THING OF THE WEEK
WELCOME… The opening of the much-anticipated RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford was put back 12 months due to the impact of Covid-19 but, if images posted by architect Hodder + Partners are anything to go by, it looks like it will be worth the wait. The design practice provided an update on the construction of the Welcome Building at the botanical garden and it looks a bit special. Stirling work once again?
FARMYARD DREAMS…It appears that being locked in our homes for extended periods of time throughout 2020 has given rise to previously dormant dreams of a life on the land. Our appetite for agriculture has been nurtured, according to agency Savills.
“Demand for lifestyle and amenity farmland continues to surge as analysis of buyer applicant numbers during the second quarter of 2020 shows roughly double the number of registrations compared to the same period last year,” according to the firm. Who wouldn’t want to have their very own slice of England’s green and pleasant land? If it’s the Lake District you fancy, perhaps the most green and pleasant of all, Savills is marketing for sale a 292-acre farm in the heart of the Lake District National Park that could be yours for £2m.
INFLUENCERS…On Tuesday, episode three of BBC Two’s Manctopia showed us the novel approaches being taken to flog luxury apartments in the city centre. Matt, the general manager of Legal & General’s West Tower – within Renaker’s Deansgate Square development – decided a good way to create a buzz around the place would be to invite a yoga instructor with a large social media following to put on a free class in the penthouse. Whether or not those who jumped at the chance of a yoga class in the clouds could realistically afford to pay for any of the flats in West Tower, let alone the sweat-drenched penthouse, remains a mystery.
VUELTA…Manchester’s Spanish Consulate office closed in 2011, but last year Spanish Government spokesperson Isabel Celaá announced that it would reopen due to Brexit. “In light of the situation of an imminent Brexit, we need to reinforce consular presence in the UK to offer legal security to Spaniards living there and help them with all the information and admin they require,” Celaá said last year.
Now, with things getting back to normal – sort of – Manchester City Council has approved plans to convert the ground floor of 58 Spring Gardens into a Brexit-era Spanish consulate, complete with flag pole.
BOOZE…With Eat Out to Help Out drawing to a close, firms from across the hospitality sector are coming up with new and inventive ways to continue the momentum caused by Rishi’s initiative. At Liverpool One, a bespoke bar concept has been launched to entice visitors. The Chavasse Project is a joint venture between Sipsmith Gin and Camden Town Brewery with the aim of getting people as drunk as possible in a clean and safe environment. Situated around Chavasse Park, the scheme incorporates a series of cabin installations offering tasting experiences and customised menus, featuring creative cocktails and craft beers. Sounds dangerous.
Beyond food and beverage, Liverpool One has reported a general uplift across the shopping centre in recent weeks; footfall is at 86% of the volumes experienced this time last year, and sales at 88%.
