Bars & Pubs

Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 September
www.heritageopendays.org.uk – fully events listing and details

Later this week properties across England will throw open their doors for free as part of the country’s annual celebration of local architecture, history and culture.

Supported nationally by English Heritage and run locally by an army of volunteers and community champions, Heritage Open Days takes place on people doorstops and is the country’s leading grassroots cultural event.

One million people are expected to take advantage of the four day event, exploring more than 4,000 properties of every style, period and function, many of which are normally closed to the public or usually charge an admission fee.

Participating properties in North West England include:

Barrow – Dalton Castle (Dalton-in-Furness)
Birkenhead – Birkenhead Park, Birkenhead Priory, Lady Lever Art Gallery
Blackpool – Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens
Bolton – Bolton Steam Museum
Burnley – Gawthorpe Hall (Padiham), Queen Street Mill Textile Museum
Bury – Fusilier Museum, East Lancashire Railway, Peel Tower
Carlisle – High Head Sculpture Valley
Chester – Chester Racecourse, Grosvenor Museum, Little Moreton Hall (Congleton)
Kendal – Abbott Hall Art Gallery, Museum of Lakeland Life, Sizergh Castle
Lake District – Beatix Potter Gallery (Hawkshead), Blackwell (Windermere),
Liverpool – St George’s Hall, Cunard Building, Liver Building,
Macclesfield – Quarry Bank Mill
Manchester – Victoria Baths
Morecambe – Morecambe Town Hall
Oldham – Saddleworth Museum
Penrith – Acorn Bank
Preston – Samlesbury Hall
Rochdale – Healey Dell, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Touchstones,
St Helens – World of Glass
Stockport – Hat Works, Staircase House, Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall
Warrington – Norton Priory (Runcorn)
Wigan – Museum of Wigan Life, Trencherfield Mill Engine

JD Wetherspoon has opened a new £1 million pub in Blackpool town centre.

The Albert and The Lion is situated on Bank Hey Street, just north of Blackpool Tower and the Houndshill Shopping Centre. The building was formerly a Pricebusters store.

The British pub chain is known for its low prices, long opening hours, no music policy, and real ale. JD Wetherspoon has also recently introduced free high speed wireless internet access in its pubs.

Great Northern, Manchester M3 4EN, Friday September 11, from 6 pm

Smirnoff have invited Visit North West readers to the UK launch of Smirnoff Lime and Smirnoff Green Apple. The two new flavours debut nationally on September 11 and to celebrate they’re unveiling ice sculptures of symbolic local landmarks filled with limes and apples around the UK.

Manchester is one of five cities simultaneously showcasing ice sculptures of symbolic local landmarks. The Great Northern will provide a stunning location for Manchester’s installation featuring an ice sculpture iconic landmark the Urbis, measuring 8 metres long by 2 metres high.

A historic hotel and pub in the centre of Clitheroe was severely damaged in a fire last night.

Around 200 people were thought to have been inside the Swan & Royal on Castle Street when the blaze started.

Firefighters took over 2 hours to bring the fire under control. Several people were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation and shock.

It was the second major fire in Clitheroe this weekend. On Friday a fire broke out in a furniture restoration workshop on Duck Street.

An upmarket bar and restaurant in Alderley Edge will reopen later this year, 13 months after being destroyed in a fire.

Panacea on Wilmslow Road burned to the ground in September 2008, just days after opening.

Rebuilding work is due for completion by the end of September and opening scheduled for mid-October. Panacea is currently recruiting reception, kitchen, restaurant, and bar staff.

25 Sept 2009 – 1 Jan 2010
www.thewarehouseproject.com
Beneath Piccadilly Train Station
Store Street
Manchester M1 2GH

The Warehouse Project returns for another 14 week barnstorming run beneath Piccadilly Train station as 2009 sees it begin its third year at the now (in)famous Store Street location. This year will see a plethora of the worlds leading players on the electronic music scene. The programme features what we feel are the best elements of what has gone before, and of course a barrage of new shows and warehouse debuts. Once again it has been tirelessly pieced together and as usual there are some very special announcements still to come.

Having garnered many accolades including Mixmag (2007) and DJ (2008) club of the year, the Warehouse Project is a story that continues to evolve quite naturally…but one thing’s for sure, its going to be another crazy three months in Manchester, with over 60,000 people flocking from around the country to attend these parties.

“We’re really excited to be back at Store Street again”, says Sam Kandel. “The line-up for this year has been pieced together over the last seven months…Since pretty much the day after the doors closed on the last series! We’re really pleased with how its looking as the programme brings together the best bits from the last three years of events and a barrage of artists that have never played the warehouse before. We’ve still got a couple of big announcements to come, and we’ll be making some pretty cool changes to the venue once again. Everyone seems really excited again and we know now that it will be here in a flash and then gone before we know it. We’ve had an unbelievable response since we went on sale last week – perhaps with all the doom and gloom in the world right now this is just what the doctor ordered?”

If you are a Warehouse Project novice you will be advised to book tickets well in advance as WHP veterans will already be messaging friends and booking up events. Nearly all of 2008’s events were completely sold out by show day, some 3 months ahead.

Featuring a staggering 31 parties over 14 weeks the Warehouse Project is a veritable Dante’s Inferno of twisted disco, demonic drum n bass, tribal techno, cultured minimalism, heroic hip-hop, energised electro, underground indie, bass infused dub step and of course, heart-stopping house music all night long!

The carefully programmed nights bring together the best artists from all genres under one hedonistic roof! With WHP favourites such as Erol Alkan (16th Oct.), Luciano (4th Dec.), Richie Hawtin (17th Oct.), Sasha & Digweed (18th Dec.), Annie Mac (28th Oct.), Chibuku Shake Shake (30th Oct.), Cocoon (20th Nov.), Aphex Twin (2nd Oct.), Ape (10th Oct.) and Metropolis (6th Nov.) making welcome returns we also see plenty of debuts this season as artists such as Fat Boy Slim (27th Nov.), Friendly Fires (17th Nov.), La Roux (21st Nov.), Jack Penate (23rd Oct.) and Little Boots (29th Nov.) headline and curate new WHP shows.

Over the course of the new 14 week run you could find yourself rrrrrewinding with Goldie, being electrified by Tiga, pumping to Eric Prydz, breaking with Crookers, mashing with Modeselektor, going Loco with Mr. Dice, Rinsin’ with Roni Size, shakin to Deadmau5, moving to minus or housing it all night long with Steve Angelo.

With more acts and shows still to be announced we think this is another roof raising run…the only question is…which ones do you go to?

Ticket details:
www.thewarehouseproject.com
Ticketline: 0161 832 1111 / www.ticketline.co.uk
Info: 0161 835 3500

Rochdale’s Kandy Klub will reopen next month after winning back its licence.

Last month the town’s main nightclub was ordered to close temporarily by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police. The move led to protests in Rochdale town centre by staff and customers.

The licensing committee concluded a 2-day hearing yesterday and decided that the club can reopen on August 14 providing certain conditions are met by the club. These include installing CCTV cameras other measures to reduce the risk of disorder.

Rochdale’s only nightclub has been stripped of its licence by the authorities.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and Greater Manchester Police have ordered the Kandy Club to close temporarily following a fight outside the premises.

An emergency licensing hearing was held on last Friday because police feared violence could take place over the weekend. Councillors decided to suspend the club’s licence with immediate effect until a full hearing can take place.

The 1000-capacity Kandy Klub is situated on Drake Street and is owned by local businessman Dave Sinclair. He also runs Twist, Kobana, Ko-Ko Lounge, Carousel, Bar Vegas, and Uncle Sam’s.

The best businesses in Liverpool region’s £1.3bn a year visitor economy were honoured at The Mersey Partnership’s Annual Tourism Awards last night.

More than 520 guests joined the celebrations to recognise and reward the best of the best during a black tie dinner at the BT Convention Centre on the city’s UNESCO world heritage waterfront.

The Awards were organised by The Mersey Partnership (TMP) as the region’s official tourist boaard and this year’s event attracted record entries.

Eleven of tonight’s winners now go forward to represent the destination in North West regional awards and the chance to compete for national honours.

The annual event, organised by TMP and sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Merseytravel, Liverpool ONE, ACC Liverpool and BBC Radio Merseyside, celebrates quality and excellence in a sector now supporting 23,000 jobs across the City Region. BBC TV presenter Ranvir Singh hosted the ceremony.

The winners were:

• The Mersey Partnership Special Award – Liverpool City Council for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008
• Guest Accommodation of the Year – The Ambassador Town House, Southport – Highly Commended: Mere Brook House
• Self Catering Accommodation of the Year – Premier Apartments Liverpool
• Hotel of the Year – Malmaison Liverpool – Highly Commended: Crowne Plaza Liverpool
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year -Acorn Farm Knowlsey – Highly Commended: Mersey Tunnel Tours
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Liverpool Cathedral
• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn
• Excellence in Business Tourism – BT Convention Centre Liverpool
• Taste Liverpool – Delifonseca Liverpool
• Tourism Experience of the Year – National Museums Liverpool for Art in the Age of Steam – Highly Commended: Liverpool Biennial
• Tourism Event of the Year – Creamfields Halton
• Student in Hospitality & Tourism – Stephanie Arnold, St. Helens College
• Performance Venue of the Year – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• Bar of the Year – Alma De Cuba Liverpool
• Tourism Marketing Project of the Year – National Museums Liverpool for Art in the Age of Steam
• Tourism Retailer of the Year – The Beatles Story Liverpool – Highly Commended: Lady Lever Art Gallery Shop
• Sustainable Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool

Three pubs in North West England have been ranked amongst the best in the UK.

The White Lion (Barthomley, near Crewe, Cheshire), The Taps (Lytham, Lancashire), and Ring O’Bells (Christleton, Cheshire) were named in a list of the top 20 pubs in the country by the Morning Advertiser, a respected magazine for the pub trade.