Oldham

CCTV of man stealing a Lay-Z Spa in Failsworth goes viral

The most brazen robbery we've ever seen

The Manc The Manc - 29th April 2021

“Does anybody know who this is?!”

That’s probably one of the most common phrases uttered on Facebook these days, often accompanied by grainy screenshots from a CCTV system that has caught local chancers trying car door handles and climbing over dodgy side gates.

In the recent history of Failsworth – a small town sandwiched between Oldham and Newton Heath – this is happening more often than ever and with the rise of local Facebook groups in areas like these, it’s an impossible challenge to scroll your newsfeed without coming across stills of hoodlums on the rob.

The majority of the time, they’re after your car, or something expensive you’ve left on your kitchen side. Very rarely will someone fancy a chance at your Lay-Z Spa… But that wasn’t the case in Failsworth this week when local Dan Williams had his blow up hot tub robbed by one guy on two wheels.

Writing on Facebook, Dan from Failsworth posted: “Does anybody know who this is?! Stolen my lazy spa out of my garden early hours this morning. Caught him on CCTV ?! Failsworth area.”

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Basically, some mad guy spotted Dan’s Lay-Z Spa over his garden fence and thought it’d be a solid idea to whack it on his bonce and make a break for it on his bike – a bike he probably spotted over someone’s garden fence.

Due to the unique nature of the robbery and the (hilarious) CCTV still, the post has understandably caught some heat on Facebook generating over 2,500 shares since Dan posted it yesterday morning.

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Failsworth

He told The Manc: “It was just a normal day really, I left for work like any other day.

“Then I got a phone call off my missus that the hot tub had disappeared… then shortly after that we got the CCTV and saw what had happened.”

As of right now, the Lay-Z Spa is still being held captive by the unknown assailant – who is probably planning the summer of a life time in his backyard this year.

If you do know anything about this crime, give 101 a call to let Greater Manchester Police’s Crimestoppers department know. You can also visit this link to report it.

Oldham

Oldham mansion that starred in an iconic pop music video is up for sale

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

A Greater Manchester mansion that’s featured in one of the most famous music videos of the past decade is now up for sale.

Situated in the picturesque village of Uppermill, Oldham, Ashcroft House is currently listed at £2,350,000 accepting offers in the region of this figure.

The property has six bedrooms, six baths and five reception rooms – this mansion is a party host’s dream.

Ashcroft House has four storeys with the lower ground floor currently set up as a gym space and the ground floor boasting an eye-catching grand entrance hall.

This isn’t everything the lower ground floor has to offer. There are a number of breakout rooms such as a wine store, cinema room and your own personal steam room.

When going up another flight of stairs, the first floor’s main selling point besides the very large balcony is the matched walk in wardrobes paired with each of the six sleeping quarters, yes please!

The girls styling themselves in one of the many walk in wardrobes at Ashcroft House.
The bold statement front door in the Oldham mansion.
Credit: Youtube (@littlemix)

Finally, if that wasn’t enough to draw you in, there is another flight of stairs leading to the second floor which is currently acting as the house’s ever-impressive storage area.

With the rolling hills of Saddleworth nearby and a local pub a ten minute walk away, how could life possibly get any better?

Oh wait it does! In 2016 one of the UK’s best selling girl groups of all time shot a music video for their worldwide hit right here in these very four walls.

X Factor prodigies and three time BRIT award winning girl group Little Mix perched up with their film crew to spend 21 hours recording the video for their groundbreaking single ‘Hair’.

The video itself has amassed nearly 500 million views on social media platform Youtube since being released eight years ago.

The grand staircase that greets you as you enter this Greater Manchester property.
The Little Mix girls having a bite to eat in Ashcroft House.
Credit: Youtube (@littlemix)

This isn’t the first time Manchester and its surrounding areas have been seen on the big screen as it seems lots of famous faces are keen to film the visual accompaniment to their songs here.

The previous owner of the house even revealed that once the music video shoot wrapped up, the girls stayed with the family to share a slice of pizza or two.

If you’re interested in owning a piece of pop culture history or just as nosey as we are you can take a virtual tour of this mansion in Oldham here.

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Featured Image: Ryder & Dutton via Rightmove

Oldham

The Egyptian Room – Greater Manchester’s grandest new food hall has just opened in Oldham

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson TukTuk Cambodian food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group

One of Greater Manchester’s grandest spaces has been reborn as a food hall and bar, with six traders inside. 

This part of Oldham’s Old Town Hall, now with an ultra-modern new extension standing alongside its historic porticoed frontage, is now home to the 150-capacity space. 

The old Egyptian Room’s original features, like its beautiful ceramic tiled walls and pillars, and its arched windows, have been perfectly preserved. 

And now there are green leather booths and large tables sprawled around the space too. 

The new food hall, The Egyptian Room, has traders serving everything from pizza and pasta to noodles and gyros. 

Ply Pizza are here serving heaped bowls of pasta, including beef shin parpadelle and carbonara, plus their signature pizzas like the pistachio pesto topped with a gooey burrata. 

TukTuk has a menu full of Cambodian goodness like light bite street food items, sharing platters, spicy noodles and stir fries.

TukTuk Cambodian food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
TukTuk Cambodian food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
TukTuk Cambodian food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group

Seacoles is a new name, a Caribbean trader serving tacos and ‘splits’ (which are fried dumplings stuffed with fillings like Cajun spiced stripped beef steak and jerk chicken), and huge plates of curry and rice and peas. 

Then there’s The Last Stop, with smash burgers, gyros and loaded fries, and Wings of Power, where there are crispy-coated wings, tenders and burgers. 

Arooj Shah, leader of Oldham Council, said: “The old town hall, what The Egyptian Room is part of and this whole complex here, was a really derelict, unloved building.

Pizzas by Ply at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
Pizzas by Ply at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
Seacoles Caribbean food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
Seacoles Caribbean food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
TukTuk Cambodian food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group
TukTuk Cambodian food at The Egyptian Room. Credit: The Manc Group

“Jim [McMahon MP] had a vision for this whole building and the one thing Jim and I do share is our passion for Oldham’s heritage buildings and he had a vision to make use of something that was unloved and derelict for a long time. 

“The importance of that was not just the history and the contribution of what happened in these buildings before us but actually as a nod to say that even in the most difficult of times, because it’s been hard the last 14 years, it’s a nod to say how much we value our residents. 

“How even in the most difficult times, this inspiration and the ambition of our partners is a nod to every single one of our residents and communities, no matter who you are or what your upbringing is.”

The Egyptian Room is open now in Oldham town centre. 

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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