City Centre

The first-ever LEGO City Stunt Show tour is coming to Manchester this weekend

Find out a little bit more about LEGO City’s new range 'LEGO CITY Stuntz' in a "truly epic" way.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 20th October 2021

The LEGO City Stunt Show going on tour for the first-time ever, and it’s stopping off in Manchester to bring “epic fun for families” this weekend.

This is one to keep your calendars free for this half term.

The LEGO Group has announced that LEGO lovers in Manchester will have the chance to see a live-action stunt show right on their doorsteps on both Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October, and also find out a little bit more about LEGO City’s new range ‘LEGO CITY Stuntz’ in a “truly epic” way.

The action-packed event is aiming to bring families unmissable fun for all ages to enjoy.

The LEGO® City Stunt Show Tour will take place the heart of the city centre at Manchester Exchange, and is free for all to attend.

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Find out a little bit more about LEGO City’s new range ‘LEGO CITY Stuntz’ in a “truly epic” way / Credit: LEGO®

So, what exactly can you expect if you head on down to the tour this weekend then? Well, the event is set to “unleash the creativity” in all ages with a range of interactive experiences across the two days.

These include:

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  • Watch the four Bold Dog riders show off their epic stunts and jumps on the ramps.
  • Ask the riders about their dare devil tricks through Q&As.
  • Interact with the riders and see mini shows throughout the day.
  • Meet and take photos with the riders.

On top of that, you’ll also get to see with LEGO City’s new range of Stuntz toys.

The LEGO® City Stunt Show Tour will take place the heart of the city centre at Manchester Exchange / Credit: LEGO®

It may be stopping off in Manchester first, but the LEGO® City Stunt Show Tour will also visit Liverpool and Hull this October and November, and after experiencing all the amazing jumps and tricks of the stunt performers with your own eyes, families can then recreate the shows with the new LEGO City Stuntz range at home.

LEGO® City Stunt Show Tour will be in Manchester Exchange on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October.

Featured Image – LEGO®

City Centre

‘Damn fine’ burger and steak restaurant Meatworks set to open at Circle Square

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

A brand-new modern steak house is openings its doors in Manchester next month, and Meatworks has chosen Circle Square as the perfect location for its flagship UK restaurant.

Famed and respected for being burger specialists, they’re also the same team behind the hugely successful smash burger Boo and Midlands butchery, Halal Editions.

The new 52-cover casual restaurant space will be offering traditional burger patties and smash burgers, merging them with some incredible and unique flavours.

That’s alongside delicious steaks, and if you weren’t hungry enough already, their signature small plates like cheeseburger dumplings and slow-cooked short rib pancakes.

Manchester’s newest steakhouse is bringing some extraordinary offers with them too as guests can grab ‘Lunchtime value specials’ which includes a smash burger and fries for just £10. 

It’s going to become everyone’s go-to as not only does it cater to the fast-paced grab-and-go eating habits of the Manchester public, the evening brings a more relaxed dinner setting.

Meatworks will be an alcohol-free restaurant but the drink menu features mocktails like the kiwi mojito to the lychee and lemongrass mocktail.

The inside of Manchester's newest steak joint 'Meatworks'.
The inside of Manchester’s newest steak joint ‘Meatworks’. Credit: Supplied

Circle Square is quickly becoming the place with all the ‘IT Factor’ as just last month, viral bakery Half Dozen Other opened their newest site in this establishment.

The landmark neighbourhood, from Bruntwood SciTech and Vita Group, is in the heart of Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor and centred around the beautiful Symphony Park.

Meatworks joins this rapidly-growing neighbourhood alongside Onda Pasta Bar, North Tap Room, Federal Cafe Bar, Detroit Slims, Ambers and Doug’s, who all take up residence in this site.

Charlotte Wild, Head of Retail & Leisure for Bruntwood SciTech, shared: “Meatworks represents yet another fantastic new reason to visit Circle Square.

“After an extraordinary year of new openings in 2024 we’ve built a vibrant community of hospitality innovators here on the Oxford Road Corridor, and it’s great to kick off 2025 with another great addition to the community.

“This independent, quality steak house and eatery will fit perfectly into the destination and we can’t wait to welcome them.”

Meatworks are shouting out about their 'Damn fine burgers' at Circle Square.
Meatworks are shouting out about their ‘Damn fine burgers’ at Circle Square. Credit: Supplied

Jake Atkinson, Head of Food & Beverage for Vita Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Meatworks to Circle Square. Known for their exceptional cuts, bold flavours, and attention to detail.

“Their arrival enhances the diverse dining scene at Circle Square, and we’re excited for Manchester to enjoy a new experience.”

Mohammed Suleman from Meatworks added: “We’re thrilled to be opening Meatworks and share our passion for great food with the people of Manchester. Burgers and high quality meats are in our DNA and we’re excited to bring our expertise to Circle Square and its growing community.

“The destination is the perfect location for our first opening in the city. We promise to offer bold flavours and innovative dishes and can’t wait to welcome our first customers.”

Meatworks is set to open on 5 February at Circle Square and will be open from Tuesday to Sunday between 12pm to 11pm every week with both walk-ins and bookings welcome.

Read more:

Featured Image: Publicity Picture (Supplied)

City Centre

A provocative Donald Trump painting has appeared in Manchester city centre

Danny Jones Danny Jones Controversial Donald Trump painting Manchester

Following the recent US presidential election, a controversial new painting featuring Donald Trump has appeared in a Manchester city centre shop window.

Popping up in a small and largely empty outlet on Deansgate, the striking political cartoon is now one of the first sights you see heading down the main strip from the Castlefield direction and is already turning heads.

Created by acclaimed Manchester artist Michael J Browne – who is known for recent works such as a collaborative exhibition with Eric Cantona at the National Football Museum – the piece is quickly gaining attention and resulting in plenty of discussion as intended.

Entitled America First – Trump, Putin, China, it is now on display in the window of a ground floor unit of Great Northern Warehouse.

We don’t think the construction work was part of the plan but there’s some ironic about it. (Credit: The Manc Group)

Known for blending Renaissance-inspired techniques with modern social and political themes, as per an official press release, his new large-scale oil painting “dives into the dynamics of power and ego, up against sacrifice.”

As you can see, the piece features a hulking green Donald Trump attached to a crucifix, concealing a sacrificial Jesus, framed by an American flag and a flock of sheep in the background. To the right, Vladimir Putin appears as a modern John the Baptist, quoting “I must decrease, so he can increase”.

Meanwhile, a modern Chinese couple in traditional Han clothing represents “an element of China’s old tradition, with a quote reserved for its royal dynasties ‘Mandate of Heaven'” with scorched earth around them pointing towards the continued environmental destruction of the modern world.

Taking six weeks to complete, Deansgate‘s provocative Trump painting was actually started way back in March 2024 and was also inspired by Browne’s last piece of work.

Having previously spotlighted the Black Panthers movement in mid-1960s America in For 30 pieces of silver, his follow-up is another commentary on power and could be described as a high-end political cartoon like those drawn in newspapers for centuries.

For 30 pieces of silver features both Trump and Putin, as well as Chinese leader Xi Jinping. (Michael J Browne 2023)

Also drawing inspiration from the ‘Isenheim Altarpiece’ – a widely-admired German Renaissance masterpiece depicting suffering and redemption – this time the Moss Side artist has managed to weave together biblical allegory with current affairs and global geopolitics.

Commenting on the rather stark imagery, Michael says “It’s superimposed power, aggressiveness. Removing God’s Grace! […] The pursuit of power is leaving destruction in its wake—socially, politically, and environmentally.”

Taking cues from ‘Saint Anthony’s fire’, (a disease now referred to as ergotism that is often depicted as a very religious plague), the feeling of skin being on fire is transferred to the landscape itself; “The pursuit of power is leaving destruction in its wake—socially, politically, and environmentally“, he adds.

Michael also coincidentally painted bullets and used shells around Trump’s feet months before the former 45th and now returning 47th US President narrowly survived an assassination attempt on his campaign trail.

Read more:

America First – Trump, Putin, China can be checked out in full public view on the corner of Great Northern in Deansgate as we speak.

Information for viewers will accompany the painting which is also available for purchase.

Based over at GRIT Studios who have two Greater Manchester locations along with several other local artists, you can find out more about Michael’s work HERE.

What do you make of it?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied (via Michael J Browne)/The Manc Group

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