The UK’s first Islamic pub has opened in Oldham. Local businessmen Azizur Rahman and Muzahid Khan have transformed the old Westwood Inn into the Halal Inn.
It houses all the traditional elements of a British pub, such as snooker tables and a darts board, but offers only soft drinks at the bar. Other features include prayer, study, and steam rooms.
The Lowry Hotel hosted the Northern Hospitality Awards 2008 last week. The winners included:
Best Restaurant - The London Carriage Works, Hope Street Hotel, Liverpool
Best Hotel – The Lowry, Manchester
Best Bar – Barlounge, Chester
Best Chef – Lisa Allen, Northcote Manor, Ribble Valley
Best Wine Offering, Northcote Manor, Ribble Valley
Mitchell’s have announced that the Water Witch pub in Lancaster will reopen next month following an extensive refurbishment.
Lancaster’s John O’Gaunt pub has reopened this week with a new manager. New boss Gary Wood has promised to keep the doors open and restore the pub to its former glory.
Over the last few months the famous jazz venue was repeatedly closed and reopened by its former landlord.
Following months of delay Carlisle’s Botchergate will at last be closed to traffic on weekend nights. A traffic ban on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings between 9 pm and 5 am, will start today and run for a trial period of 18 months. The move, proposed by the police, is intended to cut the number of accidents involving revellers attracted to the street’s numerous bars and clubs.
Lancaster’s John O’Gaunt pub is to reopen this weekend after mysteriously shutting its doors last week. The closure of town centre pub, famous for its live music, is rumoured to be related to a tenancy dispute.
Plans for a 34-storey skyscraper on Liverpool’s waterfront have been approved by Liverpool City Council. The controversial building will be situated on Princes Dock, close to the new Malmaison Hotel. The first 12 floors will be home to a 129-bedroom hotel with a 10th floor bar, while the remainder of the building will house apartments and retail/office space.
Liverpool’s four-day beer festival starts today at the Metropolitan Cathedral’s crypt. All 5,000 tickets for the event, regarded as one of the best in the country, have already sold out. However, those without tickets can visit one of many local pubs holding their own mini-festivals. These include the Augustus John and the Ship and Mitre.
Blackpool’s infamous Tower Lounge will be holding a pole dancing competition on Saturday. The winners of the unisex Strictly Pole Dancing competition receive a Club 18-30 Holiday for two.