Picture this: you’re at a festival, your wellies are sinking deep into the mud. It’s been steadily drizzling for the past ten hours and you just paid over the odds for a little bit of Pimms and lemonade in a plastic cup.
Summertime really doesn’t get much more British than that. Unless perhaps you add in rained-out BBQs that need to be finished off in the oven.
With last summer one of the weirdest on record, we’re getting a bit nostalgic. So, it seems, is The Lawn Club – who’ve just revealed some giant Pimms cocktails served in welly boots.
The Lawn Club
Combining two of British summer’s most iconic elements, the new sharing cocktail holds four servings of the Wimbledon favourite – a mixture of Pimms’ no.1 secret blend, lemonade, cucumber, lemon, orange, mint and strawberries. Priced at £20, that makes it just £5 a glass.
A quintessential part of summer in Manchester, whether you like to hang out in Spinningfields or not everyone has been to The Lawn Club at some point or other.
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Over the years it’s changed a fair bit, adopting various guises as its moved around Hardman Square – hosting all sorts over the years, from giant film screenings to an ice curling rink.
Now sitting next to The Ivy, it’s undergone some extensive renovations for 2021 with new features including a fully enclosed interior area and outdoor terrace.
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The bar is also bringing back its nifty little Lawn Pods and Lawn Houses, which resemble mini greenhouses and offer private space for groups of up to six, as well as its ever-popular deck chairs which will be strewn across the lawns.
For those looking to dine, there’s also new spring/summer menu from the kitchen featuring some tasty burgers, bagels and bowls.
Booking is recommended, with just a few tables held back for walk-ins. When booking the Lawn pods and houses, a card authorisation of £30 is required in the event of a no show.
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Georgina Pellant -
13th May 2021 
