THING OF THE WEEK
CRISP DESIGN…Many vital attributes are required to be a good architect. Creativity, vision and drive are just a few, but it would appear that the secret to Liverpool-based Brock Carmichael’s success is something altogether more tangible: a bottomless supply of snacks. The firm has a drawer in its boardroom dedicated to crisps, biscuits and other delightful nibbles which, thankfully for THING, it is more than willing to share.
GEORGIAN WOOD… To mark what would have been George Harrison’s 77th birthday on Tuesday, Liverpool City Council and the George Harrison Estate announced that a new memorial woodland in his honour will open in Liverpool. The George Harrison Woodland Walk, will be located in south Liverpool close to where The Beatles guitarist was born and grew up. The 12-acre Greenland site opposite Allerton Towers is currently a mix of mature woodland and meadow. The accessible woodland walk is due to open in 2021, combining garden and woodland with artistic installations inspired by Harrison’s life and lyrics.
From left: Matthew Anwyl, Tom Anwyl, Lucy Wasdell and Graham Anwyl
ANWYLVERSARY… Flintshire-based developer Anwyl is about to embark on a charity spree for its 90th birthday, including donating £90 for every home sold during 2020. Along with this it will donate 90 dog beds to the Dogs Trust, install 90 bird boxes, and deliver 90 Easter Eggs. It is on site on several schemes across the region – perhaps a few less then 90 but THING wouldn’t put it past them to ramp it up for its birthday.
WHITE(HALL) WALKERS…GM Mayor Andy Burnham announced his intention to live until 100 to see the UK2070 commission come to fruition, and envisions a Game of Thrones-style future with him as the self-styled King in T’North. Burnham said he expects to see himself sat in his castle, receiving a monogram from the monarch of the South of England. Devolution Targaryen sounds like a powerful name.
HOTEL PARADISO… Despite putting his £35m Shankly Hotel and £16m James Street Hotel up for sale in 2019, Lawrence Kenwright’s Signature Living is still tipping them to be the next big stars of the silver screen before they are sold. The Liverpool hotelier has agreed a deal with Space-2, property consultants to the film industry whose credits include the Avengers and Silent Witness. Will directors be staying outside for street shots – Liverpool has often doubled as New York and London in the past – or will the cinematographer be seduced over the threshold by Signature’s famously different interiors? Time for your close-up Lawrence!
TURTLE DAYS…Manchester’s Northern Quarter is a haven for creative types, a hotbed of individualism. Around every corner is an independent shop, bar or restaurant plying its trade and contributing to the innovative atmosphere that pervades this part of town. But it wasn’t always that way. Once dubbed ‘Pet Paradise’, Tib Street in particular used to resemble a menagerie with turtles available for a pound apiece according to a misty-eyed contractor working on Bywater’s Northstar office development which is aimed at, you guessed it, creatives. These days, the closest you can get to a turtle in the NQ is dinner at Turtle Bay!
