THING OF THE WEEK
FLOWERED UP… Marketing Manchester is looking to change perceptions of the city region by exhibiting The Manchester Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019. Manchester will exhibit in the ‘Space to Grow’ category, alongside other niche entrants such as Facebook and IKEA, with a garden designed by Exterior Architecture, which “will offer a fresh perspective on post-industrial cities through several rich and progressive themes that point to the reinvention of Greater Manchester, its resilience and its adaptability”. THING is very much in favour and indeed welcomes anything “Manchester” that doesn’t feature black and yellow diagonal stripes and/or stencils of Stone Roses lyrics/quotes.
CHOW-DOWN… In the hospitality game, it’s all about getting your name out there, and Bunny Jacksons, part of Lyndon Higginson’s stable of Manchester bars, bagged itself some prime exposure to UK sports fans this week. The BBC’s NFL Show, made by Whisper Films, shot its Thanksgiving special at the First Street “rhythm & booze” spot, combining some lingering external shots with host Mark Chapman holding court at the bar. Hats off to Chapman and regular pundits Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell for not diving into the famous 10p chicken wings while filming was going on. Very professional.
Check The NFL Show on the iPlayer. The whole show was filmed round ours! Yell ‘I threw up where Osi is stood!’ and things like that! pic.twitter.com/yLn7EIGF36
— Bunny Jacksons (@bunnyjacksons) November 25, 2018
MURAL… A mural created by the Ordsall and Langworthy Community Arts Group and commissioned by National Grid Property has been unveiled at the site of the Gasholders on West Egerton Street in Salford, showing the role the gasholders played in the city’s story. The wall by the gasworks was of course made famous by singer Ewan MacColl’s 1949 song Dirty Old Town. The gasholders are now redundant, and National Grid has been dismantling the structure so the whole site can be brought back into use. Hannah White, land regeneration manager for National Grid Property, said: “We hope people enjoy this little memento to the city’s great history and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with the local community to make sure we leave a positive, lasting legacy in Salford.”
CUT-THROAT CONSULTATION… Fun and games at this week’s consultation by developer Novo, Southway Housing Trust and architect Project3 in Altrincham, where the team showcased their proposals for a new project on New Street, which will replace a largely vacant set of buildings. While feedback has largely been positive, Novo’s Ben Fearns bore the brunt of some objections – a couple along the lines of “why can’t you convert the existing buildings into apartments”, “why are you knocking them down”, and some of the others to be expected at a site like this. But what developers shouldn’t expect is being told they should “have their throats slit” for what in THING’s view is a positive contribution to the growing and ever-improving town centre. So next time you’re at a public consultation – be nice.
PARADE… THING hears a lot at this time of year about Christmassy goings-on, and frankly the gaggle of X Factor runners-up switching on lights start to blur into one another. Chester’s Winter Watch looks a bit different, though. The parades take place on Thursday 6 December at 7pm with a repeat a week later, and bring back Chester’s original City Watch police force with loads of angels, devils, fire skeletons – the best type of skeletons – dragons, ice queens, Jack Frost and erm, cooks with Victorian Christmas dinners. Karamba Samba lead the parade as a ghost band. Whew!
