?? A 'beating heart' at risk

Hello

In a city where community social spaces are becoming increasingly few and far between, the Carlton Club has long stood as a beacon of hope.

The social club, in Whalley Range, is a south Manchester institution that hosts an eclectic range of events including live music, poetry nights, car boot sales and film screenings.

It's been described as the ‘beating heart’ of the area. But it could soon be lost forever.?The venue currently lies in a limbo state where its future remains unclear.

The club, which operates as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC), was issued with a notice in August that the landlord, owned by a separate entity called Carlton Social and Bowling Club Building Company, wanted to occupy the building ‘as a business’ as early as September.

The news was met with a fierce response from the local community, with petitions, fundraisers and the backing from celebrities like Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies. More than ￡30,000 has been raised to 'save' the Carlton Club, while over 7,200 people have signed the petition to date.

Last month, the club was given a six-week extension on its eviction, which gives those behind the club a chance to focus on organising fresh negotiations over lease terms and other outstanding issues. The extension will end on November 3.

Adam Maidment recently paid a visit to the Carlton Club and spoke to some of those who rely upon it.

Long-standing member Frances Jackson attends a weekly over-50s Zumba class there and believes it, along with other aspects of the club, are vital to the community - not just for physical health but to keep minds active too.

“It’s just a lifeline, it keeps us all going,” Frances explained. “Health wise and socially too, we’d all fall apart without it. There are lots of quiz nights, choirs, and evening sessions that take place here. There is a real mix.”

Worst kept secret

It was the news that many in Prestwich have known unofficially for months. Rumours that popular bakery GAIL’s was coming to town have circulated online since August.

Now, the news has officially been confirmed to the M.E.N, after people wearing GAIL’s-branded high-vis jackets were spotted outside a building in Bury New Road this week.

A representative for GAIL’s, which is known for its selection of fresh, handmade bread, pastries, sandwiches and cakes, today confirmed that the famed bakery is coming to Prestwich - with the site ‘set to open at some point in the new year’. Adam Maidment has more.

Teepeed off

Fed up residents living close to an award-winning pub say its large outdoor 'teepee' has turned their lives into a 'nightmare'. The Eagle and Child, in Ramsbottom, erected the structure in its beer garden during the pandemic.

The teepee seats up to 72 people and is used to host events including weddings, christenings and birthday parties. However, the pub, which was crowned UK ‘Pub of the Year’ in 2017, has been ordered to remove the teepee and an outdoor bar following complaints from neighbours.

Aimee, who lives near the pub, claims the 'constant noise' made by people attending events at the teepee was 'like having a festival outside the house'. Read the full story here.

Monster invasion

Looming menacingly over buildings across the city centre, they’ve become a regular sight at this time of year. Once again, Manchester has been invaded by a collection of inflatable monsters at Halloween.

Taking over the rooftops of some of the city’s most well-known buildings and landmarks, 16 giant monsters have taken residence at venues including The Arndale, the AO Arena and Mayfield Park.

The spooktacular installations are part of Halloween in the City, organised by Manchester BID and CityCo. They've gone to town with this year's ghoulish ensemble, as What’s On Editor Jenna Campbell reports.

Band’s gift to club

The Courteeners have pledged their support to help save Salford Lads and Girls Club from closure. A fundraising campaign to save the iconic club has been backed by famous faces including The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess, former Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook and former Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley.

Since the M.E.N’s fundraiser began last week, more than ￡143,000 has been raised out of the ￡250,000 total. Yesterday, The Courteeners added to the cause with a ￡5,000 donation.

The band hail from Middleton, but have a connection to Salford with frontman Liam Fray having studied creative writing at the University of Salford. Read more here.

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Weather etc

Saturday:?Clear changing to partly cloudy by early evening. Highs of 15C.

Trams: Buses to run instead of trams between Piccadilly and Cornbrook, and between Victoria and Chorlton, on Sunday due to engineering works.

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Manchester headlines

• Gang jailed: An international organised crime gang which orchestrated a ￡3 million ‘chop shop’ has been smashed. The brazen Oldham-based based gang were linked to almost 100 stolen cars, which had been taken from across Greater Manchester or further afield. Read more.
• Tributes: Thousands of pounds have been raised for the family of a paddleboarder whose body was recovered from Dovestone Reservoir. Tributes are being paid to Simon Daniels, who got into difficulty in the Oldham reservoir on Sunday. Read more.
• Paedophile jailed: A man has been jailed after he used social media to prey on young girls for sex. Thomas Hall, from Salford, exploited his victims 'purely to satisfy his own twisted sexual desires' and even offered some of them money to find him someone younger, police said. Full story here.

Worth a read

It was tastefully adorned with inverted crucifixes and decorative severed heads. The former Hellfire Club in north Manchester well and truly brought terror to a generation of clubbers.

Now the building, which had been abandoned for a number of years, could soon be given a new lease of life.? Lee Grimsditch takes a look back at one of the more unusual relics of the city’s nightlife scene.

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