A ‘world’s first’ fish and chips-themed hotel is testing out the waters for an opening in Blackpool this summer, and it looks a bit, erm, grim.
Called The Jolly Good Fish and Chip Hotel, the prototype will be popping up on the coastal town this weekend for two nights only across 8 and 9 July – giving visitors a chance to see what a hotel inspired by the seaside classic might look like in the flesh.
Images released by Gala Bingo, which is behind the project, show the frontage of the hotel and – to us, at least – it looks part chip shop canteen, and part estate agents.
Possibly it’s the font, or it might be the bright yellow Gala Bingo sign above its door. There’s definitely some estate agent energy going on outside here, though.
Inside, it’s more like a canteen with a Gala-branded fish and chips counter and rows of tables with yellow and white gingham tablecloths.
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That said, there are some freebies in it for those who want to go down and see it for themselves.
Across the weekend, the pop-up hotel will be welcoming visitors to enjoy a portion of fish, chips and peas on the house – a dish inspired not just by British tradition, but also the bingo call 33.
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Guests will be invited to dig into their chippy teas as they play some games of bingo, also for free courtesy of Gala.
Image: Supplied
When it opens this weekend for its two-night run, The Jolly Good Fish and Chip Hotel pop-up will be ‘five in a row’ themed.
From midday until 8pm on both Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July, visitors to the hotel will be invited to indulge in a free portion of the British staple, inspired by the iconic bingo call 33, fish, chips and peas.
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Guests will be able to enjoy their fish and chips at the hotel’s dining room and join in on games of bingo held throughout the day, or take them away to enjoy in the sun at the Blackpool Pier or Pleasure Beach nearby.
The Jolly Good Fish & Chip Hotel room will also be open for visitors to snoop around.
The Gala Bingo concierge will be there to meet and greet guests and welcome them into the ‘five in a row’ themed suite.
They can test out the hotel bed, and experience what it would be like to spend a night in the world’s first Fish & Chip Hotel room.
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When in Blackpool, eh. We just hope that the seafront’s resident scarecrow is in attendance to shoo away the birds.
Featured image – Supplied
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Cruz Beckham and The Breakers live in Manchester – a torch passed from father to son?
Lonnie Bowes
Cruz Beckham graced the stage of The Deaf Institute in Manchester last night. Whether it’s your first time through the doors or you’ve been going for years, the venue carries an unmistakable energyand always will.
With a feel and set in its Victorian past, unmistakable Mancunian patina, the building leaves a mark on you – and on every grassroots artist who plays there.
The intimate upstairs room has long been a springboard for acts who go on to much bigger stages. History certainly likes to repeat itself, and perhaps this was a small sign of things to come for the youngest son of David and Victoria Beckham.
With his dad watching from the wings – fittingly in a number seven shirt synonymous with his years at Man United – Cruz stepped onto the stage with quiet confidence. For the next hour, he set his sights firmly on the crowd, eager to show exactly who he is as an artist beyond the famous surname.
Backed by a tight band that seemed to fit together like a glove, the set leaned into guitar-driven indie with an easy chemistry between players.
There were moments where the group locked into a groove, so naturally, it felt less like a new project and more like a band that had been touring together for years.
Cruz and co’s audience reflected the curiosity surrounding the night; inside the packed room was an eclectic mix of indie fans, university students, couples of all ages and a fair share of Beckham devotees – all keen to see whether the hype surrounding the young performer translated on stage.
The 21-year-old ran through his most popular (albeit limited number of) tracks thus far, including ‘Lick the Toad’, ‘Optics’, and ‘For Your Love’, each of which was met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
His songs showed off a good deal of melodic indie sensibility, with jangling guitars and hooks that landed well in the intimate setting of the venue.
While Cruz held the stage, there were emotional moments playing out just above him. Throughout the set, David Beckham could be spotted proudly filming and what appeared to be FaceTiming other family members to share the moment in real time. We’re not sure Brooklyn’s picking up at the minute…
Toward the end of the night, visibly moved, the former footballer appeared to wipe away a tear — a quiet but powerful reminder that beyond the celebrity and headlines, this was still a father watching his son manifest his own destiny.
For Cruz Beckham, the night wasn’t about stadium lights or global headlines: it was about proving himself in a room that has hosted literally countless emerging artists before him. If the energy inside Deaf Institute was anything to go by, this may well be one of those early chapters people look back on later.
Did any of you head to the venue as a fan or purely out of curiosity – and if so, what did you make of Cruz Beckham’s first proper Manc gig?
Medlock Square: Manchester’s new £300 million entertainment destination on the Etihad Campus
Danny Jones
Manchester’s newest entertainment destination, located over at the ever-growing Etihad Campus, has finally been given a name ahead of its launch later this year.
Alongside the recently announced and Radisson-run hotel, Medlock Square will see the Manchester City-partnered mini leisure district aim to become a new must-visit part of the city.
Hoping to draw in crowds beyond just matchdays and those heading to concerts across the way, approximately £300 million is being pumped into the project.
With Co-op Live having already brought huge revenues into Greater Manchester, it isn’t just set to be a pricey development, but one that will look to serve as yet another money spinner for the wider City Football Group (CFG) and the City Region.
Credit: CFG (supplied)
Unveiling the first CGIs of the square this week, this new area will essentially see attractions and activities spill out of the Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live and the soon-to-open Medlock hotel and on to the campus as a whole.
With other parts of Sportcity already revolving around the footballing epicentre, such as the Manchester Regional Arena and National Squash Centre, this will not only see even more sporting events and supporters brought to the roughly 80-acre plot, but also fans of various other forms of entertainment.
For instance, within the plans that already include the food and drink offerings you would expect – with Radisson Blu backing more of the relaxation and indulgent side of things – other activities include everything from “an adrenaline-fuelled sky walk experience”, as well as zip-wire and abseiling.
We already knew about some of these from the details in Man City’s stadium expansion plans (including the likes of The Medlock and rooftop bar), and glimpses of the impending hotel opening gave us a better idea of the overall look, but there looks to be plenty more in the pipeline.
You can see a trailer for what they have in mind for Medlock Square down below.
Welcome to Medlock Square. Manchester’s newest entertainment destination. A place where mouthwatering cuisine and world class entertainment, experiences and events converge. Coming soon! pic.twitter.com/4bC7NQbMHT
As per an official press release by the fledgling team, more information on further business and employment opportunities has also now been confirmed, centring around the new ‘One Medlock Square’ structure that will be built on the campus.
“Designed to accommodate up to 300 employees, the state-of-the-art workspace will offer high-quality, modern office facilities alongside access to shared event spaces and wellness amenities, uniquely positioned within Manchester’s most exciting new destination”, the statement reads.
There’s certainly some ambitious stuff in the works, put it that way.
And, of course, these will also slot into a renovated club shop turned meagstore, an all-new Man City museum, the Co-op arena, live music and other open-air events, just to name a few. A specific opening date is yet to be scheduled, but you can guarantee it’ll be a big deal when it does launch.
Georgina Pellant -
5th July 2023 
