News

Irish pub in Altrincham closed by police for ‘offering sexual services’

It's been ordered to close.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 21st February 2024

A pub in Altrincham has been ordered to close after a police raid today found it was being used to ‘offer sexual services for reward’.

Officers also found that a vulnerable woman had been trafficked from outside Trafford to work at The Railway.

The traditional Irish pub on Manchester Road has been ordered to close for three months.

Two people have been arrested for crimes relating to prostitution for gain.

The news follows a raid where officers found ‘significant evidence’ that the pub’s premises were being used to offer sexual services.

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Photos shared by Greater Manchester Police show a closure order being taped to The Railway’s front door.

It reads: “These premises have been issued with a closure order to prevent nuisance and disorder.

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“Trafford Community Safety Partnership takes action to protect local communities from the harm caused by crime and anti-social behaviour.”

The Railway pub in Altrincham. Credit: Google Maps
The Railway pub in Altrincham. Credit: Google Maps
A closure notice fixed to The Railway in Altrincham
A closure notice fixed to The Railway in Altrincham

A statement from GMP says: “Officers from GMP have carried out a search warrant on the Railway Pub on Manchester Road in Altrincham accompanied by colleagues from Trafford Council’s Community Safety Team.

“Significant evidence was found on the premises indicating that the premises were being used to offer sexual services for reward and a vulnerable woman, trafficked from outside Trafford to work there was found on the premises.

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“Two persons have been arrested for crimes relating to controlling prostitution for gain and today, the Magistrates issued an order on application from the council closing the premises for three months. A review of the premises license will now be requested.”

The Railway reopened as an Irish bar in 2021 following a fire in late 2020.

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Featured image: GMP

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Co-op Live confirms cancellations caused by part of air conditioning unit ‘falling from ceiling’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has released a statement after his Co-op Live gig was cancelled. Credit: The Manc Group

The Co-op Live arena has confirmed the cause of tonight’s last-minute gig cancellation and subsequent postponement of future shows.

Reports said that an object had ‘fallen from the ceiling’ before doors to the public officially opened.

Co-op Live has now confirmed that ‘a component of the air conditioning system’ separated from the ductwork, and stressed that no one was injured.

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, the artist who was meant to perform tonight, had said that ‘something happened with the venue while I was at soundcheck today’.

Oak View Group, which owns the venue, said that it had ‘made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue to postpone the performance’.

Tim Leiweke, Chairman and CEO of Oak View Group said: “The safety and security of all visiting and working on Co-op Live is our utmost priority, and we could not and will not run any event until it is absolutely safe to do so.

“Today was a very unexpected situation but without a doubt the right decision.

“I deeply apologise for the impact that this has had on ticket holders and fans.”

It’s believed that the issue with the HVAC system was an isolated incident ’caused by a factory defect’.

Co-op Live said: “We were not able to verify that all similar nozzles were free of such defects.

“In conjunction with wider stakeholders, Oak View Group has made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue, and to postpone the performance.”

The rest of the nozzles inside the huge arena will now be tested for similar defects.

Co-op Live then said that ‘where necessary’ it would find alternate dates for its opening season schedule and then minutes later announced the postponement of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS tour dates in Manchester.

They said in a statement: “We understand the need to reassure fans over future shows. We are working with artist management and promoters to limit the impact on the opening season schedule.

“Where necessary, we will identify alternate dates, and will continually reassess to provide fans with sufficient notice regarding imminent shows.

“Should shows be cancelled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of purchase and offered a full refund where preferred.”

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Olivia Rodrigo’s two Manchester shows at Co-op Live have been postponed

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Olivia Rodrigo has announced a Manchester gig at Co-op Live

Olivia Rodrigo’s shows at Co-op Live in Manchester have been postponed after a night of drama for the new arena.

The star was meant to bring her GUTS Tour to the city on Friday and Saturday night.

But the huge 23,500-capacity arena has now confirmed that both of these gigs will be postponed.

New dates will be announced as soon as they’re confirmed.

Co-op Live said in a statement: “Due to an on-going venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed.

“Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase.

“We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”

The massive arena was supposed to open for the first time to the public tonight with a performance by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.

Olivia Rodrigo's gigs in Manchester at Co-op Live have been postponed.
Credit: Nick Walker
Olivia Rodrigo's gigs in Manchester at Co-op Live have been postponed.
Credit: Larissa Hofmann
Olivia Rodrigo’s gigs in Manchester at Co-op Live have been postponed.

But it was called off at the eleventh hour, with fans turned away from the doors just minutes before they were meant to open.

Co-op Live has now confirmed that the reason for the cancellation was that a piece of the HVAC (air conditioning) system had ‘separated from the ductwork’.

Rigorous testing on the rest of the system now needs to take place before fans can safely be welcomed inside.

Olivia Rodrigo has yet to issue a statement about her Manchester shows on 3 and 4 May being postponed.

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Featured image: Publicity picture

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