One of Manchester’s biggest, best-loved and most iconic Irish bars sadly seems to have closed for good this week.
Just days after St Patrick’s Day, Waxy O’Connor’s has shuttered up.
It’s safe to say that Waxy O’Connor’s was one of Manchester’s most unique bars, containing a labyrinth of different areas connected by staircases and passages, and a centuries-old tree, brought over from Ireland standing as a focal point in the bar.
But after spending almost two decades at its Printworks site, the large unit has now been left with ‘To Let’ signs displayed in the windows on Corporation Street.
It was loved for its wooden interior, hearty pub food and Irish classics.
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The venue was also known for being a frequent host of a range of live music acts, as well as screening big sports games.
While branches of the Irish pub chain still remain in London and Glasgow, the Manchester site has now been quietly removed from the Waxy O’Connor’s website, and the venue’s Facebook page also confirms that it is permanently closed.
A sad day for Mancunians, and another hole in the city centre hospitality scene.
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Inside the Grade I-listed Cheshire mansion currently on the market for an eye-watering £11.4m
Emily Sergeant
A Grade-I listed manor house has gone on the market over in Cheshire, and to say it’s absolutely stunning is a serious understatement.
Oh… but you will need a spare £11.4 million to fork out on it though.
Of course, it goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article right now won’t see a sum of £11.4 million ever in their lifetimes, and properties of this size and stature are not the kind we’ll ever get to call home, so the next best thing we can do is just snoop around on good old Rightmove and have a nosey at all the jaw-dropping pictures instead.
Like us, if you’ve got no shame in admitting that one of your favourite internet pastimes is looking up houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never visit, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beast of a mansion in Cheshire.
We’re talking a Grade I-listed, 10-bedroom, has its own library, lake, tennis courts, self-contained lodges, a venue for hosting weddings and corporate events, and is sat in extensive farmland kind of ‘beast’.
This is Dorford Hall, in the Nantwich area of south Cheshire / Credit: Savills
This is Dorford Hall.
Nestled in a secluded, yet still very easily-accessible corner of Nantwich in south Cheshire, the expansive Dorfold Hall Estate boasts a seriously-stunning Grade I-listed Jacobean manor house surrounded by breathtaking Victorian gardens that’s been immaculately-restored and renovated by the current owners over several years to now offer accommodation for modern living within a historic setting.
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While the estate may now serve the dual purpose of being a cherished family home, and a picturesque venue for weddings and corporate events, that’s now how it started life in the 17th century.
Built in 1616 and designed in the characteristic Jacobean style, the Grade I-listed Hall is steeped in local historical and architectural significance – with rumours claiming its construction was even expedited to host King James I during a royal visit.
It’s a Grade I-listed manor estate rumoured to have been built for King James I to stay in during the 17th century / Credit: Savills
Now, estate agents Savills call it a “fine example of Jacobean architecture”, all thanks to its symmetrical design, red and blue brick diapering, stone detailing, slate roofing, large mullioned windows, ornate chimneys, and gables.
Accommodation is arranged over three floors, with the spacious reception rooms, bespoke kitchen and dining room, library, billiards room, and the separate lodges, cottages, and apartments for housekeepers, being just a few of the stand-out features it has to offer.
And the wow-factor doesn’t stop with indoors either, as the outside is arguably even more impressive.
It’s currently on the market for £11.4 million / Credit: Savills
Once you’ve entered the estates grounds through the electric gates and make your way down the impressive tree-lined drive, you’ll find acres of mature and historic gardens, new lawn and garden irrigation systems, several outbuildings, and even an enviably-beautiful walled garden with its very-own wildflower meadow, lake.
As mentioned there’s even tennis court within the grounds too, as well as a restored Clock Tower, and the small matter of a RIBA award-winning avant-garde event space and Coach House that’s licensed to hold civil ceremonies.
We know we’ve used the word ‘impressive’ quite a few times throughout this, but what’s one more… it’s all pretty impressive, right?
Dorford Hall is currently on the market with Savills for a whopping £11.4 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the property company to arrange a viewing.
Or take the cheaper route instead and just have a nosey at the Rightmove link here.
Featured Image – Savills
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New narrators to take over from Sir David Attenborough for special episode of Planet Earth III
Emily Sergeant
The BBC has announced that some new narrators will be taking over from Sir David Attenborough for a special episode of Planet Earth III.
The BBC stalwart has been narrating nature documentaries for over 70 years now, and is known all across the world as the voice of nature – but, as our natural world faces even greater challenges than ever before, the broadcaster has claimed that “one voice alone is not enough to speak up on behalf of planet Earth”.
This is why, especially to mark Earth Day yesterday (22 April), the massively critically-acclaimed documentary series, Planet Earth III, decided to collaborate with BBC Children in Need for a one-off episode of the show.
New narrators are taking over from Sir David Attenborough for a special episode of Planet Earth III / Credit: BBC
But what exactly is it that makes this episode so “special”? Well, that’s because it’s uniquely narrated by dozens of schoolchildren.
The children – who are each aged between nine and 13, and are all said to be “budding naturalists” – can be heard reading from Sir David Attenborough’s original scripts in a bid to both “champion the power of youth voices” and, ultimately, “speak up for the planet”.
The BBC explained that the 50 student narrators were chosen from schools selected by BBC Children in Need as some of the most engaged fundraisers for the charity across the UK in recent years.
There are some new kids on the block this Earth Day…
Sir David Attenborough steps aside for a special episode of Planet Earth III, narrated by schoolchildren.
Alongside the airing of the special episode, the BBC also gave tens of thousands of children nationwide the chance to tune into a virtual assembly hosted by wildlife biologist, explorer, and presenter Lizzie Daly, as well as take part in a Q&A with the producers of the popular documentary series.
Clips from Planet Earth III were also made available so curious kids could have a go at narrating for themselves.
The special episode of Planet Earth III narrated by the schoolchildren is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer here, but it will also be airing on BBC One on Monday 6 May too.
The Manc -
19th March 2021 
