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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Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
“This is our way of saying thank you to our colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.”
Featured Image – Geograph
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Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week
Emily Sergeant
Who says breakfast has to end at 11am?
In news that’s set to be music to the ears of breakfast lovers in Manchester, Greggs is giving them exactly what they want.
We all know that brunch is a ‘thing’ by now, so now it’s time for brinner to make a name for itself instead, as Greggs has teamed up with Heinz to bring its much-loved breakfast menu back for tea time, kicking off from 4pm onwards.
The move comes as a new survey has found that the majority of Mancs (69%) admit to enjoying eating breakfast food in the evening, saying it’s ‘convenient and comforting’ – even ranking breakfast as a ‘more important’ meal than tea, as well (38% vs 36%).
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week / Credit: Greggs (Supplied)
Greggs says it has ‘lost count’ of the amount of customers that have tried to order breakfast items after the usual cut-off time, especially in Greater Manchester.
But luckily for those breakfast-loving Mancs, they can finally get their favourite breakfast and sauce pairing long after the morning rush is over next… but only at two Greggs branches, and only for a very limited time.
On Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October, the Heinz x Greggs Brinner collab will be available at Greggs St Mary’s Gate and Greggs Oxford Road, from 4-7pm only.
“We’ve lost count of the number of customers who have tried their luck ordering breakfast after 11am, so when Heinz came to us with the idea of making Brinner a reality, it felt like the perfect excuse to give the people what they want,” explained Zoe Harris, who is the Customer Director at Greggs.
“And let’s be honest, a Greggs Bacon Roll just wouldn’t be the same without a squeeze of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.”
Emily Sergeant -
6th May 2021 
