Two teenage girls were arrested in Manchester city centre over the weekend after calling 999 to ask for a lift home when they’d “ran out of money”.
While contacting emergency services in cases that are not considered emergencies is never the right thing to do, this is not actually what the pair were arrested for, however, as Greater Manchester Police (GMP) revealed that the two females, aged 16 and 17, were wanted in connection with a previous criminal damage offence.
GMP explained that, at around 2:30am this past Saturday (27 May), emergency services received said 999 call, and officers responded to the call shortly after.
Officers said they were “concerned for the welfare of the pair” in Manchester city centre.
TAXI – 999 call from 2 females wanting a lift home, as they didn't have any money & mum wouldn't pick them up. We were more than happy to offer our finest taxi, free of charge, as it turned out they were both wanted for criminal damage, both taken into police custody.
— Manchester City Centre Police (GMP) (@GMPCityCentre) May 28, 2023
When police arrived on the scene, they subsequently arrested the two females on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to an incident at Manchester Piccadilly station back in February.
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The 16-year-old has been charged with criminal damage, while the 17-year-old has been released under investigation, GMP confirmed.
“GMP receives around 5,000 calls a day,” explained Chief Inspector Matthew Jackson, who is the Head of Dispatch at GMP’s Force Contact, Crime, and Operations branch.
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“2,000 of which are 999 calls with the vast majority from people in a genuine emergency.
Teens who ‘ran out of money’ arrested in Manchester after calling 999 to ask for a taxi / Credit: GMP
“However, people ringing 999 for inappropriate reasons are potentially putting lives at risk by taking call handlers’ time away from genuine emergency calls, keeping people in danger waiting for longer and putting lives at risk.”
CI Jackson emphasised that the 999 system is “for emergencies only”.
He urged the public to make use of the alternative contact channels GMP has available instead – which include reporting online or via the force’s dedicated LiveChat, or by calling either 101 or the independent charity, Crimestoppers, which even lets people report information anonymously.
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Pat Regan at the Fairfield Social Club – a brilliantly unhinged evening of standup comedy
Clementine Hall
There’s a particular kind of chaos that only Pat Regan can deliver, and the recently re-recognised Fairfield Social Club got the full force of it last night.
Making his Manchester debut as part of the ‘A Lovely Time’ series at the equally as lovely Fairfield Social Club, the New York comic, writer, and podcast host arrived with the energy of someone who had already lived through three emotional breakdowns before breakfast and somehow still had the worst to come.
Known for his work on HBO’s Hacks and the cult-favourite podcast Seek Treatment with fellow comic Catherine Cohen, Regan’s stand-up feels less like your traditional comedy set and more like being trapped in the world’s funniest group chat.
The perfectly intimate room beneath Fairfield’s railway arches was packed with adoring fans who were immediately on side as Regan launched into stories about traumatic trips to Paris, Grindr dates, massage tables and having crushes at the gym.
The audience was in the palm of his slightly sweaty hands (don’t worry, he’ll be fine with me saying so), laughing at every awkward punchline and self-deprecating anecdote.
The material is nothing groundbreaking, but this is what makes it so deeply hilarious; never before has shopping for the perfect pair of jeans been so serious and unserious at the same time.
There was laughter rolling through the venue for virtually the entire set, and after an hour of never-ending quips and jokes, we were left wanting more.
And the best part is, it won’t be long until we get more from this place, and it’s no wonder they’re starting to get the hosting plaudits they deserve.
It’s safe to say Fairfield Social Club has become one of Manchester’s most exciting homes for alternative comedy, and this felt like exactly the sort of booking that justifies its growing reputation.
By the time Regan left the stage, the audience looked equal parts exhausted and delighted. An absolutely classy evening indeed.
Find out about what else is on at the Fairfield Social Club HERE.
First-ever JD Wetherspoon pub to open at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
In news that we feel many Mancs and travellers all-round have been waiting on for a long time, the well-known British chain, JD Wetherspoon, will be opening its first-ever pub at Manchester Airport.
That’s right: soon that first airport pint of the holiday could actually be a relatively cheap one.
While Wetherspoons are no strangers to popping up in terminals across the UK and Ireland, they’ve never done so here in Manchester despite having three, yes THREE, in Gatwick alone.
Not for much longer, though, as soon T2 will be lending more than 3,000 square feet of its prime leisure and retail real estate to a new Greater Manchester ‘Spoons’.
Posting on social media, the airport wrote: “Wetherspoon comes to Manchester Airport this September! The pub will be located in the Terminal 2 Departures lounge and will have more than 300 seats.
“This will become the final major food and drink venue to open its doors as part of our decade-long £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2. It will be named ‘The Belle Vue’, in a nod to Manchester’s historic showground [now a sports complex and leisure hub].
“It was a focal point for social life in the city from the Victorian period up until 2020, when the final event was held at Belle Vue stadium. The design of the pub is inspired by the history of Belle Vue and the sporting culture of the North West of England. We look forward to welcoming you all in September!”
While a lot of money has been pumped into T2’s refurb as a whole over the past few years, it remains unclear just how much this particular new addition will cost; we do know that great sums were set aside for the launch of the Great Northern Market last year.
The inaugural Manchester Airport Spoons is just the latest in a series of major renovations.
As mentioned, the company already operate several up and down the country – 10 airport pubs, to be specific – but this will be the first in the North West.
Speaking on the news, JD Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said in a statement: “We are looking forward to opening at Manchester Airport. We believe our new pub will prove popular with travellers of all ages and be an asset to the new terminal.”
With Manchester Airport adding a dozen new routes to its roster this summer, you can expect to see even more people flying in and out than ever – no doubt having already polished off a cut-price pint or two beforehand.
Emily Sergeant -
30th May 2023 
