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Manchester Manchester’s cutest neighbourhoodDiscover the very best places to eat Didsbury has long been a desirable place for Manchester’s young professionals and young families to settle Easily reached from Manchester’s urban centre 30-minute tram ride away from St Peter’s Square Didsbury Village really does feel like a little village cheese shop and overall green leafiness.  Didsbury is locally known as one of the more shi-shi of South Manchester’s suburbs Whilst nearby Fallowfield and Withington cater to a grungier student crowd Didsbury services a mixed bag of young professionals their fashionable dogs- almost exclusively dachshunds but there’s also no shortage of brunchy cafes Whilst there are certainly spots that offer more bang for your buck (like nearby Stockport) Didsbury is well placed So let’s have it: here are our top picks for things to do in Didsbury.  If you’re after cafes, Didsbury has them in droves. Our favourite is La Chouquette a Parisian-style patisserie at the bottom of the highstreet With a constantly rotating selection of desserts and pastries it’s easy to see why this place is so popular with locals If you’re prepared to brave the queue white chocolate and raspberry cookies are definitely worth waiting for the perfect spot for a slice of baklava and street-side espresso.  Looking for something with a little more whimsy? Head to The Art of Tea The Art of Tea is the kind of place you wouldn't feel out of place in at 9am or 9pm It resembles something from a Beatrix Potter book- the kind of place Jemima Puddleduck might frequent if she’d retired to the North-West.  Browse their range of second-hand classic novels or indulge in one of their seasonal salads all surrounded by cosy wood panels and mismatched furniture.  Nearby Burton Road in West Didsbury has famously overshadowed Didsbury highstreet when it comes to experimental cuisine, but the village still delivers a generous helping of good restaurants. Our favourite neighbourhood spot is Casa Italia a family run restaurant offering the authentic Italian experience Tasty bowls of pasta and well-priced charcuterie are served up by an intergenerational cast of family members The spinach and ricotta cannelloni is legendary and with mains in the region of £9-13 you can’t really go wrong Round the night off with a generous helping of tiramisu If you want to escape Didsbury’s seemingly endless milieu of Italian spots, venture further in, down Barlow Moor Road, and you will find OKitchen This seemingly unassuming restaurant is open Tuesday-Sunday serving up Japanese and Korean favourites like sushi There's a tonne of vegan and veggie options and a cracking cocktail list to match We love their inventive takes on the classics like their passionfruit negroni or their plum old fashioned which are all two for £12 Sunday-Thursday.   No Didsbury guide would be complete without a mention of the Didsbury Dozen. This well-loved, Mancuanian tradition is a day-long pilgrimage of 12 Didsbury institutions, starting at The Didsbury and ending at The Railway in West Didsbury the whole thing’s done in fancy dress It's one of Manchester’s most famous pub crawls and accounts partly for Didsbury’s disproportionately large number of pubs The majority fall into a slightly homogenous stereotype of old-man-style boozers Cutting through this mediocre throng are a few firm favourites One stand out is The Station a ‘loosely’ themed Irish pub decorated with Gaelic paraphernalia This place has come to some critical acclaim for its well-poured Guinness rated in the city’s top five by I love MCR With a deliciously creamy and substantial head we argue it's certainly the best in Didsbury A welcome outlier on the highstreet, Juicebox This small bottleshop-style venue offers reasonably priced wine by the glass and their signature negronis which are a cool £5 Juicebox injects a welcome burst of sophistication into Didsbury’s no-frills pub scene Fancy a big beer garden? Your best bets are The Fletcher Moss or The Didsbury both equally reliable with a good outdoor area and a dependably party-ish atmosphere- especially on weekends.  Manchester has long held the reputation as one of the UK’s greyer cities Known for its industrial urban centre and increasingly ugly selection of high-rise apartment blocks Manchester isn't exactly known for its abundant green space But you don’t have to venture far outside of the city centre to unlock a plethora of impressive parks One of the absolute best of those is Fletcher Moss Didsbury’s well-loved botanical garden This absolute gem is the perfect place to sunbathe on a rare sunny day and a firm favourite for dog walkers and families a leafy grotto showcasing Fletcher Moss’ more exotic plant-life Didsbury is conveniently intersected by the river Mersey which runs from Manchester to Liverpool makes the perfect Sunday afternoon stroll or running route Watch out for flying golf balls from the nearby Didsbury golf club the Didsbury charity shops are in a league of their own Owing to a lucrative catchment area and some fashion savvy volunteers these charity shops resemble something closer to boutiques than your average tat shops Poke your head in and you'll find that designer pieces outnumber bobbly jumpers the quality of their wares is reflected in the price Aside from charity shops Didsbury has some awesome independent shops. Be sure to check out E J Morten Booksellers, a really cool spot for second-hand book shopping, Flourish for flowers and Didsbury's hottest cheesemonger, Cheese Hamlet Try the rockstar cheese and thank us later.  Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! twitterAbout us Contact us Please whitelist confidentials.com to continue to our site and enjoy an Ad-Light experience "That's a right mess," I said to Gordo while staring at a collection of random and expensive food elements. That was eleven years ago and we were guests of Nacho Manzano at his two star Michelin restaurant in Asturias The dish had been described as 'pigeon marinated in seaweeds with emulsion of Kalamata It looked a disaster and it was all horrible bordering on disgusting to eat. Manzano was doing upmarket surf and turf and as far as I was concerned it wasn't working.  Of course every cuisine has the right to morph and experiment but personally, I don't like too much buggering about with Spanish food.  especially with the number of dishes we tried in a galaxy far far away, I lived in Madrid. Tapas came free with every drink ordered at the bar I recall a collection of pigs' ear bits with hairs still attached That was part of the fun: you never knew which one of the array of food under the glass cabinets on the bar was going to come your way.  It was the quality of the raw materials that impressed in Madrid I'd wander down Calle Fuencarral escaping my airless and liftless fifth floor flat and seek out the shade of a different bar or restaurant from ones I'd visited before.  If I was dining out I'd often marvel at the hams the fruit and in this most landlocked of European capitals the variety and the freshness of the fish I adored the way much of the food was presented This was grub that was just plain good but never plain. It was wholesome I'm not sure about the original restaurant in Chester having never been but I'm guessing that does too This food is lovely from the specials board to the a la carte with its frequently changing cast of classics.  The tomato salad (£6.95) on our visit glistened with sherry vinegar sharpened by capers with onions and oregano all scattered among the lush tomatoes which also featured hard Mahon cheese from Menorca with its sea salt edge.  Just about my favourite word in Spanish is alcachofas which carries a lovely resonance Alcachofas are artichokes and the battered examples (£7.75) at Porta were just as resonant as the word and crammed with that distinct nutty flavour Quince alioli added a welcome spicy bitterness I don't know why but I love that artichokes are in the thistle family.  Served pink and chargrilled it came with a couple of triple score Scrabble words This is a form of chimichurri packed with herbs and heated with chilli Both the sauce and the meat were just right for each other 9/10 for this. The Atlantic tuna belly (£8.95) from Cantabria was firm and bold in flavour on a bed of sweet piquillo peppers for which a carafe of Monastrell was a perfect match The jamon iberico (£8.75) and the air-dried beef cecina dressed with quindilla chillies (£6.95) were simplicity itself yet howling with flavour.  marinated white anchovies. My local Porta is in Bexley Square and the boquerones are a must on any visit Black rice (£11.95) with its squid ink shading and its huge fishiness couldn't be faulted either. I didn't try the chocolate mousse (£4.95) but the person who did loved it.  Porta provides this experience time and again It takes those superb Spanish raw materials and with the minimum of fuss a few tweaks here and a few tweaks there, lets them speak for themselves The result is an overwhelmingly satisfying experience.  Veteran vegetarian restaurant Greens occupied this site for 33 years until closing in January last year Porta Tapas is a fine replacement and although not vegetarian as such the veggie dishes were in double figures on the menu we tried West Didsbury is fortunate to have gained this restaurant which like its sister outlets doesn't put a foot wrong I'll defintely return; any Porta in a storm as nobody in their right mind might say.  Porta Tapas Which restaurants have our readers been visiting in March We look at ten top names due to land in the city Looking for a little lift through your letterbox Sign In Register DIDSBURY -  The Town of Didsbury was recognized recently with an Economic Developers Association award for its Earptopia Didsbury Day held in October 2024 The event received the ‘Innovative Approach to Economic Development’ award for small community under 25,000 population at the recent Experience Summit - Economic Developers Association conference “The event generated significant economic input increasing business revenues by 38 per cent boosting the museum’s international visitation by 35 per cent,” said Town of Didsbury's acting chief administrative officer “It fostered lasting partnerships and introduced a sustainable film tourism tool including business retention while cementing Didsbury’s reputation as a film tourism destination for fan experiences and future productions.” Didsbury's council recently approved the town’s top three economic development priorities for 2025: business retention; resident investment and business attraction; and unique tourism destination “Building on the success of the 2024 marketing plan the 2025 strategy continues to advance key objectives while reinforcing Didsbury’s identity as a safe and family-friendly community,” administration said in a briefing note to council “This plan outlines a comprehensive approach to position Didsbury as a thriving destination for young families “By drawing attention to affordable living Didsbury aims to attract young families seeking a safe and welcoming place to call home.  “The plan also highlights Didsbury’s core industries - tourism and innovation - to draw entrepreneurs and skilled talent.” Council accepted the 2025 marketing plan as information Riley outlined recent activities of town staff and departments She updated council on the Didsbury Memorial Complex’s condenser unit upgrade “The new unit is currently in production and the delivery date for the new condenser is expected to occur around the middle of June 2025 followed by installation and testing to occur in early to mid-July with building of ice to follow,” she said Council accepted Riley’s report as information Deputy mayor Curt Engel did not attend the April 22 council meeting More SPOTLIGHT > It’s around 9pm on the Saturday of the August bank holiday weekend I’m standing on a curb eating fish and chips while Ellie walks me through her situationship with a man named Jamie and Ellie has been webbed into this on-and-off something-or-nothing predicament for three years but assures me it’s fine and I nod along.  She sits on the floor with her back against the chip shop looking out onto the street inarticulate groans groups of drunk men make to indicate agreement someone is vomiting into the darkness and when it hits the pavement it sounds like applause.  I’m exactly halfway through the Didsbury Dozen a pub crawl through the portion of Wilmslow road known as Didsbury Village has been a popular thoroughfare for decades The Didsbury Dozen — let’s call that the Dozen — has also existed since the ‘80s when Didsbury was still a student area The reason I’m here listening to Ellie’s romantic travails is because the Dozen has seen a surge in popularity in the last year or two which has begun to distort how some local residents think about their area They think it is a symptom of a broader problem with the high street that the Village is losing its character — its village feel Independents have been replaced by big brands new restaurants and bars come and go but none can seem to stick it And that isn’t helped by the Dozeners coming every weekend to use it as a theme park: to have their fun “When I first came to Didsbury” says Martin Devlin who has been the landlord of the Fletcher Moss (one of the Dozen) for the last 12 years “you’d get one or two Dozens a month.” On Saturdays they’d see maybe three or four groups doing the crawl come from within and beyond Greater Manchester I met one guy dressed as The Dude from the Big Lebowski (though the fake moustache was more Kaiser Wilhelm) who had come from Warrington I’m fucked,” is what he told me when I asked for his opinion on the Dozen Devlin has noticed more people coming up from the midlands He thinks the crawl’s recent inclusion in various to-do guides is driving its boosted popularity Although the pubs themselves have also been eager to amp up their marketing a pub which in some iterations is the Dozen’s first stop now even brews a special beer named after the crawl put out signs to remind wayward drinkers to stop there too.  “A lot of the bars and pubs in Didsbury survive on Saturday’s takings alone,” Devlin says Fletcher Moss has a regular seven-days-a-week crowd but others in the area don’t open on Mondays and Tuesdays and can find themselves quiet on a Friday night the crawl has made the Village a “no-go area” on the weekends Local Facebook groups are scattered with references to the latest indignity the Dozen has visited upon the Village “I just came round the corner onto Old Oak St yesterday at about 4pm to be greeted by a group of folk in fancy dress watching a girl urinating on the pavement,” one post from May reads “Between the Royal Oak and the Fletcher Moss it’s hardly a long distance to get caught short!” There has been an awful lot written about Didsbury filled with young professionals and rich out-of-town gentrifiers “You don’t need to manufacture silly nothing-stories that make us sound like a bunch of prats imported from Chelsea,” one resident warned me before writing this article.  conceals the very real issues affecting the area Like sky-high rents and business rates that clear out independents Leaving high streets like the Village’s open only to places like Gail’s the “hedge-funded pseudo bakery” from London — to quote Phil Griffin a writer who has spent much of his adult life in Didsbury Village and more specifically the Fletcher Moss amongst There is a feeling Didsbury is lumped in with other affluent neighbourhoods in south Manchester and beyond “The perception is it’s going to be like Alderley Edge And it is nothing like it,” says Sarah McDermott who lives in a detached house on Wilmslow Road which smells of orange blossom and vetiver When McDermott moved to the village 25 years ago Manchester Metropolitan University still had a campus there and the character of the area reflected that “It used to be more of a creative kind of place I think because of the students and the academics aside from the independents — cheesemonger grocers and a very popular patisserie called La Chouquette — the high street has gone the way of many others: a Greggs the university not being able to expand in the early 2010s because of local opposition set the area on this course And the eventual loss of character left a vacuum the culture of the place would have been totally different we wouldn’t have to rely on the Didsbury Dozen it might have sustained more than just a Greggs.”  This feels like a bit of a crude assessment (high streets all over the country would be lucky to be able to keep independent butchers but there is a feeling in the Village that it is now more a host to a pub crawl rather than a place for residents to enjoy Multiple residents and regulars have described walking into pubs turning on their heels and going home.  If I — a lifelong Salford resident whose high street experience has been a panorama of Shoe Zones and Pound Bakeries — were to be so bold as to suggest what the residents of Didsbury Village want Not just a steady stream of new restaurants or bakeries looking to make some money fast But those outsiders don’t necessarily support the businesses the locals want to see.  It doesn’t take long talking about outsiders and the “right kind of people” for you to see Village residents picking eggshells out of their heels But I suppose it’s what kind of business and activity those people come to sustain but that’s not adding much to my high street.” which gentrified rapidly in the last decade and is now a popular neighbourhood for young families “The rise of West Didsbury” as McDermott terms it also gives a sense of stagnancy to the Village by comparison “I would think most people in the Village would go out in West Didsbury and not here.” Though it should be said while West Didsbury retains an independent edge that doesn’t mean it's easy for them there either celebrity chef Simon Rimmer had to close his restaurant there I join him back at his house up the road for coffee picking up pastries on the way for his wife who is practising piano with a flautist friend We sit in his back garden under light rain we both refused to acknowledge Berry only moved to the Village four years ago but before that lived in Withington (“North Didsbury” as some myth-making estate agents have called it) I don’t think this place needed to be gentrified there was a rail line that ran through the area from what was Manchester Central to London Kings Cross “The story goes that business people from around here could get the train to London and back.” Berry says was a string of bedsits and hovels during the latter part of the 20th century now the Metropolitan (recently taken over by Stonegate Group to the chagrin of locals) sat in the middle of the neighbourhood and effectively functioned as South Manchester’s drug exchange “It was the drug dealing pub of everywhere,” says Pam Siddons who worked the bar there in the 80s but now lives in the Village.  The feeling now is that the Village stayed still while West Didsbury thrived Both still need outsiders to sustain their economies — people from perhaps less picturesque parts of Greater Manchester looking for a day out — but as the Dozen shows there are two sides to that coin And in West Didsbury things have maintained a more even Berry says that the fears over the Dozen are overplayed “There are still pubs for locals to drink in.”  They have Irish music on a Friday and Saturday.” “But isn’t that the last stop on the Dozen?” He continues: “There’s the Fletcher Moss down by the tram stop I have to admit it's got a huge beer garden which is full of kids A little Edwardian room where all the old fogies go.” Berry in a cycle of rallying for a pub then realising it has been conquered by Dozeners It’s 11:45 and I sit at the bar with a man named Jim and order a Guinness After a few minutes Neil arrives and the bartender pours him a Fosters without him asking Neither of them — with their combined 35 years of drinking here — believe there is anything unusual or even that interesting about out-of-towners coming into the Village But what they do say is local businesses aren’t in with much of a chance anymore because of high costs Sam the butcher walks in and gets a Fosters and sits talking with a friend The rent for his shop is £26,000 a year and that is pretty low for the area and there’s speculation that some of the bigger plots are getting charged six figures Sam’s butcher shop used to be called Three Little Pigs but then he got a call from a butchershop in Yorkshire using the same name asking for a thousand a month for the rights Business doesn’t appear to be booming; when I ask him how the Village has changed since he came here he looks into his beer “I’m not sure I agree that it’s people coming into the area that are causing those problems,” one West Didsbury resident and Mill reader tells me via email talking about how parts of the area are losing their character “I think it’s more the result of high business rates and rents And you’re right that the Village has suffered more than Burton Road (in West Didsbury) but I don’t think there’s a huge difference.”  But going up Burton Road recently in the middle of the school run — with various models of 4x4 crawling up it like a cavalcade of giant black ants — it was hard to feel like it’s dealing with the same lack of energy the village has on an average day and staff were coming out of the cafes and bars snapping outdoor furniture into form and out on the pavement People were stopping and chatting in the street.  I ask McDermott if she has ever considered moving away where would we move to?” I make the obvious proposal Share this story to help us grow- click here has gone into liquidation after owing its creditors nearly £200,000 (US$245,877) Didsbury was founded by best friends and gin lovers Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood in 2017 who according to the brand’s website wanted to ‘take gin to the next level’ A year after founding the brand, the pair won a £75,000 (US$88,952) grant after appearing on BBC television series Dragons’ Den which in return would take a 10% stake in their business Manton and Smallwood were awarded a Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) in the King’s 2023 New Year’s Honours list The range includes Didsbury Gin Original and Rapsberry & Elderflower, while the company also launched a rum brand named Arlu in 2020 Alderman Drinks filed for liquidation on 19 December 2024 according to a document on Companies House with Gareth Howarth of Path Business Recovery appointed as liquidator also registered on Companies House on 19 December 2024 it was shown that the company’s estimated total owed to creditors was £195,924,28 Among the 12 creditors owed are £64,886 to Natwest from a bounce back loan Union Distillers £24.183 and Berlin Packaging for £21,401 A resolution to voluntarily wind up trading was passed following a general meeting on 4 December Since receiving funding on Dragon’s Den, the brand went on to secure £420,000 (US$528,800) in investment – £100,000 (US$126,000) from the NPIF FW Capital Debt Finance fund in 2019 and then £320,000 (US$402,900) in early 2020 – to grow in the UK with retailers and bars including Harvey Nichols and pub chain JD Wetherspoon The investment was also said to help it expand internationally in addition to growing the company’s client base in the UK the brand also reported that it doubled its annual turnover to £1.5 million (US$1.8m) The Sprits Business has reached out to Alderman’s Drinks for comment We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. On the last Sunday of every month, one of Manchester’s best markets pops up on the corner of Burton Road and Nell Lane. The Maker’s Market moves around the city taking up home in a different location every weekend The West Didsbury date is always popular with plenty of eclectic stalls offering everything from hand-drawn maps of Manchester to handmade jewellery British Makers Market | Bruno Martins / Unsplash Embrace minimal style at Moth Moth is one of Manchester’s best kept secrets – an independent interiors store located on Burton Road tailored towards a distinctively minimal style stationery and jewellery from a selection of stylish brands Owner Hazel and her adorable toy poodle Monty are always friendly and welcoming This tempting chocolatier has recently moved to larger premises offering more space for you to settle down and enjoy their famous chocolate-themed afternoon tea Their counter is always filled with delicious sweet treats tarts and chocolate truffles that can be enjoyed in the café itself or wrapped in a box to give as a thoughtful gift | Giancarlo Duarte / Unsplash Walk along the River Mersey Just a short stroll from West Didsbury village you will find yourself on the banks of the River Mersey This is the perfect place to escape the busy streets and go for a relaxing walk you can walk along the river to Fletcher Moss in East Didsbury it takes less than an hour to stroll to Chorlton Pepperoni pizza | Photo by Food Photographer on Unsplash Manchester is famed for its many Neapolitan pizza joints, and the recently opened Proove on Burton Road is one of the best in the city Serving deliciously doughy pizza to eat in or take away gluten-free and meaty toppings offer something to suit everyone including the best arancini balls in the city Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy You may not think to visit a neighbourhood simply to buy alcohol, but West Didsbury is home to a branch of Reserve Wines and The Epicurean The former has three shops in Greater Manchester and offers one of the best wine selections in the city as well as regularly hosting tasting evening The latter is a mecca for local craft beer lovers stocking a diverse range of both local and international beers Emma Lavelle is a freelance writer and keen photographer with an endless wanderlust Read about her latest travels on www.fieldandnest.com or on Instagram @fieldandnest See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips Best Coastal Towns To Visit In Northern Ireland See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Guides & Tips The Best Places to Travel in August See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd The company behind Manchester-based spirits brand Didsbury Gin has gone into liquidation owing close to £200,000 to creditors Founded in 2017 by Mark Smallwood and Liam Manton the business won £75,000 of investment after appearing on BBC TV’s Dragons Den with former Dragon Jenny Campbell taking a third of the business in 2018 Gareth Howarth from Path Business Recovery has been appointed liquidator of Alderman’s Drinks Ltd Didsbury Gin (photo by Jack Kirwin -JK Photography) The company owed NatWest £64,885 as a Bounce Back Loan and £126 864 to trade creditors including Greencroft Bottling who are owed £40,657 In 2019 the business secured £100,000 in funding from NPIF-FW Capital Debt Finance part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and said that just three years after their appearance on Dragon’s Den the business was turning over over £3m in sales After signing a deal with distributor C&C in 2021 Liam Manton said Didsbury Gin was “a brand worth more than £3m” During the pandemic the company turned its resources towards making hand sanitiser for which they Manton and Smallwood were awarded OBEs (Order of the British Empire) for services to the community in Greater Manchester Founder Liam Manton and liquidator Gareth Howarth have not responded to requests for comment Busy passing traffic both on foot and on wheels well-heeled foodies clutching The Grauniad Confidentials were told about Porta taking over a couple of months ago but it was only last Saturday morning that I noticed it was open for business I decided to nip in at twelve for a coffee and quick bite The brothers have excelled themselves with the fit out; it's a nice size for this type of Spanish tapas operation with Farrow and Ball colours deepish-green with splashes of burnt orange The seating is cosy but not intrusive and the welcome from the staff sparkles the Porta food is simply but honourably cooked best-of-breed Spanish now familiar to Mancunians and northerners having been introduced to this centuries old cuisine via other outstanding restaurants like Evuna on Deansgate (and now elsewhere) and San Sebastian in Chorlton for many years This is a short piece to alert you lot early on to a gaff that’s going to be a corker A fully scored piece will be available first quarter next year In the meantime - and after a few glasses from a superb bottle of Ondarro Gracieno 2022 a grape variety normally present in blends but out here doing a solo gig and all the better for it - I decided to give my first impressions straight away Because I fell in love with the place.  The croquetas with mushroom and tarragon were knock out velvety but not too try-hard filling were both easy on the palette Unlike the Picante Gordale olives; true Latin lovers The  daily special of pork belly with butter beans and mojo verde would have seen Sancho Panza’s loyalty to Don Quixote waver if it wasn’t shared with him and a nearly sweet Jerez Xerés oloroso dulce finished me off nicely with a delightful pastel de nata served cleverly with cinnamon in a salt shaker.  Stow says it’s a restaurant that cooks over fire on Bridge Street opposite the old Granada Cleaners The site saw Neon Tiger open just post-pandemic which was one of my favourites a superb cocktail bar serving bang-on Northern Thai inspired food who knows how to run a restaurant and deliver great food at the same time Matt owns the iconic Trof and is no mug at the game This venture is a restaurant of two halves But I still like Persian rugs and Italian Futurist Cubism go through to the back and you walk into arguably the coolest twenty-six cover restaurant in Manchester,  which can also be described as cosy dominated by large open-fire grills being put to good use and delivering many of the dishes listed on a small The milk bread and burnt onion butter is not cooked over fire but got thumbs up from both me and my dining pal Not being sourdough was a leap forward in my book I’m guessing the chef is a fan of Basque cooking in particular Etxebarrii south of Bilbao whose aged dairy cow rib-on-the-bone cuts had me swooning.  The lads here in Manchester had one on as well; it’s a few quid at £48 but overfaced two fat bastards in the end Dare I say as good as the Asador Etxebarri example?  I expected to hate the coal fired beetroot but loved them and the rate potatoes finished on the flames of the grill and doused in garlic He tells me it’s a hydroelectric dam in Canada I suspect the lying little shit is at it again The smoked cream tart with half a grilled red plum was a handsome Loved that even though the oven is a bit brutal with the pastry.  I recognised the serious hand of wine merchants Yapp Brothers involved famous for Rhone wines fifty years ago when the market in the UK was dismissive of the Viognier grape turned me onto them and I bought a case of Guigal’s Condrieu La Doriane when I was twenty-two years of age The team on the floor are utterly charming I expect great things from these guys along with a packed house Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email by signing up to our mailing list This is one of the ways that Confidentials remains free to our readers and by signing up you help support our high quality exclusives and offers by joining the Manchester Confidential WhatsApp group The hotel is marking the occasion in style with some special offers Hotel has become a standout in the city since opening just over a year ago Your bumper briefing of news and what to look out for Lily Wallen asks if the canalside clubbing destination has lost its allure Register  Login Gusto Italian has closed its Didsbury restaurant “following an approach from a well-known high street retailer” The closure leaves the group with 13 restaurants across the UK Commenting on the closure a spokesman for Gusto Italian said: “As part of our commitment to delivering excellence across all locations Gusto Italian continually reviews the performance and strategic fit of each of our restaurants This proactive approach enables us to make well-informed decisions in the best interest of our business and our team and following an approach from a well-known high street retailer we have decided to close Didsbury as a trading location “Didsbury has been part of the Gusto Italian family for many years and we are deeply grateful to our loyal guests and community who have supported us over this time.” The restaurant group said it would support team members to take opportunities within the wider business Gusto Italian completed a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) process which secured more than 600 jobs but saw four sites close in September 2020 At the time the business said the move had left it well-funded and in a strong position to resume a growth strategy when appropriate Sign Up Jacobs Media is a company registered in England and Wales, company number 08713328. 3rd Floor, 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0AU. © 2025 Jacobs Media Two men were arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent before being taken to hospital for treatment Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the suspected stolen Range Rover Officers pursued the car along Palatine Road in Didsbury before using a sting to make it stop before the crash took place GMP said: "The vehicle collided with a parked car before it was brought to a stop near the junction of Barlow Moor Road were arrested at the scene and were taken to hospital for treatment with minor injuries." The crash happened at about 10pm on Monday 17 February but there were several patients being seen in the waiting room at the 24 hour dentists practice manager at Didsbury Dental Practice said: "We're a 24-hour emergency dental surgery "We had patients in the waiting room and dentists working away." They checked a patient in the waiting room "It was just the shock of the noise as you can imagine that's the most important thing." Images from the scene show severe damage to the front of the dental practice Mr Pabla said a structural engineer has since found the building to be unsafe Photos also show the Range Rover to have suffered damage to the front end with a tyre coming off a wheel on the driver's side DIDSBURY - A film crew was busy at work in downtown Didsbury Friday on a new Universal Studios motion picture called Reminders of Him The movie is a romantic drama based on a novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover the novel is about a “troubled young mother who yearns for a shot at redemption After serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake Kenna Rowan returns to the town where it all went wrong hoping to reunite with her four-year-old daughter.  “But the bridges Kenna burned are proving impossible to rebuild.” The local filming required a number of road closures for the one-day May 2 shoot including at the intersection of 15th Avenue and 20th Street The film is scheduled to be released in February 2026 DIDSBURY - The Didsbury Fire Department responded to 64 calls for service in the first quarter of 2025 including a dozen for motor vehicle collisions and numerous fires Didsbury Fire Department firefighters also responded to 15 alarms according to a report presented to the Town of Didsbury's council on April 22 During the first quarter the fire department saw two new recruits start the rookie training program and eight cadets (Grade 11 and 12 students) started the cadet program four from Didsbury and four from Carstairs.  The department received its new 310 mobile command truck and is currently awaiting quotes for box insert The Town of Didsbury's municipal enforcement department first-quarter report was also released 16 for speeding through playground/school zones 34.6 per cent were under the community standards bylaw and 34.6 per cent were from citizen concerns The rugby club saw severe flooding(Image: Didsbury Toc H RFC)Didsbury Toc H Rugby Club has issued an update on progress to clean up the club after it suffered extensive damage in the New Year's Day floods The club is currently fundraising to carry out repair work in a post on the club's Facebook page it confirmed that they have still have not been able to begin clean up work following the flooding This is because nearly two weeks after the floods there is still some standing water remaining in the changing rooms and car park The floods saw water levels rising to more than a metre high causing what the club has described on a JustGiving appeal as "significant structural damage to the changing rooms representatives of the club explained that they had not been able to secure insurance for this level of flood damage Toc H is now raising money to carry out the extensive repairs needed following the flooding This includes clearing up "debris and sludge" A post on the club's Facebook said: "We regret to inform you that we are unable to begin the cleanup tomorrow as originally planned there is still standing water in both the car park and the changing rooms which prevents us from safely starting work "The good news is that we’ve finally been able to access the clubhouse Initial safety inspections are underway to assess the extent of the damage and ensure the site is safe for volunteers Flooded Didsbury sports ground(Image: Didsbury TOC H Rugby Club)"However, due to structural concerns and other safety issues it’s looking more likely that the cleanup will commence on Monday We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has reached out to offer their help and support "The response from our local community and even those further afield has been truly incredible Your encouragement means a lot to us during this challenging time." Anyone who wishes to donate can do so here. The Dockyard in Didsbury is closing but reopening as a new Irish bar concept (Image: The Dockyard (Facebook))A Greater Manchester boozer has bid farewell to its customers after four years. The Dockyard Didsbury served its last pint yesterday (January 19) In a post shared on its social media channels, the team from the self-styled 'rustic ale house and kitchen' confirmed the news said the time had come to 'say goodbye'. It confirmed that it's two other sites at MediaCity in Salford Quays and Barons Quay in Northwich will remain open Confirming the closure of the Didsbury site on Facebook owners of The Dockyard wrote: "Right Didsbury….Thank you so much for your welcome and custom when we arrived here in the village "We have had a blast over the last 4 years and we hope you have too! We will be closing our doors for the last time on Sunday 19th January." While customers shared their sadness at the loss of the pub with one person on Facebook saying they were sorry to 'see it go' another posted a link to what will take it place - The Salmon of Knowledge The Irish bar concept is part of the same group as The Dockyard and owners this morning confirmed it will be its replacement The site used to house O'Neill's Irish bar (Image: O'Neill's CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0> via Wikimedia Commons)A spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: "The Salmon of Knowledge will be replacing the Dockyard in Didsbury due to many requests from Didsbury people who have visited the Salmon in the NQ and reminded us that our site use to be an Irish Pub O’Neil’s some years ago "We will have great good including Irish Boxtys music and sport all week the pool and darts will be moved upstairs to “1up’." The building on Wilmslow Road in the centre of Didsbury Village has housed a number of pub and bar concepts over the years In May 1996 after a refurbishment it reopened as a branch of O'Neills It was then was given a makeover by owners M&B and re-opened in April 2014 under the Stokers Arms name The Salmon of Knowledge first opened its doors in the former Ply pizzeria spot on Lever Street in the Northern Quarter last September Its name comes from ancient lore and in honour of the builder of The Giant's Causeway in County Antrim The Salmon of Knowledge Irish bar in the Northern Quarter is opening a second venue(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)The bar features a wide stout selection including partnerships with Cork brewing legends Franciscan Well as well as a private whisky tasting bar that includes around 40 different varieties It also hosts live music as well as a varied schedule of live sports screenings Confirming its second site in Didsbury last week, the team wrote on social media: “Big news, Didsbury! You called and we answered. The Salmon of Knowledge is swimming upstream to bring our second site to YOU very soon! “By popular demand, we are expanding to the suburbs, so get ready for live music, great food, live sports, and gallons of Guinness. You heard it here first… stay tuned!” Followers have been quick to share their excitement over the forthcoming arrival. One person said: “AY! Please tell me you'll be bringing Tayto, Club and craic!?” Another said: “Welcome!” North Walkden FC clinched the Manchester FA Saturday Amateur Cup at Seel Park on March 14 following a commanding 2-0 victory over Didsbury FC Villa North Walkden managed to keep their opposition at arms-length handling the occasion with an air of inevitability in the face of Didsbury pressure The Little Hulton side travelled to Mossley with their sights set on silverware, after exiting the Atherton Charity Cup on Monday in a 3-1 defeat to Daisy Hill FC at the semi-final stage North Walkden raced into the lead in the 4th minute with a long ball breaking through the Didsbury press landing favourably for striker Adam Doyle to slot past the goalkeeper Didsbury fought to gain a foothold in the game causing problems in the North Walkden box with efforts at goal and dangerous play across the pitch as the side doubled their lead towards the end of the 1st half with a volley from captain Aiden Heaton in the 3rd minute of added time leaving them 2-0 ahead at the break Didsbury continued to push for their opener with North Walkden goalkeeper Andrew Mulroney standing tall between the sticks North Walkden showed character and maturity in retaining possession for large parts of the second half ensuring their cup final victory by keeping the ball away from their opponents fans and coaches flooded onto the pitch to celebrate their hard-fought cup triumph taking the crown from last year’s winners Manchester Corinthians North Walkden coach Antony Staines spoke on the importance of cup finals for the club but the county cup final’s the big one for us we’ve been aiming to be in it for some time.” North Walkden currently sit second in the Manchester Football League Division Two three points from top-of-the-league Moston Brook with three games in hand An exclusive look inside the day of the final can be found here: Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" sport and entertainment from around Salford – produced by students from The University of Salford’s Journalism Department Please call the Salford Now editor on 0161 295 2220 if you have a story or query You can also contact us at now@salford.ac.uk or DM one of our social media accounts Salford Now is run for educational purposes and is not a commercial website The University of Salford denies any responsibility for and / or knowledge of content on this website Fawzi Haffar was found to have given 'unreliable' evidence to the public inquiry(Image: PA)Didsbury Mosque has been warned by the Charity Commission after failing to submit annual accounts on time for the second year running filed its annual return and accounts for 2021/22 only in December 2023 Its annual return and accounts for the following year 2022/23 was due in September last year but on Friday the published register on the Charity Commission showed these had not yet been submitted and were 94 days overdue A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “Trustees of the Islamic Centre Manchester (also known as Didsbury Mosque) have not submitted their annual accounting information on time which has resulted in the charity showing as ‘in default’ on our register We have contacted the charity to remind them of their reporting responsibilities.” READ MORE: Criticism of mosque finally revealed as MEN uncovers secret Manchester Arena bomb report Trustees of registered charities are 'legally responsible' for making sure annual returns are submitted on time according to the Charity Commission which can take 'regulatory action' against charities who are persistently late filing returns The mosque has been criticised by a solicitor representing the largest group of families affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack which claimed the lives of 22 innocents and left hundreds of others seriously hurt Suicide bomber Salman Abedi and his jailed accomplice brother Hashem attended Didsbury Mosque while their older brother Ismail volunteered in the mosque's Arabic school Their father Ramadan had performed the call to prayer while their mother Samia Tabbal taught there briefly He criticised the ‘unreliable’ evidence of Fawzi Haffar, the chair of trustees at Didsbury Mosque, who he said 'tended to downplay the strength of the links between the mosque and the Abedi family'. He remains chair despite the criticism. Last week, following a long freedom of information battle, the Charity Commission handed the M.E.N. an action plan it drew up for the mosque in 2018 in the wake of the bombing. It contained a series of criticisms including that trustees of Didsbury Mosque 'did not have a formal method of controlling' literature which contained 'possibly extremist messages'. They also 'did not submit' a report to the Charity Commission about alleged links to 'an act of terrorism' after it was reported that the Manchester Arena bomber prayed there. The mosque was also told to ensure anyone using its 'Sharia Council', which provides rulings and advice to Muslims, 'are aware no ruling which it makes is legally binding', while it was also criticised for failing to record the suspension and reinstatement of an imam photographed wearing army fatigues in Libya. Charity Commission said the action plan had been 'complied with' by 2019. The Manchester Evening News has approached Didsbury Mosque for a comment about the late filing of its accounts to the Charity Commission. About  Advertise  Contact tragedy struck Didsbury Sports Ground as unprecedented floods wreaked havoc on this cherished community hub the grounds experienced a catastrophic overflow with water levels surging over a meter higher than previous floods The damage inflicted on the facilities is both extensive and heart-wrenching affecting everything from the changing rooms and storage areas to the clubhouse and playing fields The impact on the Didsbury community is huge This sports ground is the heartbeat of local sports and fitness it brings together 800 residents for sports the scale of the restoration effort becomes alarmingly clear Restoring Didsbury Sports Ground will require: Clearing debris and sludge from the premises rebuilding the damaged structures and restoring the playing fields and car park With anticipated costs running into tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds unable to secure insurance for such extreme flooding the Didsbury Playing Fields Association has launched the “Repair & Rescue Fund” with an ambitious goal of raising £50,000 will play a crucial role in restoring the sports ground and ensuring it continues to serve as a vibrant community resource Your donations will directly fund: Essential repairs to the facilities restoration of the grounds and drainage systems and ensuring a safe Didsbury Sports Ground is far more than just a sports facility The prospect of losing such a vital resource is unthinkable making your support more critical than ever There are several ways you can help save Didsbury Sports Ground: Visit the crowdfunding page to contribute by clicking here is dedicated to providing and maintaining sports facilities at Didsbury Sports Ground They are committed to supporting a wide range of clubs and activities ensuring the community has access to top-quality recreational spaces This is a pivotal moment for Didsbury Join the effort to rebuild and restore the Didsbury Sports Ground preserving its legacy for future generations Your generosity and support will help us overcome this challenge and keep the spirit of Didsbury alive and thriving Did we miss something? Let us know: [email protected] Want to be the first to receive all the latest news stories, what’s on and events from the heart of Manchester? Sign up here I Love Manchester helps raise awareness and funds to help improve the lives and prospects of people across Greater Manchester – and we can’t do it without your help So please support us with what you can so we can continue to spread the love Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news stories delivered direct to your inbox What’s the story? We are all ears when it comes to positive news and inspiring stories. You can send story ideas to [email protected] While we can’t guarantee to publish everything we will always consider any enquiry or idea that promotes: For anything else, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us about advertorials (from £350+VAT) and advertising opportunities: [email protected] For the love of Manchester, don’t miss out on events and what’s new across the city region. Subscribe to our newsletter now We respect your privacy Have your visit to the website make a difference in Greater Manchester… The I Love MCR Foundation raises vital funds to help improve the lives and prospects of people across Greater Manchester – and we can’t do it without your help The official I Love MCR Shop not only spreads Manchester love across the world but it also helps keeps the lights on so we can support the city region Taking on a challenge? Why not fundraise for our Foundation. We’ll even throw in some merchandise to wear Raising funds for great causes is priceless Advertise online to reach millions of inspired people who are subscribed engaged and use our channels on a daily basis Regional out-of-home media makes advertising on digital billboard screens across Greater Manchester affordable Join the mobile Manchester community… iPhone Android DiscoverNews StoriesShopSubscribe Licensing Information Terms and ConditionsPrivacy PolicyMake An Editorial Complaint Charity FoundationDonateFundraise AdvertiseOut-of-Home MediaAdd a ListingAdvertising Terms and Conditions Environmental PolicyEthical PolicyPrinting MethodDelivery InformationFAQs Copyright © 2009 – 2024 I Love MCR® All Rights Reserved About  Advertise  Contact Sign our campaign for a grant funding review The retirement project was refused earlier this year The retirement living developer will argue that its plans for 37 apartments on the corner of Lapwing Lane and Palatine Road are not in fact “excessive in size” as stated by the city council earlier this year Churchill Retirement Living will put its case to the Planning Inspectorate but a date for the hearing has not yet been set The proposals centre on the site of the former Greenfinch pub and feature 24 one-bedroom flats and 13 with two bedrooms Churchill claims the scheme would help free up family housing in the area and meet the need for specialist accommodation for the UK’s ageing population Manchester City Council was critical of the appearance of Churchill’s scheme and said it would have a detrimental impact on neighbours A decision notice handed down in February states that the “design and choice of materials of the proposed development would result in a form of development that would not be sympathetic or beautiful and would erode the special character of the Albert Park Conservation Area” It added that the scheme would result in a “real and perceived loss of privacy” for residents of number 114 Palatine Road Planning Issues is leading on the application The project team also includes Air Quality Consulting search for reference number 138765/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal Read our comments policy I’m not one to usually be against retirement homes however Didsbury is a vibrant community for young professionals after they graduate and move down from Fallowfield This site would be much better used as apartments for these young professionals @MC – it should be a mixed community If said old people with big houses want to stay in the area their old houses can be converted into flats for the young professionals Places shouldn’t cater to only one age group Not all old fogeys want to live in ex-urbs This is a horrific scheme in an area of high quality buildings Manchester needs to reject garbage low quality architecture on prominent sites if it really aspires to be a credible major European city I watched it decline and congest with the infestation of young professionals Clutter the pavements with mobility scooters sit at home dribbling and rocking in their chairs?? Mixed age communities are better – more coherent and with the generations learning different perspectives on life from each other The complaint about loss of privacy is a bit rich considering that the Greenfinch was a very lively pub and dinner venue on that site Retired people have spent their lives serving the community contributing to the economy and raising families They have as much right to be on that site as anyone else – they still have a lot to give Having been a regular at The Greenfinch until we moved away the privacy argument is a bit of a surprise Watched many a City game on the big screens and locals who have lived in the area frequented it like any community needs to have provision for all ages It’s opposite the tram stop for wider connections and a busy bus route It’s a low generating traffic proposal and given that the area was already known as “Flatland” enough provision for young professionals or whoever is not the priority elderly persons’ accommodation is the growing need in this country The race is on to implement the planning permission for the 15-floor Store Street scheme before it expires later this year Having withdrawn earlier plans for 115 homes on a seven-acre former ironworks of Crabtree Lane the housebuilder has lodged fresh proposals for 194 houses and apartments Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Quakers are though to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup thanks to a second half winner by Andrew Nelson They took the lead with a goal by Matty Cornish but the North West Counties League side quickly equalised Nelson kept his cool in the second half to fire Quakers into the next round with Will Hatfield and Levi Andoh both limping off Striker Jack Maskell pulled out on the morning of the game because of a virus Here are the goals: https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/west-didsbury-and-chorlton-v-darlington-updates Quakers had an early scare when Jordan Lazenbury had a low effort well pushed away by Jameson But they should have scored at the other end when Jarrett Rivers got through and Matty Cornish fired the the loose ball over Quakers broke quickly and Cameron Salkeld got through he lobbed the ball over the keeper but unfortunately against the bar West Didsbury forced their third corner of the game and they nearly broke through again at the other end when Rivers found Nelson on his outside with a good pass Lazenbury chased a ball into the box and it almost fell for him He went down appealing for a push by Toby Lees who put the ball through for Matty Cornish to lift the ball over the advancing keeper But West Didsbury levelled five minutes later ran through and beat Jameson with a deflected shot the first goal Quakers have conceded in six games Quakers had to defend well at the start of the second half but Nelson nearly broke through at the other end before a defender stopped him The game was confined to midfield or a long spell after that although when Quakers won a corner and the ball went into the middle and the ball was played quickly through for Lazenbury who had just Jameson to beat but Jameson won the ball in a tackle on the edge of his area Will Hatfield got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Nelson to turn into the bottom left corner Hatield then limped off with a hanstring injjury when the ball dropped for Abadaki a few yards out when Andoh limped off and was replaced by Archie Small Quakers had the chance to make it 3-1 when Nelson dribbled through then Cornish turned well on the edge of the area and curled an effort over the top There was another chance when Salkeld set up Nelson They broke away on 88 minutes when Cornish nodded the ball through for Nelson Where does one go for a house dinner when Kej’s is closed It’s 8:30pm on a Friday night and my housemates and I are shivering in in an alleyway in Withington at the back of the queue for The Vic to see DJ Billy It is far too cold to be in what is rather too small of a top and I am bouncing up and down to trick my body into thinking I am already inside and perhaps blaming it on the boogie instead of watching rain fall onto my shoes One of my friends spots a group of bedraggled girls “finding” their friends ahead of us in the queue and pushing in but are momentarily distracted by the retro Americana pizza hatch beside us telling us a pizza should be made in the following order: dough then sauce – alarming intel for Italians reassuring intel for the queue jumpers who have avoided confrontation A sufficiently intimidating huddle of final years now find themselves distracted debating the veracity of the pizza hatch’s claim instead “We’ve all had our dinner already!” we stomp and grumble but resolve to return the following day to sample the inventions from this pizza place which did not exist when we were queuing for DJ Billy last year you’re asking freshers at the bus stop if they remember Kej’s the world keeps moving and I am just trying to keep up The aforementioned Doughclub is only open 4pm-10pm so I twiddled my thumbs for a few hours headed down for a late lunch and purchased a slice of Pesto Patch and a well-sized slice (shared to justify the price) and to have another slice would be hedonistic Students in the daytime are averse to paying £13 for a slice of pizza and the only students who would pay the price are forced to find their post-club grease elsewhere Families don’t want individual slices of pizza Sauce last and a square slice could be off-putting to those who prefer stability perhaps – but if your grandmother has given you £14 pocket money and told you not to spend it all at once well perhaps then you can honour her by spending £13 on a delicious slice of pizza and you’ll still have £1 left over for two whole frozen ones from Sainsbury’s Once a girl told me this bakery did the best croissants outside of France and I believed her because she had I had not and so felt I was poorly positioned to argue I’d say I’ve had only the most provincial exposure to croissants in my life: I have tried both the café kind and the supermarket kind I found the croissants from La Chouquette to be the best I’ve ever eaten and they didn’t even need to be accidentally sat on just around the corner from their Didsbury bakery I visited and purchased both a sandwich (caprese pesto) and a pastry (croissant) for scientific purposes – exquisite not a fan of the prices and so will not be returning or affording a flight to France probably ever now The Mexican finds itself in a location which does it precisely zero favours Only the midnight crowds are drawn to Fallowfield’s corridor of chicken shops I settled on a Camote burrito (£12.50) – tasty I was feeling quite downhearted about the price of the food but then I spotted Trivial Pursuit amongst the available board games stacked in the corner This felt redemptory and was an excellent find for a lady like myself who rejecting the opportunity to attend lectures Sometime over summer Carrot Cafe opened up right next to the Burton Road tram stop and I have run past it in the mornings and eyed up the bakes with gluttonous eyes The atmosphere outside the cafe is charming – I’m not sure who decided the West Didsbury of late was an arondissement of Paris but it’s a vibe I am very much enjoying jogged back with it in hand and knocked on the house door hiding my key behind the cake and panting extra loud it took less than a minute and a half to eat (not sure £4 for such a fleeting indulgence is worth it) but I still trotted off to my 11am with a spring in my step Kyotoya is an anomaly on this list for it was founded many moons ago and my housemates laughed and pointed at me when I said I hadn’t been and thought we ought to try it out At first I thought this unusually cruel-natured of them but when I sat down to eat and was presented with a big bowl of yaki udon which proved to be scrumptious family-run restaurant which feels intimate and Japanese despite the fact the logo of Hollywood Burgers and Shakes is projected in a spinning hologram onto the pavement just outside but the meal set me back just £7.50 so it feels silly to complain when I left feeling full and with the sense my food hunt had come to a financially sound close • I guessed the star sign of every Manchester based bus service for no real reason • We checked out Bastille’s insane Candlelight gig at Manchester Cathedral • A definitive list of the top 10 Manchester guys to avoid on Hinge Win £20 to spend at some of the UK's biggest retailers The theme hopes to thrust black dandyism back into the international spotlight Jotting down the rules for next year when I inevitably get invited ‘I made it very known I hated it’ Raegan and Iain call Montana’s daughter their niece She set up the page for people to send her money Students have just over two weeks to make their nominations Flooding outside the Britannia Country House Hotel(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)Floodwater remains outside a Didsbury hotel where hundreds of people were evacuated on New Year's Day Police said 445 people were rescued from Palatine Road on Wednesday evening (January 1) They included guests and staff at the Britannia Country House Hotel which had been used to house asylum seekers Those who were rescued from the hotel were seen being taken away to safety on buses Firefighters used boats to wade through 'waist high' water and reach the hotel before bringing people safely away from the scene Images from this morning (Thursday) show flooding remains on Palatine Road outside the hotel The road is currently impassable between Barlow Moor Road and Chretien Road Signs have been placed in the road warning people of floodwater Cars remain parked outside the Britannia Country House Hotel surrounded by murky floodwater on the ground Residents at some properties on Palatine Road and the surrounding streets were also evacuated Sarah Baram, 40, was evacuated from her top floor apartment along with her neighbours in the block opened the doors to the car park and all of the water started pouring into the lift," she said Flooding on Palatine Road in Didsbury(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)"We came outside through the stairs and the water level then We went to the garage to get the car and it was probably knee deep in the basement "We came back at 11 and the water level had risen half a metre or so not expecting we wouldn't be able to get back in He [her son] doesn't even have any trousers bless him." "Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, and those who have been displaced continue to be supported by the local authority." The Home Office confirmed the hotel had been used as accommodation for asylum seekers, who have now been found an alternative place to stay. Flooding on Palatine Road in Didsbury(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)A Home Office spokesperson said: “An asylum accommodation hotel in Manchester has been affected by severe flooding in the area. The Home Office is working closely with the local council and emergency services. All individuals have been evacuated to safety and provided with alternative accommodation.” DIDSBURY - The Town of Didsbury's council has accepted a $7.1 million tender for the east reservoir project and has given first reading to the plan to pay for it The reservoir will be constructed next to the Didsbury Memorial Complex and will help to meet current and future demand for water in the community The project was put out for tender in March and closed on April 11 The town’s engineering consultant reviewed each of the six tenders received “Administration evaluated the unit rates for risk exposure,” said acting chief administrative officer Amanda Riley during the recent council meeting “Numerous items in the tender are lump sum items There is little risk to the town for the majority of items.  “Although the risk is low for most unit rates the town is exposed to potential tariff impacts Administration is acutely aware of the risk tariffs can pose and we are prepared to seek alternative supply lines for acceptable substitutions.” Timcon Construction came in with the lowest tender The other bids ranged from $8.8 million to $13.6 million Construction costs for the project have risen significantly in recent months requiring administration to review the budget “The original approved capital budget for the project was $5.68 million Given the lowest tender amount came in approximately $1.72 million over budget the capital budget requires an amendment to move forward with the project,” she said Council carried a motion to award the east reservoir project to Timcom.  a second motion was carried to amend the capital budget for the project to a total cost of $7.4 million to be funded with a Alberta Municipal Water Wastewater Partnership grant of $2.5 million council members carried a motion granting first reading to the borrowing bylaw for the $3.5 million debenture meaning that a petition for a vote of the electors ma be submitted to the chief administrative officer within 15 days of the last day of advertising the bylaw will be presented to council for second and third reading at the June 10 council meeting.” a highly influential Labour figure has stepped down But sweet electoral victory and grand plans for the future are not what many local Labour people are talking about this week when you get on the phone with Labour insiders what they want to natter about is a man called Liam Didsbury a behind-the-scenes puller of strings.  Rumours have been swirling since we broke the news that Didsbury is quitting as Labour’s North West director Some have darkly muttered about what might be behind his decision to leave a post that gave him extraordinary control over who gets ahead in Labour politics — including fiddling around with candidate lists for MP and councillor races and even determining who leads local authorities.  Labour insists that Didsbury has quit of his own volition “in order to spend more time with his young family” When we relayed other theories circulating among Labour figures “The Regional Director's decision to leave was entirely his own and any claims to the contrary are wholly untrue,” a spokesperson told us yesterday “Claims put to the Party regarding the Regional Director's conduct are utterly baseless and defamatory and why are so many people so interested in his departure Many readers will probably never have heard of him before – he’s not an MP or a mayor But it’s clear from our conversations that he is someone who wielded a lot of power in the party – and built up a lot of enemies So we thought we would try to take you behind the curtains in the hope that we can learn something about how local politics really works.  which is paywalled halfway down and is a members-only affair Each member who gives us £7 a month helps us to do the important investigative work that goes into stories like this; stories that shed light on the inner workings of the region’s politics and hold those with power to account please click the button below to support us on our mission to give Merseyside the kind of in-depth at the end of today’s e-mail we’ve got the details for our next Post event — an evening with legendary chronicler of Liverpool Labour’s promise to introduce a Hillsborough Law was reaffirmed in yesterday’s King’s Speech which set out a total of 39 bills the new government hopes to pass over the next few years the Hillsborough Law would create a new “legal duty of candour” for public authorities and officials to tell the truth and cooperate with official investigations and inquiries Campaigners for Hillsborough Law Now welcomed the announcement with campaign director Debbie Caine adding: “Only those who have endured a long and arduous battle with the state for truth and accountability will realise the significance of this announcement…Make no mistake this announcement has the potential to save and change lives for the many And over in Aigburth, opposition figures have called for an end to large-scale events at Sefton Park Green party candidate Tom Crone complained that sound levels at the recent In the Park festival – attended by approximately 70,000 people – had breached agreed decibel limits Sefton Park also hosted Africa Oye festival last month — the largest free celebration of African music held in the UK Crone said that events at Sefton Park should “be for the people and for the communities around here” not for those travelling into the area.  This week we learned that the regional director of Labour North West has quit his role just a fortnight after the party won the General Election Didsbury has resigned “in order to spend more time with his young family”.  while relatively unknown to people outside of the inner circles of regional politics has played a major role in selecting MPs and officials across Merseyside since his appointment in 2021 So much so that one Labour insider told The Post that he had “unprecedented control” over the regional party adding – with a touch of hyperbole – that his position was that of “the most powerful person in the North West.” Perhaps this is why when we approached Labour about this story they repeatedly tried to dissuade us from publishing any story about Didsbury’s departure is “not within the public interest” because he is a member of party staff and not a public representative “Labour Party staff members are entirely inappropriate [subjects for an article] and shouldn't be written [about] in the first place,” they told us.  This is a novel and somewhat confusing argument Didsbury has been making decisions that will have profound consequences for the region he has overseen and intervened in the appointment of council leaders and police commissioners and has had a major role in deciding who makes the shortlist to become a Labour MP Working alongside him has been regional communications officer Anthony Lavelle — a 28-year-old Croxteth councillor who previously ran for mayor of Liverpool — and Sheila Murphy an officer in charge of Liverpool and an influential figure in the party for over five decades.  Our reporting suggests several officials elected on their watch have had close personal or working relationships with the trio We’ve found interventions by the regional Labour Party in council elections to appoint these close associates and a lack of due process in the appointment of police and crime commissioners in Merseyside They’re willing to make some pretty strong allegations (for example claiming the party “rewards loyalty and being friends over actual competence”) but none have had the courage to go on the record And we’ve also uncovered links between Didsbury and a man who was arrested for witness intimidation in connection to Operation Aloft: the long running police corruption probe linked to former mayor Joe Anderson.  Already have an account? Sign in Already have an account? Sign In a highly influential Labour figure has stepped down the town witnessed incidents of such heavy flooding that they were considered once-in-a-century probabilities as he hurried to update residents of the rising water levels in the Mersey via a Whatsapp Group he had set up “I was here when the floods happened in January 2021,” he says I’m ideally placed to tell you: the amount of water and the speed it rose this time was far more significant than those two events.” The River Mersey’s water levels near Didsbury leapt some four metres after torrential rainfall between 31 December and 1 January Four hours after fireworks had been let off in St Peter’s Square to celebrate the new year Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig was still awake taking updates on what was by then a major incident Hundreds were being evacuated from a refugee hotel electricity was cut off to hundreds of homes and Didsbury Mosque had become a place of refuge for those fleeing the water The flooding posed questions about how prepared Greater Manchester was to deal with the consequences of the climate emergency It also made us wonder: what changes could be made to the city region in the future to become more resilient to these events The Greater Manchester response to a flood doesn’t begin here at all it starts in the Met Office’s forecasting office in Exeter where the Environment Agency – a national body that does what it says on the tin – has desks alongside the Met office tracking weather forecasts They produce daily flood guidance statements sent to local authorities and emergency services and when the likelihood of flooding escalates evaluating the severity of the incident and directing the response with partners like councils fire services and local Environment Agency staff this is something we’re actually quite good at as a country in terms of flood response,” says David Throup flood expert and former area manager for the environment agency in Herefordshire Each individual agency has its own responsibilities fire and rescue teams respond to emergency incidents councils communicate updates to their residents and the Environment Agency monitor the flooding sending out alerts and operating sluice gates that redirect water into basins There is one such basin in Didsbury with the volumetric capacity of 310 Olympic swimming pools Other flood defences in the city region include a storage basin in Salford that has the capacity of 250 Olympic swimming pools There are new flood defences — including a new basin and raised walls — planned in Rochdale and Littleborough although construction won’t start until 2027 Most of those schemes were put in motion by devastating floods across the city region in 2015 But even with our history of serious flooding last week’s incident was so rapid that agencies were caught by surprise Streets in Didsbury that run beside the river — like Morningside Drive and Merston Drive — hadn’t had flood alerts Residents continue to question how late the sluice gates that redirect the water into the flood basin by Fletcher Moss park were opened compared to 2021 — when gullies (the passageways attached to drains) were cleared and houses knocked on by agency workers throughout the night — there seemed to be a lack of knowledge about the situation as it emerged It was frustrating: “There was “a general sense of: ‘what is going on? Where are the alerts?’” explains Simcock, who was left to message updates to residents in a Whatsapp group chat. Following complaints from residents, the Environment Agency insisted they did their job, but the MEN reported that they missed some areas that were later flooded Wigan and Tameside (where local councillor Steven Barton tells me he was clearing drains by hand) Over 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes by fire and rescue services “We were all taken by surprise by some degree,” said Andy Burnham There was not a particular warning the authorities gave," he said but I wasn’t surprised,” says Stephen O’Malley has been growing steadily over time.” O’Malley’s firm has been pushing for sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) and has recently authored a design guide for Transport for Greater Manchester on the topic The changes O’Malley suggests aren’t exactly revolutionary: more permeable surfaces But they could aid Greater Manchester’s mostly Victorian drainage system which was never designed to handle the amount of water that now falls on the city region (this is the case for most of the UK) These incremental changes seem especially important since rebuilding the sewer system As prohibitive as a redesign of the sewer network would be the end point of what O’Malley and others envision is also tedious The Civic Engineers co-founder talks about “pivoting away from the sort of space-hungry geometry that’s needed for private car access in particular and that allows us to place nature-based solutions in an interconnected concrete and urban design which prioritises cars and more green walkable space that absorbs and drains water Making these changes could prove challenging in urban densely-populated areas that are tightly stitched patchworks of land and buildings owned by various people who would all have to agree — and likely be paid — to “It’s mind-numblingly complex,” says Throup But while it would undoubtedly be complicated we already know such changes can be carried out There are already examples of this: like Stretford Town Centre where a redesign has seen one carriageway’s width halved and segregated cycle lanes installed “It’s that sort of thing that brings that climatic resilience that helps deal with the threat of what Manchester has experienced over the last few days,” says O’Malley The city region isn’t ignorant of these solutions the GMCA approved an ‘Integrated Water Management Plan’ under which the combined authority worked with United Utilities and the Environment agency to prepare the region for a changing climate that will bring more rainfall of the £1bn the company has promised to invest in reducing flood risk and improving water quality before 2030 it has co-funded projects across the city region introducing rain gardens and permeable surfaces This strategy of changing the way we use land in the city region is echoed by Paul O’Hare a senior lecturer in geography and development at Manchester Metropolitan University Climate change is one part of it but it intersects with lots of other dimensions of urban development,” he says he’s specifically talking about avoiding building on areas immediately surrounding rivers and setting aside more space for parks and green space to soak up water But there is also an argument for scrutinising what is already built a converted cotton mill that had its ground floor and carpark flooded Like many other mills in the city region that have been converted to residential it lies on the banks of a river — in this case the River Tame — a practical decision when it was built in terms of powering the mill and transporting materials The number of mills in Manchester redeveloped into residential properties is of particular importance because when developers or owners file for the “change of use” of the property they sometimes get planning without being as heavily scrutinised on flood risk According to Argemiro Rivera — whose company consults developers and planners on flood risk and drainage — “the planning is a bit open on that front If new developments are going to be built in a flood zone they should be done in a way that puts the river at the centre A good example is the Mayfield neighbourhood where Mayfield Park acts as public amenity and flood defence “The entire footprint of Mayfield regeneration neighbourhood is predicated on the basis that all the water lands on the surface” and then works its way back and sustainable draining as a flood defence works because “in water terms Chester-based tapas bar Porta has opened its latest branch in the former premises of TV chef Simon Rimmer’s well-known West Didsbury venue Greens the veteran vegetarian restaurant which closed down earlier this year with debts of about £600,000 Porta also has branches in Altrincham and Salford and wins praise in the 2024 Harden’s guide for its “authentic” food and atmosphere – “you feel like you’re in Madrid or Barcelona” Greens opened on Lapwing Lane in 1990 and was a “longstanding favourite – still great after all these years” Simon closed it in January to concentrate on its newer but that too closed down in September when the company went into administration A report to the administrators this month by company restructuring specialists Begbies Traynor noted that the West Didsbury site had traded well and been profitable – but “sales projections for Greens Sale were over-ambitious and it took too long to adjust cost base to actual turnover Opening at the start of the financial crisis cost of living spike and increased mortgage interest rates were contributing factors.“ The company’s debts include an estimated £458,873 in unpaid VAT and PAYE Royal Bank of Scotland is also owed £13,164 while trade creditors are owed an estimated £75,000 Consumer creditors who paid for restaurant vouchers and gift cards are owed around £35,790 Already Registered? Login NEWSPyramid restaurant drawing crowds to Stockport NEWSLast orders at Lyle's as James Lowe calls time NEWSHARDEN'S INSIDER: the future of 'fair' coffee Licensed Insolvency Practitioners With National Coverage Rob has over a decade of experience in web and general marketing He has extensive knowledge of the Insolvency sector and has helped many worried directors with their questions Rob is now working with the Board at RMT KSA to develop strategic marketing programmes to support the business plan and drive more company rescues Gareth Howarth of Path Business Recovery Ltd has been appointed to wind up the Manchester based gin brand’s business This voluntary winding up came from the companies annual general meeting in December 2024 where it was agreed the best action forward including a Bounce Back Loan owed to Natwest Didsbury were first introduced to the market in 2017 and appeared on Dragons Den who took a third of the business in 2018 and invested £75,000 It earnt a bronze prize for the World’s Best Classic Gin at the World Gin Awards of 2022 Liam Manton and Mark Smallwood were also recognised in 2023 with the Medal of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours List for ‘Services to the community during Covid-19’ where they instantly took action and swapped production over to hand sanitiser We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Other cookies are those that are being identified and have not been classified into any category as yet Buttress Architects designed Southway's development Southway Housing Trust’s 78-home development off Princess Parkway also features a 13,000 sq ft medical centre Bridgestone Construction has started work to deliver the £20m Two Didsbury Point which will provide 46 shared ownership homes and another 30 for social rent The one and two-bedroom homes will be delivered across two connected eight- and five-storey blocks The development also features an outdoor communal terrace will be delivered in partnership with Citybranch Healthcare said: “Two Didsbury Point is an important project for us as it demonstrates our commitment to providing homes that people can afford “Didsbury is one of the highest value areas in the city and we are delighted to be able to provide affordable homes in this neighbourhood.” assistant director of development at Southway Housing said delivering discounted homes in Didsbury is a challenge which is so close to amenities and schools it’s simply hard to achieve a project that is 100% affordable we’ve been able to deliver on this brownfield site with not only new homes Southway has secured grants totalling more than £6m for the scheme including funding from the GMCA’s Brownfield Housing Fund Buttress Architects is leading on design and Euan Kellie Property Solutions advised on planning The project team also includes Civic Engineers Southway & Buttress will be rightly proud of this This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page DIDSBURY - Town of Didsbury officials will be seeking legal advice regarding the contract signed by the municipality and Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) more than a decade ago for the sale of the former high school land Council carried a motion regarding the matter at a recent the 3.17-acre property is the site of the former Didsbury High School It is currently owned by the Town of Didsbury 2020 council moved that the land be listed for sale “with a requirement for timely development and consideration of the vision of the development proposal The matter came up again during the March 26 council meeting Dorothy Moore said it is important that the municipality determine whether there is debris buried on the property before moving ahead with any sale “I’m not comfortable with selling something when we don’t know that’s the worst thing you can do in a sale agreement is say ‘we don’t know’,” said Moore “So I would not want to see us go ahead with anything that resembles a sale until we know what we are selling.” Council carried a motion reading: “That council authorize administration to seek legal advice regarding the land sale document” agreement of the property from Chinook’s Edge to the Town of Didsbury administration has been tasked with determining if the school division may be responsible for the clean up of any debris left buried on the site council carried a second motion that states: “Council approve the spending of up to $10,000 for the appropriate land studies required on 2234 - 22nd Street to be funded from the strategics initiative reserve.” Council deferred a proposed motion calling on the town to “engage with Chinook’s Edge School Division regarding possible opportunities to engage and discuss the future of the land located at 2234 - 22 Street commonly referred to as the old high school lands.” a proponent of keeping the property as a public park made a presentation to council following public consultation through social media is council’s decision to leave the former high school land letting it become a truly special public space a place people go to for that feeling of connection with their neighbours and the opportunities for adding to our community’s spirit,” Windsor said council also carried a motion to “list the sale of municipal land at 100 Shantz Drive in accordance with the sale Another motion carried called on administration to publish a request for proposal for the retention of a real estate agent to list the following properties for sale: 100 Shantz Drive 2109 - 19th Avenue (old fire hall parking lot)