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Top Manchester restaurants raffle off tables to help feed local people in need

AA rosette award-winner El Gato Negro, 5-star hotel The Lowry, Mackie Mayor, District and The Creameries are just a handful to be involved

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 21st September 2021

Some of the most sought-after restaurants in Manchester are raffling off tables to help feed local people in need.

Working in partnership with local charity Eat Well MCR, top restaurants like AA rosette award-winner El Gato Negro, 5-star hotel The Lowry, Mackie Mayor, District and The Creameries are just a handful to be involved in the fundraising raffle.

Launched to mark the start of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival, the Eat Well MCR raffle gives people the chance to win meals worth over £100 at some venues whilst also donating to support the charity’s important work across Greater Manchester feeding vulnerable local people in need.

Image: Eat Well MCR

With tickets priced at £10 each, every sale will provide five meals to people sidelined by poverty in Manchester as well as giving the buyer a chance to bag some mega prizes worth ten times the value of their raffle ticket.

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There is a total of 31 prizes up for grabs, including concert tickets for Elbow, £150 to spend at Freight Island, £100 to spend at El Gato, £100 at Mackie Mayor, and VIP tickets to Homobloc’s WHP 2021 show at Depot Mayfield.

Further prizes include a meal for two at Tokyo Ramen, a £100 voucher for Tampopo, family tickets to Lightopia, and a traditional afternoon tea at five-star hotel The Lowry.

The proceeds from every ticket sale will go towards supporting families and other local Manchester people who find themselves fallen on hard times.

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Many people In Manchester are using food banks, living in temporary accommodation with no cooking facilities, or sheltering from domestic abuse in a refuge – and these are the people that will be most helped by the sale of these raffle tickets.

See the full list of prizes up for grabs below and click here to purchase your raffle ticket. Act fast, the raffle closes on 27 September.

The full list of prizes available to win in the MFDF x Eat Well MCR raffle:

1.£100 to spend at any restaurant in the El Gato group

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2.Meal for 2 at Tokyo Ramen (drinks not included)

3.Table for 2 at District for My First Crush + a bottle of wine OR 2 cocktails

4.£100 voucher for Mackie Mayor, Markethouse Alrincham or Picturehouse Macclesfield

(These vouchers can be used at any of the bars or kitchens. The vouchers are valid until 16th September 2022. The vouchers can be collected from Mackie Mayor as soon as the prize has been drawn.)

5.£100 voucher for Tampopo

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6.Family Ticket for Lightopia, Heaton Park Nov 2021 – Jan 2022

(Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children) to the award-winning Lightopia, enchanting light and lantern festival, from November 18th, 2021 – January 3rd, 2022, at Heaton Park. Prize subject to availability)

7.Homobloc VIP tickets x 2 – 6th November 2021, Mayfield Depot

8.£150 to spend at Freight Island

9.Honest Crust Bundle – pizza vouchers, a Hannah Valentine x Honest Crust limited edition T-shirt and tote bag and a bottle of olive oil

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10.Taste of Honey lunch or dinner for up to 15 people in Taste Of Honey’s secret courtyard (details TBC)

11.Traditional Afternoon Tea for 2 at The Lowry Hotel

12.The Creameries – 4 course lunch for 2 people at The Creameries (to be used within 6 months, drinks not included)

13.ELBOW Tickets x 2 – Manchester Apollo Wednesday 29th September 2021

(PLEASE NOTE: Winners must be fully compliant with all venue policies to gain entry, in particular covid compliance requirements click here to view. They should read this in plenty of time, as they may need to prepare lateral flow tests or covid passes ahead of the show. Sadly due to Covid restrictions and to reduce the risk of infection or transmission, there are no aftershow arrangements, backstage access or meet and greet opportunities on this tour. Winners are advised to keep an eye on Elbow and Apollo social media for any last minute changes.)

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14.Be Diddy Voucher 

15.Medium Cheese Hamper Box from Chorlton Cheesemongers

(Winner to notify of any specific dietary requirements; Allergen information can be found under the product description on website. Prize includes delivery to main UK postcodes – additional charges for delivery to Highlands & Islands. Cheeses can occasionally be different to description due to seasonal availability.)

16.Batard – brunch for 2

(details TBC – to be redeemed post November 2021)

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17.Maison Breizh Lambig de Bretagne (Breton cider brandy) x 1 bottle

18.Beehive Foods – Chutney Selection box

19.Isca – Indulgence Box

(including a bottle of natural wine (choice of red, white or orange), maple + rosemary nuts, a jar of organic jam, a jar of organic chutney and a bar of small batch chocolate. Shipped or collection from Isca.)

20.Into The Gathering Dusk – Botanical Gin and Tonic Package

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(2 x 250ml varieties of gin infused with botanicals from our local area (37.5% abv). Makes approx 10 double gin and tonics with plenty of tonic cordial to spare. Comes with cute citrus wheel garnishes)

21.Jaunty Festival Scarf by Design Confections

22.Frederick & Tubs hand painted glass candle holder

23.Platt Fields Market Garden Hamper

(Contains a selection of seasonal and organically grown PFMG vegetables and herbs along with pickles, kimchi, hot sauce and sweet and savoury treats all produced by amazon chef at the PFMG onsite kitchen with own grown ingredients. Also included, organic eggs and apple juice from local supplier.)

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24.Adam Pester A1 print of Manchester 

25.Reserve Wines – Case of 6 bottles 

26.Letters of Note – collection of signed books

(Signed set of 12 mini compliations of Letters Of Note, Shaun Usher : Love, War, Art, Music, Cats, Dogs, Mothers, Fathers, Sex, Space, Grief, New York)

27.Rebecca Morris Ceramics – pair of handmade ramen bowls and Pippy Eats chilli oil set

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28.Kabusk plant pot

(The recipient of this prize may choose one large or two smaller items from their Collection One range to be specially made for them.)

29.Stan Chow Print of Anthony Bourdain

(designed especially for Eat Well MCR)

30.Stan Chow – Noodles Print

31.L347her Lightening Bolt Earrings 

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‘Warm Banks’ set up in Greater Manchester to help people who ‘cannot afford to put the heating on’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

A council in Greater Manchester has confirmed plans to open ‘Warm Banks’, to help people keep warm this winter as energy bills skyrocket.

Oldham Council will be creating welcoming, heated, sheltered spaces for those who ‘cannot afford to put the heating on’.

The move will see places like libraries turned into Warm Banks as part of the council’s £3m plans to tackle the cost of living crisis.

In a statement, Cllr Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said that schemes such as Warm Banks ‘should not be necessary in 2022’.

It’s hoped that the plans will particularly help vulnerable residents, such as the elderly and families with young children, through the colder months.

Oldham is setting up Warm Banks to help those who ‘can’t afford to put the heating on’. Credit: Unsplash

She said: “As part of our £3m commitment to tackle the cost of living, we’re setting up Warm Banks so that Oldham residents who are cold and cannot afford to put the heating on have a place where they can get warm.

“These should not be necessary in 2022, but the reality for many people is that the cost of energy is unaffordable and without support, they will be cold in their own homes. This is particularly worrisome for our vulnerable residents such as the elderly or families with young children.

“Our Warm Banks are places already open to the public, such as our libraries. We’ll be investing into these spaces over the coming weeks to make sure they’re as welcoming as they can be. We’ll also be working with our partners to identify places in the community that can be used as Warm Banks to ensure none of our residents are forced to be cold.

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“As we approach the winter months and face another rise in our energy costs tomorrow with the October price cap increase, this situation is going to get worse for residents. But they’re not alone and as a council, we can help.

“Our team are on hand to help anyone who is already struggling with their energy costs. Through our Warm Homes Scheme, residents can access a range of support including claiming for Warm Homes Discount, help to switch energy suppliers or tariffs as well as ways to maximise your income to help make the basics more affordable.

“If you’re struggling, we can help. Please contact our emergency helpline on 0161 770 7777 and our staff will do everything they can to make things a little easier for you.”

Featured image: Oldham Council

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Kwasi Kwarteng U-turns on plan to axe 45p tax rate for higher earners

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Kwasi Kwarteng has U-turned on plans to scrap the 45p rate of income tax for the UK’s highest earners.

The sudden change of heart comes just 10 days after the Chancellor unveiled his mini Budget, which has led to 10 days of market turmoil and fierce pressure from within the Conservative party.

Just yesterday, Prime Minister Liz Truss insisted that the tax cut, which would benefit Brits earning more than £150,000, would go ahead.

Mr Kwarteng said that the proposals had ‘become a distraction’ in a statement released this morning.

Given that his Growth Plan has been labelled a ‘Kami-Kwase Budget’, that would seem to be an understatement.

“We get it, and we have listened,” he wrote.

His statement says: “From supporting British business to lowering the tax burden for the lowest paid, our Growth Plan sets out a new approach to build a more prosperous economy.

“However, it is clear that the abolition of the 45p tax rate has become a distraction from our overriding mission to tackle the challenges facing our country.

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“As a result, I’m announcing we are not proceeding with the abolition of the 45p tax rate. We get it, and we have listened.

“This will allow us to focus on delivering the major parts of our growth package.

“First, our Energy Price Guarantee, which will support households and businesses with their energy bills.
Second, cutting taxes to put money back in the pockets of 30 million hard-working people and grow our economy.

“Third, driving supply side reforms – including accelerating major infrastructure projects – to get Britain moving.”

Mr Kwarteng’s U-turn on the 45p tax cut policy has been described as ‘humiliating’ and comes on the second day of the Tory party conference in Birmingham.

Former Transport Secretary Grant Schapps said: “Strongly welcome today’s 45p tax reversal. Sensible & pragmatic.

“Conservatives want lower tax, but let’s show our energy price cap + other policies are on side of consumers rather than borrowing to cut high earner taxes first.”

Piers Morgan said: “Tories to U-turn on 45p tax rate cut. Humongous humiliation for @trussliz @KwasiKwarteng and worse possible start to their conference. She’ll have to sack him, surely?”

Featured image: ParliamentTV

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