When you think of new build homes, a lot of us might immediately picture a plain, square, neat little house, with magnolia walls, beige carpet and a completely unremarkable patch of grass out the back.
Despite these preconceptions, hordes of Mancs are heading out of the city centre in order to put down roots somewhere where you have your own front door, flights of stairs, and no scary rent increases looming overhead.
For those of us who want all the perks of a new build, but don’t want to compromise on style and character, there’s a new development in town that is bucking the trend.
Northstone’s Silkash neighbourhood has created 150 genuinely beautiful homes, full of design-led details like huge windows, natural textures in walls and floors, and landscaped gardens.
This new generation of new builds is situated in Westhoughton in Bolton, surrounded by green space but with super-easy transport links back into the city centre for those still clinging on to the hustle and bustle of Manchester.
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Inside Northstone’s new build Silkash homes in Westhoughton, Greater Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Northstone has designed the neighbourhood to suit style-conscious home-owners, whether it’s your first step on to the property ladder or you’re just to get some extra space for your family.
Each home comes with high ceilings to complement those massive windows, and buyers can take advantage of the flexible spaces inside. They promise it’s the ‘antithesis of the pokey new build’.
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For anyone worrying about the cost of living too (which is, well, all of us), the houses are some of the most energy-efficient on the market, packed with technology that will help households to reduce their energy usage.
The Silkash neighbourhood was built with community in mind – these are the sort of streets with trees, and wide spaces where kids can play out and neighbours can gather for street parties.
Anita Jolley, sales director at Northstone, said: “Most people come with a pre-loaded opinion about new build homes – some good, a lot bad.
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“Time and again we smash those preconceptions as soon as people step through the door. Whether the wide tree-lined streets when people arrive, or the high ceilings, big windows and flexible layout of the homes, it’s a form of suburban living for those that really appreciate good design.
Inside Northstone’s new build Silkash homes in Westhoughton, Greater Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
“Quite often, people really want their own front door and outdoor space, but they’re reluctant to leave their city centre apartment as they don’t want to compromise style.
“Northstone homes are fantastic for first time buyers and families who want more space and design-led living spaces at locations with excellent transport links.
“A big motivator for buyers is also the energy crisis and the effect on bills. Every inch of our homes has been designed with this in mind, meaning they’re some of the most energy efficient currently on the market in Greater Manchester.”
There are a range of house types available in Northstone’s Silkash neighbourhood, from two-bedroom to four-bedroom homes.
A dedicated anime, movie and gaming concert with a live orchestra is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
Calling all self-proclaimed otakus, cinephiles and gamers: a huge concert experience will see dozens of musicians bring classic anime, film and gaming soundtracks and scores to life later this year, right here in Manchester.
The city is no stranger to events celebrating these beloved kinds of media, but you’ll struggle to find another bringing all of them together in one place.
Brought to us Mancs by KIN Music Entertainment, a locally founded arts, events and music label, this celebration of all things pop culture – and specifically, the music tied to it.
Entitled ‘The Kin & Fushigi Anime, Film & Videogame Orchestra’, this passionate collective serves as not only a platform for rising artists but also to hear some iconic sonic moments like never before.
KIN have created a large-scale live concert experience which will bring together a 25-piece pop orchestra made up of emerging professional performers and conservatoire graduates.
Aside from the impressive total of people behind this production to begin with, they also form an immersive hybrid orchestral and live band capable of bringing.
Speaking on the upcoming date, KIN Entertainment said in a statement: “We wanted to create the kind of live experience that many anime and videogame fans in Manchester have been waiting for — something cinematic, emotional and community-driven that brings these sound worlds to life with the energy of both an orchestra and a live band.”
Kin was founded by bassist, composer and ensemble performer Alejandro Urbina Diaz, who first brought his talents and wider interests over from Mexico to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) here in the city centre at the age of 23.
Citing Manchester’s multiculturalism and cosmopolitan cultural fabric as a big part of his inspiration, he and his team have ended up carving out this niche for themselves, and now they’ll be playing this beloved music to Mancs at none other than the O2 Ritz.
Credit: KIN Music Entertainment (supplied via Academy Music Group Digital)
With new arrangements inspired by anime, cinematic and videogame culture, not to mention orchestral and even rock crossover twists – including both vocalist and rhythm sections, by the way – it’s set to be a highly unique experience that most will have never come across before.
This event itself is suitable for audiences aged 14+, although under-16s must be accompanied by an adult, and it’s taking place at the Ritz on Sunday, 26 July.
We’re not going to spoil any more details about the show for you, so which particular pieces of pop culture they reference will just have to be a surprise…
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via AMG Digital)
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You can now get Deep South-inspired BBQ dishes on Manchester’s Deansgate
Daisy Jackson
There’s a brand-new menu of smokehouse-style BBQ dishes being served up on a sunny terrace on Deansgate.
Motley, the neighbourhood bar and restaurant on the corner of John Dalton Street, has added an authentic smoker to its kitchen.
That means they’ve got a whole load of new dishes, slow-cooked over hickory wood, that are bringing a taste of a Deep South BBQ to Manchester city centre.
The smokehouse-style meats are all seasoned in-house and cooked for hours, for a perfect fall-off-the-bone experience.
It might be an authentic American smokehouse menu, but it’s firmly British too, with most products locally sourced.
You can now get Deep South-inspired BBQ dishes on Deansgate / Credit: The Manc Group
Motley are calling on local suppliers like Althams Butchers (established since 1856) for their meat, plus greengrocers R Noone and Son, and Cheshire Farm for their real dairy ice cream.
Signature dishes on the new menu at Motley include slow smoked brisket, seasoned in Motley’s signature rub before being slow-smoked for more than eight hours.
There’s also a beef short rib with a chimichurri sauce, and a pork belly strip that’s seasoned with sage and onion and finished with a panko breadcrumb crust.
And for the veggies, there’s a vegan smoked veg kebab with courgette, mushrooms, bell pepper, sweet corn and red onion drizzled with homemade BBQ sauce.
Motley has added an authentic smoker to its kitchen / Credit: The Manc Group
Prices across the board start from just £16, served with beef dripping fries, rainbow slaw, pickles and homemade beef gravy.
As for small plates, you can expect short rib bonbons, homemade corn bread, spicy chicken wings, bang bang cauliflower, mac and cheese, and frickles.
House favourites like steak, vegetable hash, salads, and burgers will remain on the Motley menu.
Victor Gonzalez, food and beverage manager at Motley, said: “Our new signature smoked dishes are all crafted and seasoned in-house then slow cooked for hours over hickory wood to create rich and smoky melt-in-your mouth flavours.
“From our slow-smoked brisket to our home-made sides, everything has been carefully crafted to bring an authentic taste of the deep south to Manchester and we can’t wait for guests to try it.”
Motley can be found at 2 John Dalton Street on the corner of Deansgate in the city centre.
Daisy Jackson -
30th January 2023 
