THING OF THE WEEK

FUNNY GIRLS… It is not everyday a piece of history becomes available to buy. Due to the retirement of founder Basil Newby, Funny Girls, arguably Blackpool’s best-known drag and cabaret bar, has been put up for sale. After decades in Blackpool’s ample spotlight, Newby – who will turn 75 next year – said now is the time to step aside. Christie & Co has been appointed to find a buyer for the Dickson Road venue and proceeds from the sale will fund Newby’s retirement plans, which include seeing the Redwood Forests in California and the Northern Lights.

Credit: via Blakeney Group

HOOPS… The NBA has announced it is coming to Manchester for only the second time in its history. In 2027, two as yet unnamed teams will play the league’s first ever regular-season match in the city, with Co-op Live chosen as the venue. It has taken the NBA 12 years to bring US basketball back to Manchester; in 2013, Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers played out a thriller that saw the former run out winners by 103 points to 99 at Manchester Arena.

Should the Piccadilly Gardens McDonald’s be allowed to open 24/7? Credit: PNW

BURGER… The owners of a McDonald’s in Piccadilly Gardens have lodged an appeal over the rejection of its request to obtain a 24-hour licence. The restaurant was refused permission to become a 24/7 haven for fast-food lovers late last year with the city council deciding that allowing it to open at all hours would result in “potential noise nuisance” and “exacerbate existing crime and antisocial behaviour” in the area.

It was local residents who led the opposition to the proposal, the second time they have been successful in a crusade to prevent a burger joint opening 24 hours; in 2022, dissent from neighbours forced Five Guys to ditch its plans for a perpetually open outlet.

From left: Scott Shufflebottom, Nick Nelson, Tony Howcroft, and Ed Hobson. Credit: via Solid Ground

HALLAM GLOBETROTTERS… Not many office lettings were done in Greater Manchester on Thursday afternoon. That was because most of the city region’s office agency community was in Stockport taking part in a padel tournament. Twelve pairs took to the court and attempted to bamboozle their peers with deft drop shots and outmuscle them with energetic overhead smashes and, after three hours of toil, a dozen teams were whittled down to just two. Sixteen Real Estate and Hallams Property Consultants played out a final for the ages, with Hallams’ Tony Howcroft and Ed Hobson edging out Nick Nelson and Scott Shufflebottom 15-14 in a tussle that will live rent free in the heads of all in attendance for some time.

A GP is wanted for the Cumbrian village of Coniston. Credit: Jeff Buck via CC BY-SA; bit.ly/3MVQefT

LIFELINES… While many sit and complain about a lack of GPs, one man is setting about doing something about it. Coppermines Mountain Cottages-owner Phil Johnston has taken matters into his own hands after the current Coniston GP surgery was found to not meet requirements for modern healthcare by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board. Thus, he’s decided to build one.

Johnston has applied for planning permission to build a GP surgery on land he owns.

“I thought that it was perhaps time that somebody like myself with some land thought about building something for the village which would last a very long time and be accessible and sustainable,” he told the BBC.

Once he has built the surgery, however, the town will have to deal with the next problem – finding a GP to fill it. That’s right, the current GP is set to retire this week and a replacement has yet to be found. The town’s put together a promotional video to help lure in a new doctor. Here’s hoping it works.