A photo of two “determined drinkers” grabbing a bite to eat in Cutting Room Square during a torrential downpour and hail storm has gone viral on social media this week.
April may have brought with it some uncharacteristic warm weather to coincide with commencing of ‘Step Two’ in the government’s roadmap to lifting England’s current national lockdown – which crucially allowed hospitality businesses to reopen for outdoor service only – but May hasn’t been so lucky.
Manchester has seen heavy rain and hail storms since the turn of the month.
While the wet weather has sadly, but understandably, turned some punters away from visiting their favourite local hangouts, others decided to stick at it anyway.
Two diners have been named the “most determined in Britain” after they were snapped at Elnecot in Ancoats’ iconic Cutting Room Square wearing coats, plastic waterproof ponchos and huddling under a solitary table covering, as rain and hail visibly hurtled down around them.
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Passer-by, 24-year-old Jenna Colebourn – who snapped the now-iconic image – found it hilarious that the mystery ladies had refused to cancel their al fresco reservation despite the weather and couldn’t resist taking photos of them tucking into a bowl of chips surrounded by otherwise empty tables.
Geograph / David Dixon
When she spotted the “really funny” sight, she just couldn’t help by get her camera out to document the moment and claimed it looked like a “piece of art”.
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“They were head-to-toe drenched.” Ms Colebourn said.
‘It’s true British style to be out there having a good time in all weathers. It’s so British to be like ”we’ve got our booking, we’re going to go”.
She added: “The square is normally heaving but there was no one there. I thought it looked incredible.
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“It just looked like a piece of art”.
https://www.instagram.com/p/COfT9wtN-sq/
And plenty of people seem to agree, with one Manchester foodie Instagram account hailing the duo as their “winners” of people braving the bad weather, while other commenters praised them as “legends” and said they “love their resolve”.
Featured Image – Kennedy News & Media / Jenna Colebourn
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Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Hundreds of katsu curries are being given out for FREE in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of katsu curries are being dished up and given out for free in Manchester this week, but only for certain people.
And those lucky people will be students.
That’s right… a new semester is upon us, and thousands of freshers and returning students are descending on the city and Manchester‘s many universities for another year. But the life of a student isn’t exactly the cheapest sometimes, especially for those who haven’t had to live on a budget before moving out or into halls.
But to make things a little easier, Tampopo has announced it’ll be serving hundreds of one of its most popular dishes for free this week.
Tampopo is celebrating National Katsu Curry Day in the most delicious way possible, by giving away 700 Katsu Curries with rice for free, exclusively to freshers and students this Sunday (27 September).
Whether you’re brand new to the city, settling back into uni life, or you’re simply in need of a katsu fix, students can head to their nearest participating Tampopo and tuck into a hearty meal without needing to spend a penny.
100 katsu curries will be available each from 12-2pm at both Tampopo restaurants in Manchester city centre – which are on Albert Square, and in the Corn Exchange – or if you head over to the Trafford Centre, both the Tampopo there and the East Street sites are taking part.
“[Our] Katsu Curry has long been one of our most-loved dishes, so National Katsu Curry Day felt like the perfect excuse to give students a proper welcome to the new academic year,” Tampopo said in a statement.
So, are you feeling hungry then? The offer is exclusively available for takeaway only to freshers and students with a valid student ID, which they must present on collection.
100 portions are available at each participating location, and just one free katsu curry with rice will be available per person.
Emily Sergeant -
6th May 2021 
