As if Valentine’s Day wasn’t cheesy enough, we’ve just heard that there’s an all-you-can-eatcheese night coming to a pub in Manchester next month.
Taking place at Northern Quarter pub Pie and Ale on 16 February, the night will see Leeds-born cheese tasting company Homage to Fromage lay on a giant help-yourself cheese buffet they’re labeling the ‘Cheese of Love’.
Created for romantic and cheese lovers alike, the event promises to showcase a ‘gorgeous selection of eight sexy, sultry, sensuous cheeses’ with some ‘soft and yielding,’ and others ‘big and strong’ with some form of melted cheese also set to make an appearance.
Kicking off at 7pm, unlimited portions of the good stuff will be served for a whopping two and a half hours – and there’s absolutely no limit on how many crumbly bits, hard or soft cheeses you reach for.
Image: The Manc Group
image: Homage to Fromage
As for drinks, thanks to the brilliant bar at host venue Pie and Ale you can also get stuck into a large selection of ales and craft beers: with six rotating cask ales, craft lager and beer on tap, and plenty of cans and bottles in the fridge.
Stocking an array of beers from near and far, Pie and Ale’s bar is undoubtedly a treasure trove for beer lovers but it also has something for wine drinkers, with a small list of reds and whites, and a decent cocktail and spirits list on offer.
The night will be laid back and informal with organisers promising that there will be some belting cheeses making an appearance.
image: The Manc Group
image: Homage to Fromage
Put together by Homage to Fromage co-founders Nick and Vickie, an unlikely duo from Yorkshire who formed a business following a random conversation on Twitter in 2011, cheese lovers will be able to dig into unlimited portions for just £20 a head (tickets are priced at £40 for a table of two). Drinks are not included.
This isn’t a snobby cheese night for those that know the difference between a quartz cheese and a brie, it’s all about bringing people together to have a sensory and social experience that foods like cheese can offer.
That said, there will be scoring sheets available for those who want to play cheese critic for the evening.
‘Eyesore’ Northern Quarter car park to be redeveloped as ambitious new neighbourhood
Emily Sergeant
An underused multi-storey car park in the heart of the city centre is set to be sold and redeveloped as an ‘ambitious’ new neighbourhood.
The ‘eyesore’ car park situated in Manchester’s iconic Northern Quarter will be transformed into what Manchester City Council is hoping will become a green and sustainable neighbourhood set to complement the ‘unique and independent’ ethos of the area.
It comes after developers CBRE were appointed by the Council last year to market the Church Street site for disposal, ahead of seeking formal planning permission.
The new scheme will deliver more than 300 new homes – including 60 affordable homes – alongside new commercial opportunities and high-quality public spaces.
A before and proposed after of Church Street Car Park / Credit: Manchester City Council
It’s expected that the development will respect the heritage and architecture of the historic city centre neighbourhood and help to enhance the wider area, all while improving a car park site that has long fallen out of favour.
The new neighbourhood will also feature four new public squares and green spaces, along with opportunities for pedestrianising the surrounding streets as part of the public realm.
As mentioned, commercial space is also part of the plans, as the ground floor of the building will offer a mix of smaller, more affordable units to ensure local independent businesses can access the neighbourhood, alongside units for food and beverage outlets.
“For too long, the Church Street car park has been an eyesore and a barrier to the ongoing success of the Northern Quarter,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
“We want to bring forward a world-class development that has the potential to completely transform this part of the neighbourhood, together with the newest city centre public squares and green spaces.”
The final legal negotiations will conclude over the summer, and it’s expected that a public consultation will then take place to inform a future planning application.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
News
‘Major milestone’ as planning permission secured to transform Oldham town centre
Emily Sergeant
Planning permission has been granted for six transformational sites in Oldham town centre, with developers calling it a ‘major milestone’.
This approval marks a key step forward in Muse Places and Oldham Council‘s long-term partnership with a shared ambition to deliver a ‘vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable’ town centre that not only reflects Oldham’s heritage but also meets the needs of the people who live there.
Following ‘extensive consultation’ with the local community earlier this year, where hundreds of people took park and shared valuable feedback to help shape the proposals, a total of 1,619 new homes will be delivered as part of the plans, offering a mix of high-quality, energy-efficient apartments designed for families, older people, and young professionals.
The plans also include social and affordable housing provision too in a bid to help more local people find a home that suits their needs and circumstances.
According to the Council and developers, the approved plans will bring underused sites back into ‘productive’ use and support a ‘cleaner, greener’ future for Oldham, opening the door to new opportunities for local businesses and communities alike.
“This decision marks a key milestone in delivering on our promises for Oldham,” commented Cllr Arooj Shah, who is the Leader of Oldham Council.
Planning permission has been secured to transform Oldham town centre / Credit: Muse Places
“Oldham Council and Muse have a shared, ambitious vision to create a quality place that people genuinely want to spend time in.
“I am thrilled that we can continue moving forward with our plans, delivering high-quality homes, including the provision of social and affordable homes to meet local needs. We will also support local businesses and create opportunities for everyone, as part of a clean, green and sustainable future.
“Together, we are creating a place that we can all be proud of.”
Site investigation works are now complete at the Civic Centre, and works at Prince’s Gate will begin shortly, followed by the former Magistrates’ Court later this year.
With planning consent secured and preparatory works underway, construction at Prince’s Gate is expected to begin this autumn.
Georgina Pellant -
24th January 2023 
