THING OF THE WEEK
A MILLI… Despite being closed for several weeks due to a gas explosion, Chester Market has notched up 1m visitors in less than six months since it opened its doors in November. The centrepiece of the long-awaited £70m redevelopment of the Northgate area of the city centre features 40 stalls and the current mix of traders is approximately 60% goods or produce, and 40% food and beverage. There is something for every palate; Thai, Bangladeshi, Mexican, and Vegan street-food all feature, as well as a French patisserie, and a fresh pasta kitchen. Cllr Nathan Pardoe, cabinet member for inclusive economy, regeneration and digital transformation, said the milestone is an “incredible achievement”. “[It is] a testament to all the hard work and commitment of our wonderful traders and staff who have worked tirelessly to make the new market such an outstanding success,” he said. Anyone else hungry?
DOG BYTES… While Spot the robot dog may not go “woof”, it does succeed in being a very good boy. Attendees at our AI in the Built Environment event, produced in partnership with Morgan Sindall Construction, got a chance to see the revolutionary Boston Dynamics robot up close. Manufacturing Technology Centre’s Tom Reynolds had Spot show off his tricks and spoke about how the dog is already being used to provide visual assessments of areas unsafe for humans. And yes, Spot can ‘fetch’ – in the sense that he can move tools and supplies from one site to another.
HEADS UP… If you dug up a head while doing a spot of gardening you would rightly be concerned. In a recent dig in Carlisle, archaeologists uncovered not one but two. Granted, this was a planned dig in an area known to be fertile ground for the discovery of historic artefacts, but still, look at the size of them! It must have been a shock. The carved heads are thought to date back to Roman times and are the latest in a long list of interesting finds at the Bathhouse, the largest known building on Hadrian’s Wall. Other discoveries include carved gemstones and tiles indicating that Septimus Severus, a third-century Roman Emperor, has connections to the site.
MAKING A SPLASH… After several delays, Southport’s Splash World waterpark is finally due to reopen this weekend. The centre, which boasts numerous slides and a mascot called Murtle the Turtle, was closed in December 2019 for essential repairs. More than three years – and a pandemic – later, flume enthusiasts will be able to make a splash in Southport once more. “Nobody could have foreseen the pandemic or that it would mean Splash World being closed for this length of time,” said Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing. “I know our teams did everything they could to ensure the venue was reopened as soon as possible.”
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS… Place North West checked out Leveltap in Liverpool this week. From puckish pirates to boxing bears, the interactive e-sports venue offers a place to immerse yourself into another world and connect with the worldwide community right from Hanover Street. Two local lads, Adam Rydings and Callum Wilson, are behind the e-hub, which boasts an arena that can seat more than 100 like-minded souls. Surrounded by more than 20 PCs and 10 custom-built stations, it’s hard to console yourself! And, of course, all this fun can be washed down with a themed cocktail – AFKZombie anyone?
Market 1,000,000 visitors, just wondering how these stats were compilied
By Billy