This week marks a decade since hundreds were arrested in Greater Manchester after "unprecedented levels of violence and criminality" swept the region in summer 2011.
On the morning of 10 August 2011 – when the sirens had switched off, the flames had fizzled out, and the roars had been silenced – hundreds of Mancunians quietly got to work on repairing their shattered city.
Families, students and businesspeople arrived en masse to strap on gloves, grasp brooms and pick up paintbrushes, working together to shovel broken glass out of streets and reattach the frames to shop doorways.
The day before, Manchester and Salford had been swept up in the violence consuming England following the death of Mark Duggan – a 29-year-old who had been shot dead by police earlier in the summer of 2011.
A protest in Tottenham Hale had led to clashes with law enforcement, and the next few days saw trouble spread from the capital into other cities across the country.
Ten years after the 2011 riots, @MENnewsdesk mentions an @OfficialUoM study which found nearly a third of those punished afterwards came from the most deprived areas of Greater Manchester – with not a single person from the richest areas https://t.co/HCiVr75Hf8
The first pockets of local violence erupted in Salford Shopping Centre on the afternoon of August 9. Supermarket Lidl was the first target, before looters proceeded to break into a Bargain Booze and The Money Shop.
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Police were pelted with missiles and journalists covering the story were even caught up in the melee; a BBC radio car battered with bricks before being set alight.
Within hours, Manchester city centre’s shops were also under attack – with officers overwhelmed by “unprecedented levels of violence and criminality”.
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Mobs broke into Manchester’s Arndale Centre and groups stormed shops like Footasylum, Bang & Olufsen and Swarovski in St Ann’s Square.
Miss Selfridge on Market Street was also engulfed in flames as the outnumbered police desperately battled the masked-up mobs rampaging through the city streets.
The Guardian said it turned into “a tale of two riots” – with Greater Manchester Police’s then-chief constable Peter Fahy suggesting the respective culprits in Salford and Manchester had responded in different ways.
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“Certainly most of [the rioting] in Manchester was about getting goods, breaking into places and stealing things,” Fahy told The Guardian.
“Salford I think was slightly different. It was more about attacking us and the fire services.”
The trouble in Greater Manchester dissipated the next day – but the region remained severely shaken.
More than 370 people were arrested, 60 officers were injured, and the total police cost was reportedly more than £3 million.
After the rioting ended elsewhere in England on August 11, it was revealed that more than 200 people had been injured and over 3,000 arrested nationwide. Five people were also killed during the six days of violence.
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But according to local Councillor Pat Karney, Greater Manchester’s role in the riots was not reflective of what the region was about. He says it was those next few days – where adults and children were seen flocking to fix the damage – that showed the real GM.
“The true Mancunian spirit has been shown in Manchester today,” the councillor stated, as locals swept away debris and stuffed rubbish into sacks.
“The community has come out to say enough is enough, and that they will not stand by and let thugs try to destroy our city.
“This was pure criminal behaviour from a minority of people who were intent on looting and rioting and these criminals are not fit to be called Mancunians.”
The Lowry Hotel is hosting a free men’s health check and Manchester’s first-ever ‘Shave-athon’ to support Movember
Danny Jones
Male health is something we still overlook far too often and there can be lots of stigma surrounding both men’s mental and physical health, so with that in mind, The Lowry Hotel’s spa and wellness centre is teaming up with Movember to help promote the charity and their important work.
To celebrate the end of Movember 2023, The Lowry and RE:TREAT will be holding Manchester’s first-ever ‘Shave-athon’ event, where blokes can turn up to the luxury city centre hotel to give their moustaches a free trim or go clean-shaven after 30 days of wearing face fur.
Better still, given the organisation’s unwavering commitment to men’s health, the spa will also be hosting a ‘Ball-athon’: a.k.a. free testicular scans to anyone concerned about any lumps, bumps or who simply fancies getting a quick check-up.
And don’t worry, the shaving will be carried out by male grooming experts and the basic ball observations done by a registered healthcare professional.
Credit: Supplied
While the event is completely free to attend, those who turn up will be encouraged to donate to the charity, no matter how small the contribution. This isn’t a Tesco advert but when it comes to stuff like this, every little bit really does help.
For anyone hesitant, all scans are completely confidential and non-invasive too, not to mention carried out within the privacy of The Lowry’s award-winning RE:TREAT treatment rooms, with medical reports able to be passed on to your GP if required.
The Movember Foundation marked its 20th anniversary this year and has raised well over £400 million for men’s health causes since it first began. Events are just yet another example of the amazing work they’ve been doing for two decades now.
The free shaves and ‘Ball-athons’ will take place on Thursday 30th November, with drop-in sessions open from 3pm-6:30pm. You can book your free ticket now.
You can find more information on the event and RE:TREAT on The Lowry website and for anyone who wants to help do their bit for Movember this year, you can donate to the amazing cause HERE.
The Salford takeaway sensation that’s been named one of the best burgers in Britain
Daisy Jackson
A Greater Manchester takeaway has just been crowned with having one of the best burgers in Britain, placing in an impressive seventh place.
Burgerism, which started life in Salford and now has sites in Gatley and Manchester too, said it was ‘unbelievably proud’ to receive the accolade.
The local business placed seventh in The Times’ Top 10 Burgers in Britain list, beaten by some massive names like Shake Shack, Patty & Bun, and MeatLiquor.
Burgerism even managed to place one above Hawksmoor, the steak restaurant that’s also famed for its burgers, with which it recently collaborated on a special menu.
Burgerism said it was ‘completely overwhelming’ to have been placed so highly on the list, which was voted on by some of the country’s top chefs.
They wrote on Instagram: “We are unbelievably proud, humbled and grateful to have been named in @thetimes Top 10 burgers in Britain, as voted for by some of the country’s top chefs, coming in at number seven!
“To think of where we started from just a few short years ago as a solitary shack in Salford to our meal deal ranking as Deliveroo’s most popular dish in Manchester and now to have top chefs singing our praises and naming us one of the best burgers in the country.
Burgerism in Greater Manchester has been named the seventh best burger in Britain. Credit: The Manc GroupBurgerism in Greater Manchester has been named the seventh best burger in Britain. Credit: The Manc Group
“It’s completely overwhelming and a testament to all of our wonderful team who serve countless burgers up expertly every day, never allowing our quality to dip even when they’re absolutely rammed with orders.
“Every one of them deserves all the praise in the world for getting us to this point. And obviously, you lot, our loyal customers who have come from all over the country, sometimes driving hours just to pick up a few meal deals and scranning them down in your car in the pouring Mancunian rain.
“Where would we be without you? Your support will always mean the world to us and we love serving you all.
“Here’s to cracking that top five next time.”
Burgerism first launched in 2018, quietly setting the standard for dark kitchens way before the pandemic made them so popular.
At times, it had queues outside its original Salford site churning out thousands of its popular smashed patty burgers a day.
The Manc -
10th August 2021 
