THING OF THE WEEK

5PLUS10… Last night was one of the busiest nights of the year for property networking in Manchester. One event not to be missed was 5plus Architects’ 15th birthday celebrations at the Royal Exchange. Since being founded in 2010, the firm has designed schemes across the country from residential to offices and most things in between. Partners Phil Doyle and David King-Smith thanked those in attendance for their support over the last decade and a half, unveiled a quite beautiful book marking the anniversary, and apologised to their team for the Manchester office’s perpetually knackered coffee machine. Here’s to the next 15 years!

Credit: PNW

PARTY SZN… Party conference season is coming to an end. Labour left Liverpool on Wednesday appearing to be in marginally less turmoil then when they arrived, while Reform and Lid Dem bonanzas in Birmingham and Bournemouth are already distant memories.

Bringing up the rear is the Green Party, who will also head to Bournemouth, and the beleaguered Conservatives, who head to Manchester this weekend searching for meaning. The Tories will push the idea of a stronger economy and stronger borders from Sunday. The fencing around the Manchester Central Convention Centre does a good job of representing strong borders but the economic blow a disenfranchised Tory Party has on Manchester belies the second message – It has been estimated in previous years that the Tory Party conference is worth £20m to the Manchester economy, however, with membership on the wane, that could be significantly lower this year.

Credit: James McCauley

GROWTH… PureGym specialises in growth. And not just of biceps and glutes. The business itself is growing at an alarming rate, opening 34 new sites already this year. That’s almost one a week on average. Last week saw something impressive even by PureGym’s hypertrophic standards; the firm’s new Hazel Grove workout zone was one of five to open on a single day. As we transition into the colder season, many of us are entering into a bulking phase and PureGym’s business plan seems to be calling for something similar.

Credit: via MCC

CIRCLING THE DRAIN… Manchester City Council’s Town Hall refurbishment has cost more and taken longer than originally anticipated. But the finishing line is now in sight with Albert Square set to reopen in time to host Christmas markets this year for the first time since 2019 and part of the huge scaffold and tarpaulin shroud that has covered the grade one-listed building for the last few years recently removed.

As part of the public realm revamp, the city council ran a competition for the design of five cast iron drain covers and the winners have this week been able to see their art in situ. So while you’re walking around with your bratwurst and cup of mulled wine in a few weeks’ time, don’t forget to look down.

Credit: PNW

PORSCHE FORM… This week saw the launch of Chotto Matte, the new Japanese/Peruvian fusion restaurant on the top floor of No.1 St Michael’s in Manchester. Place went along and enjoyed the Mariachi band and nigiri station. It was a glitzy affair with more than a few influencers taking advantage of the canapes, caviar bumps, and ample photo ops.

Chotto Matte could be the place to be seen going forward but beware, parking is at a premium. The two Porsches drafted in to add a sense of prestige to the launch event both ended up with parking tickets.