM will inspire residents to revisit their favourite haunts, buy tickets for future events, and more / Credit: Stream GM

Many of Greater Manchester’s best club nights, live music destinations and performance venues were featured by StreamGM’s smash-hit lockdown-founded United We Stream project.

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Millions of people in Greater Manchester and all over the world supported and reminisced about our local live music venues, club nights and theatres through the live fundraising programmes on United We Stream in 2020.

Speaking ahead of the launch of SeeGM, Marie-Claire Daly – co-founder of StreamGM – said: “We’re thrilled to be working with The Manc on this campaign highlighting the very best Greater Manchester has to offer.

“The StreamGM team came together in 2020 through a shared love of live music and performance – and we, as much as anyone, can’t wait to get back to enjoying proper live events. 

“While streaming has undoubtedly opened up new audiences for Greater Manchester talent, locally and around the world, now is the time for us to support and buy tickets for the live performances in the venues we’ve all missed so much.”

StreamGM and The Manc plan to show some serious love to the region’s struggling culture venues / Credit: StreamGM | The Manc

“Don’t forget though that these places and events need audiences to attend safely so we can continue to minimise infection so they don’t have to close their doors,” she continued.

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“Be kind and respectful to staff and other audience members.”

“People across Greater Manchester have sacrificed so much over the past year or so and I know how much people are looking forward to getting back out properly and enjoying the likes of live music, theatre and our nightlife.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

Mr Burnham continued: “Our night-time economy has suffered significantly over this time, with businesses often unable to open at all and now we can all start doing our bit to support these important cultural venues.

“Buy tickets, make a booking, just tell a friend – it all makes a massive difference.

“Like many of you, I am excited to get back out and get back enjoying myself but, coronavirus is still out there, so please think of others and keep each other safe.”

“Greater Manchester is the city of 24-hour party people.” / Credit: pxhere

Anna Gledson – Brand Director at The Manc – added: “The Manc are made up to collaborate with StreamGM on such an important campaign. 

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“SeeGM is a super fun project to amplify marketing and messaging for the many music venues, comedy clubs, nightclubs and all of our region’s other incredible and iconic cultural experiences with reopening.

“Greater Manchester is the city of 24-hour party people.

“These places need people to truly come alive, and we hope with everyone’s support, our region’s venues will be thriving again very soon.”

Featured Image – Pixabay

News

Chorlton’s Horse and Jockey is reintroduced to the suburbs after stunning transformation

Danny Jones Danny Jones Horse and Jockey refurb Chorlton

The much-loved Horse and Jockey in Chorlton is back open for business following a major and marvellous refurb, which has seen the heart and soul of the pub restored to its former glory.

Opening just in time for the bulk of cosy boozer season, we’re about to spend A LOT of time in here.

As announced this past summer, the south Manchester favourite has been taken over by the impressive hospitality team behind the similarly revived Black Friar in Salford.

With an impressive culinary pedigree to boot, the ‘new and improved’ Horse and Jockey was always bound to be a hit with critics and natives alike, we just weren’t expecting them to knock it quite so far out of the park – or, in this case, Chorlton Green.

Giving the already gorgeous 200-year-old structure a new lick of paint and then some, the new Horse and Jockey looks set to reassert itself as one of the prettiest, cosiest and tastiest pubs you’ll find in central Manchester.

Benefitting from sitting just outside the city centre, you’ve still got plenty of footfall from those who have seen Chorlton become a foodie destination all of its own, and those who have lived there all their lives.

Yes, you’ll still find plenty of old boys sipping their well-deserved pints and dogs curling up on the carpets here.

Now boasting up to 82 covers outside in the familiar evergreen beer garden, with table service in the summer, you can see this being a go-to spot for grub and a reliable watering hole for all year-round.

It’s also worth noting that it’s a pretty roomy venue inside as well, with an entirely refurbished upstairs seating area and a dedicated private dining space now, too.

horse and jockey refurb
The Horse and Jockey is glistening once again ahead of reopening this month. (Credit: The Manc Group)

Other touches we especially liked are bringing Chorlton Pale Ale – which used to be brewed right here in the Jockey itself prior to Covid – back on draught. It may be made elsewhere nowadays, but we’re glad to see it being shipped back to and served out of its ancestral home.

And it just gets better.

As well as supporting the local art scene by sourcing works from Greater Manchester creatives, they really are aiming to make this a community cornerstone.

They’ve taken the holistic idea of a public house right back to its roots, providing not only a place to meet, eat and drink for regulars, but also a real social outlet right in the middle of the suburb.

It’s also about supporting and celebrating traditional British pubs and the Northern working-class culture that goes along with it.

There’s still a recognisable style and familiar feel to the Horse and Jockey refurb. (Credit: The Manc)

The majority of the furniture is even salvaged from the pubs we sadly lost up and down the country, not to mention other businesses that have unfortunately closed post-pandemic and the continuing struggles facing the industry.

We’re lucky to have people like this putting drinks in our hands and keeping our bellies full, so we’re glad that they’re doing what they can to pay homage to those who have come before them as well.

Perhaps most heartwarming is that not only have they kept pre-existing staff in post during the switch-over, but they’re all welcoming back familiar faces from the past. Once again, this is about championing the beauty of British pub culture in all of its facets.

This is a proper foodie pub at its core, boasting cosy vibes just in time for the colder months; they even restored three of the five original fires that used to burn through the autumn and winter back in the day.

Bookings are live already, and if you’ve tried the Sunday roast at The Black Friar, you expect this place to fill up just as quickly – we’d reserve our tables early if we were you…

The food offering is substantial, filling and full of flavour. (Credit: The Manc Eats)

This may be a big rebrand and transformation, but there are also still the same old Joseph Holt favourites on the taps for those who love the classic lineup, and they’ve even used their ‘Trailblazer’ stout glaze on one of their cheesecakes. Safe to say, they have our undivided attention with that one.

Owner Neil Burke, who formally acquired The Black Friar two years ago and now heads up the revamped Horse and Jockey, said of the reopening: “I have a personal history with the Horse & Jockey and it’s always held a special place in my heart.

“It’s such a beautiful building, but it hasn’t been shining the way it should in recent years. As a local myself, I felt Chorlton deserved a proper foodie pub – somewhere that delivers brilliant food in a setting that does justice to the building’s history.”

To top things off, they’ve got Michelin-trained head chef Paolo Bianchi leading things in the kitchen.

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“The Horse & Jockey is an iconic part of Chorlton’s history and I’m proud to be leading its kitchen with the brilliant Black Friar team”, says Bianchi. “After gaining years of experience in Paris, Dubai and London, it feels great to be rooted in Manchester, a city I’ve really fallen in love with.”

“My vision is simple, to serve British classics that people know and love, elevated with seasonal local ingredients, touches from my Italian heritage and international experience. The menu will be ever-changing, so guests can expect something fresh every time they visit.”

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As for your job, it’s simple: expect great, hearty pub grub classics elevated to a gourmet level, with all the welcoming warmth of a traditional English pub.

This isn’t just a metropolitan boozer trying to be a country-style pub; the Horse and Jockey is a Chorlton gem reborn. It opens on Monday, 20 October, and you can guarantee you’ll be seeing us there.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

News

The RSPCA has issued an urgent ‘Adoptober’ plea with a record 1,700 cats needing homes

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The RSPCA has issued an urgent 'Adoptober' plea with a record 1,700 cats needing homes

The RSPCA has issued an urgent plea for people to provide loving homes for rescue cat, with a record-breaking 1,700 moggies currently in the RSPCA Manchester & Salford Branch.

The charity has dubbed this month ‘Adoptober’ as it rushes to rehome as many of these gorgeous cats as possible.

The RSPCA has said that the number of cats needing homes has more than doubled since 2020, with an all-time high number of animals in the care of its branches.

They have also found that it’s taking, on average, a week long to find new homes for cats (rising from 32.5 days in September last year to 40 days on average this year).

There are several cats locally who are desperate to find their forever homes, like Roxy, who’s received no interest since she was placed up for adoption.

The rise in numbers is partly due to several recent large-scale cruelty and neglect cases which have led to high numbers of cats being taken into the RSPCA’s care.

RSPCA cat welfare specialist, Alice Potter said: “We have an astonishing number of cats in our care who are looking for a new home. Many have come from recent large-scale cruelty and neglect cases.

“We’re experiencing an unprecedented rehoming crisis, with centres so full they are unable to accept any more cats – so most of the incoming animals are having to be placed in private catteries until spaces become free in our own rehoming centres.

“Despite the best efforts of those who care for them, life in a cattery can be stressful for cats so by finding them loving homes as quickly as possible we can also free up space for other cats who need our help.

The RSPCA has issued an urgent 'Adoptober' plea with a record 1,700 cats needing homes
The RSPCA has issued an urgent ‘Adoptober’ plea with a record 1,700 cats needing homes

“This month’s Adoptober rehoming campaign is encouraging more people to consider adopting one of the lonely cats featured on our Findapet website who are looking for a forever home.”

So back to that lovely girl Roxy – this five-year-old loving cat has been looking for a home for a couple of weeks but hasn’t had any interest.

Susie Hughes, Branch Manager, said: “Roxy came into our care from neglectful conditions – she had never been to a vet and had live fleas that had made her scratch her fur thin and cause scabs on her skin.

“Roxy has been in our care three weeks now and has really started to blossom. She is clearly feeling a lot better because she has now started to show her playful side and chase catnip toys.

“Roxy is a very sweet, people orientated kitty. She loves to weave around your legs, rub against you and even enjoy a lap snuggle – she just loves a fuss!”

Roxy has now moved into a foster home where she has come out of her shell more.

She is looking for a home where she will have plenty of peace and quiet, no dogs or other cats and any children aged over 11.

“What Roxy wants is plenty of sofa cuddles, sunbathing opportunities and the chance to potter outdoors is a must,” added Susie.

“If you are reading this and you are the purrfect person for her, please get in touch. We’d love to find her a home this Adoptober!”

You can find more cats and kittens available for adoption from the branch here.

Alice added: “There’s a cat for everyone: cute kittens, marvellous moggies, fireside felines and outdoor adventurers, we’ve got every kind of cat waiting for another chance at happiness.

“We always encourage prospective pet owners to look beyond appearance, breed and colour and instead look for a personality that matches you and your lifestyle. However, we also have purebred and pedigree cats coming into our care – so even those who have a particular breed or type in mind may find their perfect partner, without fueling problematic commercial breeding.

“We’d urge anyone ready and able to adopt a rescue animal to fill in a ‘perfect match’ form with your local RSPCA centre or branch and they’ll let you know when an animal who matches you comes into their care.”

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Featured image: RSPCA

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