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FREEIssue 17 September 2010

We now also cover Residential

Sales, 1%commission,

no sale, no fee!

So how was your summer? Fun-filled and action-packed I hope but if itwas anything like mine, I spent a few glorious weeks in a sun-inducedglow only to have it well and truly dampened in July and August. Butthat’s what makes us Mancunians hardened to those westerly winds hey!

It’s September already, which means three things happen. Firstly, we startmoaning about how fast the year has gone (but it really has!) and thatChristmas is a mere 12 weeks or so away, the TV is dominated by thereturn of the football and we dust off the thicker coats and get ready forthose autumnal colours to start appearing.

From September we start seeing lots of events based around food andmusic - let’s face it, we can hardly sit outside in Piccadilly Gardens with abrolly! Make sure you use www.largemanchester.com as your dailybible in ensuring you get the best out of living in Manchester. It’s allthere, in one place - top tips on where to socialise, shop, eat out and just get the best out of what the city has to offer.

We also put online a few articles that we can’t squeeze in to themagazine so keep checking back!

Sending large love.

Hello one and all,

Issue 17 September 2010

Editor: Kelly ByrneContributors: Francesca Raphael, Natalie Shaw, Rose Orlik, Jonno HopkinsSnail mail: Large Manchester, 60 Port Street, Manchester M1 2EQWebsite: www.largemanchester.comEmail: editor@largemanchester.com, advertising@largemanchester.comMain Office: 0161 235 7270Advertising: Contact Claire or Francesca on 0161 235 7270Editor: Contact Kelly on 0161 235 7278

Disclaimer: ©2010. Large Manchester is published by Large Publishing Ltd. Large Manchester retains copyright. All rights recognised. We cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited text, photographs or illustrations. Viewsexpressed by individual contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher.

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Once named Britain’s worst trainstation, Victoria Station is toreceive a big cash injection tohelp with much needed repairs.These include replacing theleaking roof that was damagedafter the IRA bomb, meaning nomore nearly breaking your neckdodging puddles!

The train station is set to be much more welcoming and brightand Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, says that the restoration “will contribute greatly to thecontinued regeneration of thisarea of the city.”

Expect a complete re-vampby 2014. L

Victoria Station Gets aCash Injection

Great NeighbourhoodAward for the NQ?The Northern Quarter has beenshortlisted by the Academyof Urbanism for a GreatNeighbourhood Award.

A group of academics came fora visit in August to have a scoutround and see what the NQ’s

made of. We’re up against theCathedral Quarter in Belfastand Pollockshields in Glasgow –fingers crossed the city gets itsnext great accolade.

For more information visitwww.academyofurbanism.org.uk L

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Large has partnered with Hard Rock Cafe in The Printworks to

give away 2 VIP tickets for its 10th Birthday celebrations on 23rd

September. Hard Rock Cafe has been rockin’ Manchester for the last

ten years and to celebrate they are holding a ‘Thank You Manchester’

party with BJÖRN AGAIN. The lucky winners will be treated to

complimentary food and drink all evening and then will be part of

the crowd for this intimate performance from the internationally

acclaimed BJÖRN AGAIN.

To be in with a chance of winning these exclusive tickets just email

editor@largemanchester.com

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Fashionistas shed a tear for afellow bang-on-trend friendSarah, who has taken thevery brave step of banningherself from buying any clothesfor the next year – that’s awhole 365 days!!

She’s turned her back on the highstreet for an investigation intoconsumerism and its effects and isgoing cold turkey. In her ownwords, she’s “frocking off thehigh street and learning to makedo and mend.” Not one singleitem of clothing, accessory orshoe will grace her debit card orbe exchanged for a crisp £20 notefor the next 12 months.

Inspired by reading a story abouta girl in New York who wore thesame dress everyday for a yearand accessorised it a milliondifferent ways, Sarah wanted to

try and see if it was possible tonot buy anything for a year.

Sarah told us “So far it’s beenpretty tough and its made methink how we live and how needywe are for new stuff all the timewhen more often than not there’ssomething perfectly adequate inour wardrobe already.”

Her blog documents her arduousjourney and she’s appealing forfriends to try and make thejourney more bearable – I’mcrying for you dearl!

hangerstrikediary.blogspot.com L

The Hanger Strike Diaries

It’s been pretty tough and itsmade me think how we liveand how needy we are fornew stuff all the time whenmore often than not there’s

something perfectly adequatein our wardrobe already.

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The Cocoa Emporium

Castlefield HotelThe Castlefield Hotel residing inCastlefield Basin on LiverpoolRoad has launched a new foodmenu, promising to tantalisethe taste buds of hotel guestsand local residents alike.

It’s the perfect place for animpromptu dinner out with arounded, well produced menu atastonishingly low prices.

Starters begin at £3.50 for soupof the day and the most expensivemain dish is the belly busting 8ozrib eye steak at only £14.95.They do a delicious seasonal dailyspecials board with a catch of theday for fish lovers.

You foodies less interested in costwon’t be disappointed either withthis simple but well executedmenu which covers a myriad ofEuropean food with dishes suchas Butternut Squash & Feta

Cheese Lasagne and DevilledLambs Kidneys, with classics suchas Pan Seared Lamb Rump thrownin for good measure.

The Castlefield Hotel also boastsan equally appealing lounge areaperfect for watching the footballwith all the major games played.

Boys you can take all your palsand let the girls chew the fat overdinner while you have a few pintsand watch the footie. Just in timefor the start of the season.Perfect.

The hotel also offers privatedining so is a great place forupcoming events such asbirthdays and engagement partiesand with 48 ensuite roomsthere’s plenty of room for out oftown guests.

Liverpool Road, M3 4JRwww.castlefield-hotel.co.uk L

Chocolate and cakes; the merethought piles on the pounds butwhen they are this good, you justcan’t refuse!

The Cocoa Emporium in Affleck’sPalace is a small company thatsupplies a wide range of cakes andchocolates including vegan andgluten free varieties that are madefresh every day and can be providedfor any event – weddings, birthdays,leaving parties etc.

The Cocoa Emporium is the vision of owners and chocolateenthusiasts Lisa Goddard andHelen Woodawiss, and whatstarted as a passion for greatchocolate and fine food swiftlyturned into a desire to share afantastic taste experience.

Helen’s aim is to provide handmadechocolates and cakes using thefinest ingredients. For chocolates,Valrhona Couverture has beensourced, which is made from the finest cocoa beans to createchocolate recipes that really have to be tried to be believed.

When it comes to cakes, the team are always experimenting with new flavours every day, trying out less traditional cupcake recipes to see how popular they are.

The Cocoa Emporium is now openas a vintage cafe, serving a variety of teas, coffees, hot chocolates and milkshakes to have in or to take away. They are encouragingManchester workers that bringpacked lunches to work and don’twant to eat in the sterile confines ofthe office, to come along to the cafeand have a cup of tea or coffee andperhaps a cake with their packedlunch. They don’t serve sandwichesbut they do provide a lovelyenvironment to relax in.

Orders can be taken in-store or online. They also offer free delivery within a ten mileradius of the city centre fororders over £25.00.

www.thecocoaemporium.co.uk L

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For those of you who enjoy acheeky cocktail after work orare keen to impress at dinnerparties, the cocktail school atObsidian is for you.

Award winning bartender Tom willexplain the mixology required forfour classic cocktails with which youcan then impress your nearest anddearest. You’re also guaranteed agiggle as the one hour class is a lotof fun.

The ideal birthday or Christmas giftfor friends and family, at just £30,not only does Tom share the secretsthat earned him the Bartender ofthe Year award in 2009 but youalso get to try out your skills behindObsidians impressive bar, then stayto drink your drinks in its opulentsurroundings.

Own a business? This could bethe one teambuilding event none ofthe team moans about.

Whilst there you may as wellsample Obsidians latest cocktailmenu, set to be the basis for manyboozy Mancunian evenings. Wellwhen in Rome and all of that...

24 Princess StreetM1 4LY0161 238 4348www.obsidianmanchester.co.uk L

ObsidianCocktail School

Sign up today to get your 1st event FREE

New to the City? Fancy a girly night out? Or looking for a more natural kind of networking?

The Contemporary ClubFor Fabulous Females!

Register at www.thirstythursday.co.uk and get entrance into your first Social totally free. Come and see what you’ve been missing!

Our September event is on Thursday 30th Septemberat the newly refurbished Debenhams at top of Market Street.

In true Thirsty Thursday style there will be fabulous drinks and nibbles,goody bags and lots of pampering on offer as well as our usual informal networking.

Follow us on twitter @thirstythursman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thirstythursdaymanchester

Sponsored by

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The familiar woes of worncommon areas of your building,dirty foyers and the dodgywiring in the hall that’s remaineduntouched since The Falklandsconflict, despite numerous callsto your managing agent oronsite caretaker, will be of nosurprise to many of you.

urbanbubble, Manchester’s finestproperty management companyexplains to Large how to turn itaround...

Owning a property in a shared building can feelcomplicated and confusing. What’s the difference betweena Managing Agent and aManagement Company andwhat impact does that have on me as the owner?

An apartment block is a limitedcompany. The board of thatcompany can only be made up by

you and the other owners ofproperties within that building andevery owner is a shareholder.

You can submit an application tobecome a board member and havea say in who your ManagementAgency is and ensure you’rereceiving a quality service at a fair price.

How easy is it to changeManaging Agents? Whatshould I expect a ManagingAgent to do?

Most Managing Agents areselected by the builder/developerand often they will either appointthemselves or a Managing Agentas directors until all the propertiesare sold. Typically one letter fromthe board of the ManagementCompany will cancel theManaging Agent.

All Managing Agents workdifferently, however, urbanbubble’s

urbanbubble approach is unique and unrivalled.We create an Initial PropertyImprovement Plan which sets outimmediate concerns to be tackledwithin the first 3 months. Quarterlymanagement reports are given tothe board which will flag anyadditional faults. We also providethe board with a quarterly financialsnapshot, identifying money spentagainst the forecast, thus avoidingany large levies later down the linefor work which hadn’t beenaccounted for.

How will you look to reduceservice charges?

There are some very convolutedsystems in place with excessivecharges but we seek to reducecosts in areas such as insurances,cleaning and maintenance costs.

We also provide energy efficiencysurveys for each property and ifavailable, will utilise carbon trustloans to implement energy savings.

What will urbanbubble providethat other Managing Agentsmay not?

We provide a premium servicewhilst still offering value for money,along with a promise that allexisting issues will be dealt withand new issues will be resolved in an appropriate timescale andwith feedback.

We also provide a unique member’s web-based communityportal which keeps you up to date with your building’s propertymanagement, maintenance and finance reports for yourapartment block.

If you own your own property and would like to speak tourbanbubble about changingManaging Agent, get in touch oninfo@urbanbubble.co.uk or 0161236 3344 and quote Large. Allgenuine enquries will go into a hatand one lucky Large reader willhave their service charge paid for 3 months. L

get social...www.largemanchester.com

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Large Socials

Large and Intafood, Manchester’spremier cookery school, havejoined forces to host a ThaiCooking course on Tuesday14th September, 6.30pm, atThe Royal Orchid restaurantin Manchester.

You will be taught all about thefresh ingredients, how to achievedifferent tastes then be put throughyour paces making a deliciousstarter and main meal. Once thecooking is over, all participants sitdown to eat the food they’ve made.

It costs £35 per person and thisincludes all ingredients and a softdrink. Plus you get an informationpack about Thai cuisine and recipesto try at home, a £10 vouchertowards another course and you’llalso receive a voucher to claim afree starter pack of authentic freshingredients (difficult to find in thesupermarkets) so you can startcooking at home. L

Email socials@largemanchester.com

Fancy learning a few tricksof the Thai cooking trade?

Those in the know know thatthe Large Pub Quiz is THE bestone in town!!

It’s £4 entry and that gets you aglass of wine on arrival, pie andpeas in the break and someamazing prizes to be won. Notforgetting the all important ‘PlayYour Cards Right’ in the break...what’s not to like?

Next dates for your diary:

September 22nd

October 27th

November 24th

Maximum team size of 7 andmake sure you reserve as it’susually a full house. L

Email socials@largemanchester.com

Pub Quiz

Forever Manchester and Largeare teaming up to bring youForever Manchester Large!

Taking place at The DucieBridge pub (Corporation Street,Manchester, M4 4DU), the eventfeatures some of the best locallyproduced music, comedy andpoetry. On the night, Aaron Pauland Modern Alarms will betreating us to a musical feast,Tim Bradbury will be giving ussomething to laugh about andwe’ve got a fab poetry acton also.

It’s free entry and the event startsat 7.30pm.

If you want to get on the guestlist for this tremendous event thenEmail socials@largemanchester.com

Forever Manchester & Large– Thursday 23rd September

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As part of Manchester’sPride celebrations, a newphotography exhibition willbe displayed at Selfridgesthroughout September.

‘Welcome to my World’ is basedaround 20 celebrities who havegay relatives or friends and each celebrity photograph isaccompanied by slogans such as“my brother/mother/friend is gay”.

Famous faces participating inthe exhibition include GrahamNorton, Sarah Cox, AnthonyCotton, Katherine Kelly, PatsyKensit and many others.

Welcome to My World

Coronation Street star Kym Marsh appears in the lineup and has been veryvocal about her excitement in taking part in the exhibition, “I was madeup to be picked as one of 20 famous faces with strong links to the gaycommunity. The pictures were all about playing up to gay stereotypes and mypicture portrays a very strong female image…I was delighted to get involved.”

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The picturesque Tatton Parkestate has been transformed tobecome the setting for ashowcase of new artworks atthe second Tatton Park Biennial.

Twenty one artists have beencommissioned to create workswith the theme of ‘FramingReality’ as a subject. The idea isthat the works will explore whatlinks people to place and visionsfor the future.

A snapshot of the commissionedworks include:

• A collapsing tree house installedin Tatton’s arboretum linked totraditional English landscapes

• The smallest cinema in theworld – a bespoke six-seatmobile cinema showing a filmshot at Tatton

• Two tonnes of ice from theArctic, which have been shippedand relocated to Tatton Park.The ice will be kept frozenthroughout the installationin an experiment aboutrenewable energy.

For more information visitwww.tattonparkbiennial.org L

Tatton ParkBiennial- until26th September

what to do?www.largemanchester.com

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Mums’ favourite JohnBarrowman is headliningSalford’s BBC Proms in the Parkon Saturday 11th September.

Well-known for his role as CaptainJack in Torchwood and Doctor Who,John started his career as a leadingman in West End musicals and hasappeared in Chicago, Phantom ofthe Opera and Miss Saigon.

Taking place at Buile Hill Park, Johnwill be joined by world class mezzosoprano Juliette Pochin and localboy, Salford opera sensation, Jon Christos.

Tickets are still available, log ontowww.visitsalford.info/proms formore information. Tickets priced at £20. L

Proms in the Park – 11th September

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24 hour party p

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Does your work Christmas party need livening up this year? Is it timeto host a proper Christmas party at home or the office instead oftrawling round packed bars losing half your guests along the way?

Fluids Christmas Party Guide

Fluid Bars have provided Largewith their top tips to add someadditional sparkle to yourfestivities this year...

• Bring the party to your home!We can provide a bespokecocktail party at home with arange of different drinkspackages to suit all budgets.

• How about a cocktail tastersession for a few hours to whetyour cocktail appetite before thefestive jollies really start?

• Hold a cocktail making teambuilding session in the comfort ofyour office or a selected venue(we can even help suggest somequality venues!)

• Hire our full bar service and bringthe full shebang to the officewith an all-out party. From 5-300people we can transform youroffice into the best party venue inthe city for a hassle free night.

• Why not have a party with a Tikitheme with matching bar serviceprovided by Fluid Bars. We knowour ingredients inside out so canwhip up some dreamy cocktails.

• If your company don’t quitemanage to squeeze in aChristmas party before the end of 2010, we’ll be here in 2011making sure you don’t miss out.

• Why not arrange for a flaringSanta to appear behind the barand spice things up a bit.

• Give a little and surprise someonespecial with gift vouchers for anevent from Fluid Bars. If you arethe one organising the party thengift vouchers make the perfectgift for staff to spend at the baron the night of the party.

If you’re interested in seeingwhat we can do then justpick up the phone andcall 0161 235 5224 or emailjames@fluidbars.co.uk L

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Large rating 8.5/10

Zinc Bar and GrillThe Triangle, Hanging Ditch, Manchester, M4 3TR

Where?Zinc has been a favourite after-work drinks destination but its food offering often getsoverlooked. After a few changesover the years, the place has finallyfound its groove when it comes to grub. Diners can opt for thetraditional restaurant or the morecasual bar area.

To Start WithThe menu is vast. Almost so vastthat you question how can theyspecialise in so many differenttypes of cuisine, but that’s whereskill in the kitchen is important.Zinc specialise in world classics andpride themselves on their dailychef’s specials.

The menu has a very stronginfluence of pan-Asian and afterprobing a little further, I was told

that this was due to changes intastes. As we’ve become morehealth conscious, Zinc felt theirmenu needed to fit with thishence the large selection ofhealthier and light dishes such asthe Thai Fish Soup offered as alunch special.

To start, we kept it simple withCrispy Duck Spring Rolls servedwith plum and pineapple dippingsauce (£6.50). Served elegantly,the rolls were stuffed full of duckso well worth the price given theamount of meat inside.

Moving onto MainsI tried the Malaysian SpicedChicken Breast, Sweet Potato withCoconut and Lime (£14.25) and aside portion of Pak Choi with chilliand garlic (£3.35). It was reallydelicious with a nice mix of spices

to boost the flavours and a creamypeanut sauce. The pak choi wasseasoned beautifully with garlicand chillies.

My guest also followed with theAsian theme choosing the ThaiGreen Chicken Curry (£14.25). A little different to usual Thai curry,this was quite dry in consistency,more of a stir-fry but moreish allthe same and with a powerfulspicy kick.

The menu covers pretty mucheverything; salads, grill selections,pasta and risottos and vegetariandishes including Butternut SquashTart (£12.50).

Room for anymore?Desserts really are a class act at Zinc. Favourites such as Sticky Toffee Pudding (£6.15) sitalongside Malteser Sorbet (£5.15)We decided to share the EtonMess Sundae (£6.15) – heavenlyand most definitely recommended!

The service at Zinc is exceptional.The only sticking point is the prices are on the high side forManchester restaurants. A mainmeal and a side will set you backaround £18 so it’s fairly pricey ifyou stack it up against a good Thairestaurant in town. Nonetheless,it’s a great place to go for anintimate meal or if you’re withfriends, sit in the bar area andsoak up the cocktail atmosphere.

www.zincbar.co.uk L

where to eat?www.largemanchester.com

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Large rating 6.5/10

Binary Bar5 Arundel Street, Castlefield, Manchester, M15 4JZ

Where?Castlefield – swamped in thesummer but aside from the majorplayers around the basin, the littlebars and restaurants on the fringesoften get overlooked. We headedto Binary Bar to try out their foodoffering. It’s a neighbourhood barwith a steady stream of locals,great offers and friendly staffwaiting to greet you.

To StartBinary bar is a bar-cum restaurantthat doesn’t really specialise inanything other than serving itspunters a wide variety of optionsfor breakfast, lunch, dinner andsupper. They even offer pizzas totake away, you just call them and

pick them up and at two for atenner, the residents of Castlefieldare quids-in.

We went at lunch time and theplace was quiet aside from a fewlocals dropping in. Not wanting toover-indulge in the middle of theday, myself and my guest justshared Nachos (£2.95) topped withmelted cheese and served withsour cream, guacamole and salsa.

A big portion and enough to share;it was a nice enough starter.

Moving onto MainsBinary Bar is never going to winany gourmet food prizes but that’snot what it’s about. The menu isfull of hearty favourites like Fish

and Chips (£6.95) and Sausageand Mash (£6.45). We went fortraditional Gammon, Egg andChips (£6.45) served with salad.Huge portions for a good price andperfectly reasonable taste-wise.

The pizzas are a real speciality atBinary Bar. I went for theGiardinera (£6.00) topped withpeppers, red onion, mushroom andcherry tomato. It was reallydelicious with a fluffy fresh baseand lots of gooey cheese on top.

Room for more?No way at lunch time, but I’m sureif we were there at night watchingthe football on their huge screenthen there would be room tosqueeze in Sticky Toffee Pudding(£2.75) or Strawberry DreamDelight (£2.75).

The food could be better at BinaryBar if they wanted it to be butwhat they provide is decent pubgrub at good prices, mixed with alaid-back vibe, a humongous screenfor watching movies or sport onand all-in-all, a great place to relaxwith mates.

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The Real Camera Companybased in Manchester’sNorthern Quarter is anAladdin’s cave of mainly usedcamera equipment that’ssuitable for all budgets.

The team know about all thingsphotographic inside and out andare on hand to give free adviceover the counter – perfect forwhen you’re stuck on how to geta certain look or what type of lensto use - these guys can help.

The shop has been based inManchester for ten years andjudging on how busy it is, itseems The Real CameraCompany’s fans just keep comingback. They stock the biggestselection of used equipmentoutside of London which meansthat you get the very best deal on purchases.

They sell cameras from £5-£5000plus darkroom equipment,tripods, projectors, cine projectors,cine cameras, video equipmentand books too – pretty mucheverything to suit amateurphotographers and professionalsalike, whatever your budget.

A digital SLR camera can costunder £200 at The Real CameraCompany rather than over £500on the high street meaning lots ofspare change to spend elsewhere!

They also buy and part exchangecameras and equipment so youcan trade your old stuff in forsomething newer and get a gooddeal in the process.

The Real Camera Company

The Real Camera CompanySevendale House7 Dale StreetManchesterM1 1JA

Tel : 0161 907 3236 L

Cut-out and use moustache for the ladies.

what’s going on?www.largemanchester.com

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Movember is an annual, month-long charity event held in a fewmonths time in Novemberwhere guys grow a moustacheshowing support for prostatecancer awareness whilst being sponsored.

The world-phenomenon startedback in 2003 with 30 Mo Brostaking part. In 2009, 253,843 MoBros and Sistas came together asCitizens of Movember around theworld raising nearly £26 millionfor The Prostate Cancer Charity.

It’s commonly acknowledged thatmen are far less health-consciousthan women, often adopting a‘head in the sand’ attitude. Men’slife expectancy is five years less

than women and with theirreluctance to see a doctor, thisattitude often denies many menthe chance of early detection andprevention of most illnesses.

The facts:

• 1 in 10 men will be diagnosedwith prostate cancer

• Prostate cancer is the mostcommon cancer in UK men

• 35,000 UK men will bediagnosed with prostate cancerthis year alone

• 10,000 men die from prostatecancer every year – that’s oneman every hour

Check out the Mo Bro’s

Get Involved:

1. Register online frommid-October

2. Once registered, each MoBro must start on the 1st ofMovember clean-shaven

3. Then for the entire monthof Movember, they mustgroom and grow according toa few Mo Bro Laws (it’s all inthe shaping)

In Manchester, The GentryGrooming are offering allMo Bro’s complimentaryfree shave-offs at the endof Movember.

The team at Movember areappealing to Manchester workersto join in the fun and grow yourmo at work. Mo Sistas canregister as team captains steeringthe companies fundraising efforts.

To take things one step further,participants of Movember areencouraged to take theirfundraising efforts to the nextlevel with a big shave-off bash atthe end of the month to celebratetheir own or their team’s hair-growing efforts.

What are you waiting for, gatheryour Mo Bros and Sistas now!!

www.movember.com L

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The countdown to the UK’sbiggest and best urban foodand drink festival kicks off thisweek as Manchester gears upfor its 13th celebration of allthings food and drink.

This year’s Manchester Food andDrink Festival boasts exciting newpartners, high profile participants,new event concepts and a brandnew Festival Pavilion on AlbertSquare with a local and regionalfocus, celebrating heritage, iconicbrands, products and people.

The region’s food scene is aswonderful and exciting as ever, and this year’s event is allabout enjoying that - spreadingpositivity, excitement andpromoting the vibrant businessesthat the region has to offer.

The festival runs from 1st to 11thOctober and just a mere snapshotof the exciting happenings goingon across town include:

The Manchester Chilli Lovers’Fair at Albert Square on 1stOctober where those who like ithot can indulge in over 20 of theUK’s best chilli stalls, The GreaterManchester Real Ale Festival in

Food & DrinkFestival – 1st to11th October

Large and Manchester Foodand Drink Festival have partneredup to offer two lucky Largereaders a chocolate and winelovers treat during the festival.The winners will receive a LuxuryChocolate and ChampagneHamper and two tickets to theBig Indie Wine Festival. Just simplyemail editor@largemanchester.comwith your name, address andemail and you will go into thedraw. The winner will be chosenat random on 1st October. 31

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association with CAMRA wherevisitors will be treated to a full-onbeer bonanza plus a new additionto the festival line up with TheManchester Chocolate Festivalin association with ChocolateCafe on 1st and 2nd of Octoberwhere the festival pavilion willturn into a choc-holics paradise.

The much loved ManchesterOktoberfest in association withKro will be back again for asecond year with an outstandingrange of German beers, plus foodand drink from the heart ofBavaria. In addition to the greatoutdoor activities a plethora offood and drink establishmentsacross Manchester will be holdingtheir own speciality Food andDrink Festival events, so keep youreyes open for what’s set to be afestival of outstanding quality city wide.

www.foodanddrinkfestival.com L

what’s going on?www.largemanchester.com

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World-renowned photographerTerry O’ Neill is returning toManchester to launch his highlyanticipated new exhibition at theRichard Goodall Gallery.

The exhibition ‘Bardot, Bond,Beckham and Beyond’ featuresnew and unseen images of themost iconic stars of the 20thCentury – Sean Connery as JamesBond, Audrey Hepburn, BrigitteBardot plus more, all discoveredduring extensive archiving ofTerry’s fifty year career behind the lens.

Alongside these never before seenimages, Terry will taking part in anexclusive preview evening on 23rdSeptember at the gallery wherehe will be available to answerquestions on the intriguing storiesbehind his pictures – such as howAva Gardner introduced him toFrank Sinatra and an insight intohis lifelong friendships with iconssuch as Sir Elton John and SirMichael Caine.

Terry’s work has been exhibitedaround the world and his imagesspanning five decades includingphotographs of Nelson Mandela,David Beckham and The RoyalFamily are renowned for theirremarkable candour and intimacy

reflecting the close and personalrelationship Terry has with hissubjects.

Bardot, Bond, Beckham andBeyond: Photographs by TerryO’Neill runs from 23rd Septemberto 16th October at the RichardGoodall Gallery, Manchester.Entrance is free. L

‘Bardot, Bond, Beckhamand Beyond’

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The ROWE British Grand Prixin Manchester will be the firstEuropean Super Series of itskind and this year they areoffering the largest prize money ever, securing thatManchester continues to hostthis competition, something ithas done for the past 14 years.

This is the last competition beforethe Commonwealth Games in Indiaproviding England’s players with alast shot at a top-level competitionbefore heading to the Games.

Held over at Sports City, this is acompetition of epic internationalproportions and will bring visitorsto Manchester from all across theglobe so expect a deluge of visitorsmost likely wanting a fewdirections around town.

Head along to support Team GB!

Tickets can be booked online atwww.isportgroup.com/ticketing,or by telephone on0844 870 0000. L

ROWE British Grand PrixSquash Championships – 15th to 20th September

Running over a long weekend,the Salford Music Festival takesplace at seven pubs acrossSalford – The Kings Arms, TheHope, The Crescent, Wangies,The White Horse, The Ploughand The Weaste. Showcasingthe very best of Salford’smusical talent, audiences will beable to enjoy over 60 live gigs.

With a mixture of signed andunsigned acts, it’s set to be one ofthe biggest events ever held inSalford. The festival ends with amain stage event at The Ritz on12th featuring The Fall, SalfordJets, Aaron Wright and manymore, plus DJ sets from TerryChristian and Clint Boon.

Day tickets for the events are £15 and are available fromwww.ticketweb.co.uk L

Salford Music Festival – 9th to 12th September

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Hello Mancunians! My name isSam and I’m a stand-up comic,as well as a recent immigrant toyour fair city.

I’ve moved here becauseManchester is a brilliant city forcomedy; from top-end headlinersto grass roots level, there’s aplethora of gigs all over toperform at and visit as a punter.

Manchester’s been good to me. I came up through the circuit here and consider myself aproduct of the scene, the strengthof which is down to the fact thatas an audience, the people ofManchester are brilliant. Youlaugh, you clap and you’re good fun.

That’s not to say you can’t betotal gits though. The first time Iwas ever heckled was at a club inManchester – a guy at the backfelt the need to express his

opinion of my fledgling act withone four-letter word. A word thatrhymes with “punt”, which forthe purpose of this article I shallreplace with the word “flower”.

Being pretty raw andinexperienced at that point, I (foolishly) responded with “Iappreciate the feedback mate, butit’s not very constructive is it?”

Not very funny and it broke thefirst rule of dealing with hecklers– don’t leave yourself open toanother retort. I found that outtwo seconds later, when havingthought about it, he yelled back:

“Fair point. Alright, you’re amassive flower.”

I bought the guy a pint – he won,after all. L

Sam Gore

www.urbanbubble.co.uk

...manchesters local property management company

I (foolishly) respondedwith - I appreciate the

feedback mate,but it’s not very

constructive is it?

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Congratulations on your latest release“Gatecrasher Anthems - Paul VanDyk”. Gatecreasher was an institutionin Sheffield, what Manchester clubshave you played and what were yourexperiences? I played at the Haciendaduring the 90’s and recently played atSankeys which was fun as theyrefused to let me in because I waswearing trainers! I turned around togo and the promoter came runningout after me panicking! I’m back inManchester on 8th October at theWarehouse Project.

Playing all over the world must bemind-blowing. Are there any favouritevenues you’ve played at or anywhereyou would like to play? I wouldn’t sayI have a favourite venue. I have a veryclear idea about the general soundand music of what I want to play andeverything else is down to theconnection with the audience so it’salways different.

You’re known as the pioneer oftrance and electronic dance musicand over the years we’ve heard manycollaborations in addition to your ownproduced material; is being a live DJand live production where you seeyour future? I’m a musician and myfavourite music is electronic music andthis is what I have done pretty muchthe majority of my working life and Ihope I can do it until I retire!

What top tip would you offer to anyLarge readers looking to break intothe DJ scene? One of the main thingsis that you really know what youlike and what you want to do. At theend of the day you’re in front of anaudience and you have to convincethem that what you do actuallymeans something and has a purpose.If you have doubts then it willcome across.

Growing up in East Berlin you had tolisten secretly to European music.How different do you think yourcareer would have been had socialnetworking sites such as MySpacebeen available to you? Well obviouslyit would have been a completelydifferent picture. We’ve seensubstantial growth in communicationbetween the artist and the fans. It’sgood for an artist to have a directresponse from the audience.

What other unfulfilled ambitions doyou have? I’m working on my next bigartist album, that’s my next goal; todeliver something that actually hassubstance and that I feel happy with.Otherwise it’s always the small thingsand I think that might be part of thesecret of why I’m still around. I takeevery single gig very seriously so Idon’t have super-duper goals of ‘Imust do this or that’. For me one ofthe main ambitions is to deliver asclose as possible perfect set when Iplay, regardless of how big or smallthe audience is... I’m never easyon myself!

Paul Van DykAt the end of the day you’rein front of an audience andyou have to convince themthat what you do actually

means something and has apurpose. If you have doubts

then it will come across.

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It’s an uncharacteristicallywintery evening in Manchesterthis evening. Luckily, inside theDeaf Institute the atmosphere iswarm enough to dry even thewettest of socks.

Tonight’s gig is a fundraiser by theLe Tower to Tower team whointend to ride from Blackpool toParis in order to raise money forthe Fanconi Hope and NSPCC.

First band, The Sleazy Mcguireslook like a rather odd collection ofgentlemen. A group that looks asthough the noise they’re about tomake may not be consistent, butrather an awkward rabble ofdisparate tracks. Luckily these fearsare quickly misplaced when thegroup launch into a melee ofraucous brawl inducing rock n’ roll.

The songs are well crafted andsolid, incredibly solid in fact. Eachmember of the Mcguires is quietlyadept with their instrument, andextremely modest in their playing.What they lack in sass, they makeup for in an unyielding selection ofbluesy rock and roll. Delightfullynamed tracks such as ‘CrossGender Blues’ are played withgusto, and met with appreciationfrom the attentive crowd.

While they subscribe to nononsense hillbilly bar brawl style ofrock, you can hear the range ofinfluences they draw upon to makethem a palatable selection fortonight’s mixed audience. You can’thelp but feel as though were they alittle higher on the bill, they mightgarner a more raucous responsefrom a currently timid group ofspectators. Keep your eyes openfor them.

Second band The Rubys aretasked with the difficult job offollowing a pretty great openingact. On several levels they succeed.They seem a little green,understandable for a relatively newband, however they could definitelybenefit from honing their soundslightly. Despite this, they paintwith sweeping, broad strokes,adding nuances of colour acrosstheir set. Their songs are strong,just lacking confidence a little.

Fine Lines @ The Deaf Institute

Tonight they play an assortment oftracks from their upcoming EP dueto be released later this year.

Headliners Finelines take to thestage. They’re a well-presentedgroup who play well crafted indiemelodies. Poppy, while notbordering on annoying or staid.The music is a blend of mainstreamrock and heartfelt, stripped-downacoustic numbers. In particular,‘Wrong Side’ marks them out as acompelling act. While tonight theylack some of the breadth their

songs encompass on record, it’sjustifiable given the difficulty ofhauling a string section onto thetiny Deaf Institute stage. However,they would benefit from somesynths in order to give their songsmore depth live.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable set from the group. We hope tosee more of them in the future and let’s hope the gig raised asubstantial amount for the charity.

Jonno Hopkins

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Manchester (and further afield in the North West) has had its fairshare of cracking outdoor events over the Spring and Summer.Often dampened by rain but colourful enough to put a smileon our faces, here’s a roundup of our favourites from 2010...

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Fashion Forward

Jigsaw in The Triangle are hosting a special shopping evening hostedby Grazia Style Director Paula Reed and Jigsaw's co-owner BelleRobinson on 22nd September 7-9pm. Paula will be giving a talk onAutumn/Winter trends for 2010 and will be giving style advice andtop fashion tips to all customers. Guests will be treated to 10% off allpurchases from the new collection on the night plus champagneand refreshments.

The event also marks the launch of Jigsaw’s new capsule collection - JigsawVintage - which re-invents classic Jigsaw pieces from the last 30 years. The 15 piece collection of coats, dresses, knitwear and skirts celebrates threedecades of style encapsulating the brands quintessential British style.

Jigsaw Special Event

Large readers are all invited to attend

General Store on Deansgate haswelcomed Mononoko to thestore, the latest ‘Brands ofManchester’ winner.

The ethical fashion label features arange of halter neck mini dresses,vibrant print jumpsuits andsculptured trousers all uniquelyfused with exciting prints andembellishment.

A capsule collection of ten piecesby Mary Ononokopono is already in store with new designs beingadded each week.

The Brands of Manchestercompetition was launched byGeneral Store to give young andup-and-coming designers thechance to showcase their brands instore and in doing so, The GeneralStore gets independent exclusivityof a new label.

Mononoko launches in Manchester

General Store will be Mononoko’s temporary home for three months. L

what’s hot?www.largemanchester.com

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Manchester, with its sportinghistory, provides the foundationfor a strong partnershipbetween sports apparel andheritage fashion; a partnershipwhich has developed anincreasingly popular anddynamic trend.

The burgeoning sportswear industrycontinually produces fresh newstyles, stemming from practicalsportswear which has fashionablyevolved to multi coloured hi-tops,carrot-fit joggers and retro tracksuitsand staple’s for eponymous heritagebrands like Fred Perry, Lacoste andRalph Lauren creating an effortlesscool look.

Hoodies, although deep rootedwithin the hip hop community, areintrinsically linked to sports appareland when teamed with chino’s orskinny jeans form a look indicativeof urban style meets indie cool.Whilst skirts teamed with cable knitjumpers are complimented byhockey style socks, to reflect aquintessentially English look.

Loud brights and flamboyant printstypify the trend, with the vibrancyof retro accessories like statementvisors, customised sweatbands andplimsolls breaking up a simplesilhouette.

Natalie Shaw

Street Style

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Collette Costello is a new onlinewomen's fashion label based inManchester. They’ve justlaunched their online shop andif you like vintage fashion andretro-style fabrics then makesure you pay it a visit.

Collette first unleashed her designsback in 2008 inspired by VictorianManchester. Since then, demandhas shot through the roof with anumber of boutiques stocking selectpieces including Junk Shop.

Collette, you’ve designed for highstreet brands before you launchedyour own range. What do you feellacks from high street collections?Most notably, that mostmanufacturing is done abroad in theFar East, which might seem greatagainst costs but it means that thereare limitations to styles becauseyou’re tied into the garment havingto be produced in the cheapestpossible way. Being an independentdesigner means I can add lots ofdetail and fabrics to make effects.

Your new collection is out thismonth, how would you sum it up tolarge readers? It’s vintageinspired. I modelled it on vintagegarments worn by celebs in the1950s with lots of feminine drapes,good tailoring and classic cuts. I tryto use luxurious fabric that may costmore but has more dramatic effect.

What trends should our readersmake sure they are cottoning ontofor Autumn/Winter this year? Thereare two main trends in my collection- tartan and brights, bright dressesthat are classic and classy, not trashy.

As a fashion lecturer and designerfor high street shops, what do youthink have been the main changesin the fashion industry? The mainshift has been towards throw-awayfashion, people just wearing agarment once and never wearingagain – this was mainly before therecession. Now it’s changed withpeople wanting to pay that little bitextra and invest in quality products.

www.collettecostello.co.uk L

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The Great Salford Swim is anew event for the 2010 sportingcalendar in Manchester. It’s aone-mile outdoor swim takingplace in Salford Quays and isopen to swimmers of allabilities (but only for the brave!)

It’s a really safe event but you musttake the time to train properly.You wouldn’t run 10k without anytraining so don’t swim a mile! It’salso probably worth hiring a wetsuitfor the day. It’s not compulsory(unless the water temperature dropsbelow 15˚c) but wetsuits can makeyou more buoyant and actually alittle bit faster.

Make sure you can complete a mileconfidently in the pool beforetaking part in the competition, butit’s not just aimed at professionalswimmers - it’s for everyone seriousabout taking part and serious abouttraining. Most people will not haveswum outdoors before so youwon’t be alone.

To check out how to enter head towww.greatswim.org L

Great SalfordSwim – 26thSeptember

Great Swim Photos - Dave Tyrell0161 832 7073 www.castlefield-hotel.co.uk info@castlefield-hotel.co.uk

Liverpool Road Castlefield Manchester M3 4JR

the loungeon liverpool road

Exciting food menu

Classic British Alesand continental beers

Weekly pub quiz

Live sporton Sky and ESPN

Coming SoonLive MusicMonthly Karaoke

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Being new to Manchester anda little aware of my gently-expanding waistband, I decidedto try out some of the city’sfitness classes. And what betterchallenge than to blast fivelessons in five days?

First up, Aqua Fit at the AquaticsCentre. Run by a charming localcalled David, he has been teachingthe watery workout for ten years,and makes the 45-minute sessionfun and relaxed by cracking afew jokes to keep everyone ingood spirits.

I slipped into the pool with sometrepidation, concerned that mypoorly-coordinated limbs wouldn’t be able to keep up with the regulars.

But I had no need to worry, as we ran through some warm-upexercises, then plunged (excuse the pun) into routines designed to gently work the whole body.

Some pumping music helped theclass along, and with a few waterweights thrown in for goodmeasure, it felt a bit like hangingwith mates rather than sweatingout the weekend’s indulgences.

I definitely felt the burn in my arms and torso, and severaldynamic moves worked hard onmy abdominal muscles - alwaysgood for a food lover like me.

Exercise in a pool is best for fatburning, as water resistanceincreases the impact of movementsand makes core muscles workharder to provide stability.

It’s also impact-free, so great forpeople with joint problems, but itdoes little to build muscle so thosehoping to sculpt their pecs mightwant to look elsewhere.

All in all, a friendly, accessible classthat was easy to pick up but stillmade me use muscles I never knewI had.

And for those seeking top value for money, the £3.80 fee allowsyou access to the pool afterwardsas well.

Tomorrow’s training - yoga at theSugden Centre. Read all about it inlarge October. L

Rose Orlik

High-five for fitness

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www.theprintworks.com

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS AS MANCHESTER’SPREMIERE ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX

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Manchester’s most-popularproperty site is celebrating itsfirst anniversary. We catch upwith Luvthecity Director JulianBovis and ask him what’s sospecial about Manchester...

What’s the best place to live inthe city centre?Ha ha - everyone asks us that! Itdepends on your budget but youcan’t go wrong with these three:

Low-rent: The Ovale Building inAncoats – glassy, classy and cheap.

Mid-range: Spectrum on Greengate– looks like communist East Berlinbut the apartments are great andyou can walk to town in 5-minutes.

Blow-the-budget: Century Buildingson St. Mary’s Parsonage. Forget theWAG-filled Beetham Tower; this isManchester’s best block.

What’s the worst block?That’s difficult because everyone has different priorities but if we had choose one block we’d go for City Heights opposite theCathedral. It’s got the look of a run-down council block but withnone of the charm. Sorry to all thepeople who live there!

Luvthecity names best cafes andpubs – what’s your favourite?For beer it’s the Briton’s Protection,for food we’d go for Kim-by-the-Sea

in Hulme or Koffee Pot in StevensonSquare. They serve something calledXXX Spam (ask them why!)

Luvthecity competes directlywith the M.E.N – what makesyou different?Impartiality. We’re not tied to estateagents or developers so we tell itlike it is. If an apartment block iscrap, we tell you that it’s crap.

What are your plans for 2011?We’ve just launched in Birminghamand now we’re about to launch a furniture website calledLuvthefurniture. When you’removing home the last thing youwant is hassle so Luvthefurniture will deliver products in 24-hours, set it up, take all the packagingaway and then nip quietly out the door. It’ll be like going to Ikeabut without the stress. Or theplastic-tasting hotdogs.

www.luvthecity.com L

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Feast is a new annual food marketbringing together Manchester’sfood heroes under one roof. Theevent showcases the region’s bestfarmers and producers togetherwith a mixture of World foods.

Many of the stalls are run by family businesses such as GrahamKirkham, whose Lancashire cheeses earned him the title of 2009 Producer of the Year at theManchester Food and Drink Awards.

Freshly made chicken and mangokorma, a huge array of traditionalpies, and Savin Hill Farm'straditionally reared sausages allprovide mouth-watering lunchoptions. Continental produce likefalafel, Polish Rye breads and paellaoffer an international flavour. TrevorDuerden’s fine fudges, created from a secret recipe in Burnleyprovide a sweet fix, alongsidealmost-too-good-to-eat cupcakesand brownies. Wash down yourmeal with locally brewed ale, English wine or a cocktail.

Whether you are looking for adelicious and healthy lunch,interesting ingredients for theweekend or for a fabulous foodieexperience, the market will serve itall up for you on a platter.

FEAST29 September – 10 OctoberSt Ann’s Square

The Piccadilly jewellery marketguarantees a spread of beautifulsparkle from a selection of theregion’s best designers.

Discover jewellery made from gold,silver and semi-precious stones alluniquely designed. The market is afantastic place to buy, browse, and –dare we say it – pick up some festiveideas from the works on sale.

By supporting independentjewellery-makers, the marketguarantees and supports innovativeand exciting work, giving artists ahigh profile city centre showcase fortheir work.

As well as home grown talent,designers from all over the world set up shop at the market and with a variety of different styles andmaterials on offer, there are prices tosuit every budget.

manchestermarkets.com

Jewellery3/4 and 17/18 SeptemberPiccadilly Gardens

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Since our lovely Mimi has left Manchester for sunnier shores DownUnder, our new girl about town Francesca is going to be here everymonth spilling the beans on life in Mancunia...

I love this city. I fell in love with it all again since coming homeafter fleeing to London thenSpain when I was 21.

Coming back, Manchester hadcome alive with a vibrancy I’d neverseen here before and I knew I washome. I don’t even really mind thegreyness, least you never strainyour eyes and I think we’ve alllearnt to cope with the drizzlegetting us wetter than a downpour.

I suppose it helps that I’m oldenough now to appreciate whatmatters in life. I’m that age whereit’s getting time for Botox but notso old to panic about not beingmarried.

Gone are the days of all-nightpartying and getting dressed in thecar park for work the next day;now it’s more dinner parties andrestaurants with the odd wild nightthrown in for good measure. So Ithought I’d best get myself to Vfestival this year. I bought myself apair of shorts so short it wouldhave been considered politicallyincorrect to wear them and itwouldn’t be long until my legschafed in the middle. I was ready!

But then I got the mother of allcolds and was resigned to bed,watching X Factor. Typical!

So that’s me. I’m clumsy, I laugh alot at things I probably shouldn’t. I like getting things for free andgenerally love a blag of any kindand I’m going to be letting you inon the random things I’ve seen onmy travels around this amazing citywe all call home… L

Goodbye Mimi, Hello Francesca

1st Floor Afflecks Church Street Manchester

Tel: 07737 309970www.thecocoaemporium.co.uk

Vintage Café & Cake ShopIn addition to our delicious handmadechocolates and cakes, we have now

serve a wide selection of loose teas andcoffees all served in fine bone china cups.

Vegancupcakesavailable

Telephone0161 236 3453

Websitewww.urbanpizza.co.uk

This Months DealBuy 2 pizzas

get a side dish free

Diamond DuoWeekly, Fortnightly or even ‘One Off’

Specials for either Domestic or Commercial.

We are also delighted to offer a laundry service for bedding and shirts etc.

A reliable and trustworthy companySecure key holding service

All cleaning materials providedPublic liability cover

Call us now on 07961 342585/0161 793 9915info@diamond-duo.co.uk

10% OFF FIRST CLEANfor Large readers

Quote 'Large' for a special offer!

Hotel Manchester

a perfect venue for

your Conference!

Christmas offer 2010now on sale!!!

Please contact Event Manager on 0161 228 1234 or conf705@britanniahotels.com.

Tib Street, Manchester M4 1SH.

Come and join us for our Las Vegas Week aswe celebrate the launch of Virgin Atlantic’snew service from Manchester to Las Vegas

flying from the 3rd April 2011

From Monday 11th October we will have a range of special offers, competitions and plenty of ideas to make your trip

to Las Vegas your best holiday... EVER!!

72-86 Oldham Road Manchester M4 5EB0161 2287363 www.misselliestravel.co.uk

A SPECTACULARCELEBRATION OFFOOD AND DRINKMANCHESTER BORN & FED

Featuring cookery masterclasses, unique diningpavilions, The Big Indie WineFest, Forever ManchesterVillage Fete, ChocolateFestival, celebrity chefs,Chilli Lovers’ Fair, gourmetdinners, Manchester WhiskyFestival, local producermarket, Real Ale Festival, Oktoberfest, the FestivalDaily BBQ and much more…

‘BRITAIN’SBEST URBANCELEBRATIONOF FOOD’The Observer