THING OF THE WEEK
ABOUT-TURN… Eagle-eyed, or particularly thirsty, readers may recall last week’s THING story on US “trailer trash” brewers Scofflaw offering free beer during a special event at Brewdog Manchester in October. Well, it’s not happening any more. Scofflaw’s agency, presumably seeking to ramp up the column inches, issued a further release this week about how, in fact, you’d need to be a Donald Trump supporter to claim a free beer. This caused host Brewdog, which in 2017 made a pointed ‘Make Earth Great Again’ beer in protest at the orange-hued kingpin’s environmental policies, to cancel the whole thing and do its own promotion. A cynic might think that the US brewer has won a lot of publicity without having to give anything away.
CONTINENTAL CLASS… There will, however, be beer at Manchester’s Mayfield Depot, where Belgian beer brand Heverlee will launch a three-day micro-festival in Mayfield’s moody arches from 11 October. ‘Heverlee at Mayfield’ will fuse Mancunian and Belgian cultures, showcasing Belgian-inspired street food, projections and live street art demos from Brussels native ZIA and Mancunian street artists Tasha Whittle, Tankpetrol and Matt Sewell. Influential DJ headliners spinning tracks throughout the festival will include Belgian tastemaker Lefto, Boiler room regular and Manchester native XXXY, and famed Berlin based crate digger San Soda, all of whom THING is hugely familiar with, of course.
MISSING THE POINT… THING is often the first to point out that branding in the property and construction sector has got a bit out of control, but news of the latest major joint venture this week made us think that perhaps a little more attention should be given. Down in Somerset, several companies have partnered up to deliver the next phase of work at the Hinckley Point nuclear power station. Altrad, Balfour Beatty Bailey, Cavendish Nuclear and Doosan Babcock, all proudly present… the MEH JV. These sorts of partnerships might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but seriously guys, give it a chance first.
To all those wondering, it’s actually an acronym for Mechanical, Electrical, and Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning.
PARTY… For six days from Monday 22 October, Bootle will be the place to be as the town reaches its 150th year since incorporation, triggering a week-long series of events, talks, a big party and the unveiling of a special exhibition. With the Strand shopping centre and Girobank building also reaching their 50th birthday, it literally is all happening here. The 150th celebrations will include the unveiling of the refurbished Town Charter, signed in 1858 and unseen for decades. Mayor of Sefton Cllr Dave Robinson (pictured) said: “I’ve called on a few famous Bootleians to send special well wishes to their hometown on this landmark occasion so keep your eyes peeled!” That’s going to be Jamie Carragher, isn’t it?
