THING OF THE WEEK
FAYRE AND SQUARE… It’s only been on for a day, but if you’re sick of the World Cup already, why not try your hand at something a bit more old school this weekend? Tatton Park is hosting its annual medieval fayre this weekend, with all the usual staples: archery, musketry, ale, food, mead, fabrics, and medieval music. The climax on Sunday is the Battle of Tatton Field where hundreds of re-enactors will clash for control of Tatton’s Old Hall. If hitting people with swords rather than football is your thing, the fayre runs between 11am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
BACK OF THE NET… On the same theme, if you’re not a fan of all things medieval, a World Cup pop-up bar is opening in Altrincham for all your footballing needs. Opening today at 1pm, the bar will be open at Kings Court as the brainchild of Paul Rooney and Ian Smythe, who have focussed their love of craft beer and football all in one place. Rooney, pictured above, already works at Jack in the Box, the beer stall at Altrincham Market, and has taken the 250 sq ft space for six weeks, assisted by Daniel Lee, director of Regional Property Solutions. So if you fancy a decent pint while watching a dour nil-nil between Morocco and Iran, the bar is open until Sunday 15 July.
FREE STUFF… Many of our readers frequently share gripes about Metrolink’s pricing, performance, reliability, cleanliness… we could go on. But credit where it’s due this week as TfGM announces a programme of free travel for Clean Air Day next Thursday, where anyone catching a tram before 7am and after 7pm can travel without a ticket. TfGM said it would also be encouraging employers to “consider flexible start and end times” for staff to take advantage of free travel – although whether that means your boss will want you in before 7am and home after 7pm is a different matter altogether. Still, it’s for a good cause, and if nothing else it’s an excuse to stay in Manchester for a pint or two before you leave work – and good for the environment to boot.
IT’S A SIGN… With the level of transport disruption currently being experienced by travellers across the North West, this kind of sign is exactly the sort many do not wish to see. However fear not, dear commuter, as it’s the guys at developer Capital & Centric’s guerilla marketing for the sale of the next phase of homes at Crusader Mill. The launch a year ago saw queues around the block and Capital & Centric making headlines nationally for its “no investors allowed” approach.
FRACK ATTACK… Strong words this week from Cuadrilla chief executive Francis Egan, who has slammed plans by protest group Reclaim the Power for a “fortnight of action” attempting to disrupt operations at the energy company’s sites across Lancashire. Already subject to a love-in by actress Emma Thompson earlier this year, the fresh protests started this week. Egan, however, was unimpressed, arguing that local people and businesses in Lancashire “have made it abundantly clear that they do not want these self-publicising activists from Oxford, London, and elsewhere blockading and disrupting Lancashire roads and businesses”. Cuadrilla has secured a High Court injunction to stop certain elements of protesting, so it’s one to keep your eye on for the next week.
CAPTION COMPETITION… A Place co-conspirator has pointed out this particularly excellent picture of a topping-out ceremony at an undisclosed site. Sadly it’s not in the North West, but it still piqued our interest due to the wonderful lack of context. Why is there a man holding a giant spanner? Why is said spanner tied to a beam with a cable? Why is a man in a suit holding a giant bolt? So many questions. It might even beat the Middlewood Locks sweetcorn-and-fir-tree topping out from late last year, or Eric Wright’s giant, impractical spade from the same month. Any idea what’s going on above? Answers in the comments…