Feature
These are officially the biggest stories of 2021 for Mancunians
From endless Covid announcements to plans for the historic Queen’s Jubilee, a lot has happened in 2021…
As we prepare to welcome 2022 (with very open arms, might I add), we have compiled a list of the five most-read stories from the past year.
2021 has been a strange one, what with the endless Covid announcements, the numerous Downing Street scandals and, of course, England’s brush with a possible win in the belated Euros 2020 tournament.
But now, as the New Year looms, we decided to take a look back on the five stories from 2021 that were read the most by you.
So, without any further ado, here are the stories that captivated Manchester the most throughout the duration of the year…
Ambitious Creative Co. – Rick Barrett / Unsplash
When pubs reopen the ‘substantial meal’ with drinks rule is set to be scrapped
Remember when you had to order a full on meal with your pint?
On February 5th, the government announced that the now infamous ‘substantial meal’ rule enforced in all bars and pubs would be scrapped when venues were allowed to reopen.
The rule caused a lot of confusion at the time of its announcement, with ministers scrambling to explain what actually constituted a ‘substantial meal’. This eventually led to an amusing debate as to whether a scotch egg counted after Environment Secretary George Eustice claimed the snack – a boiled egg wrapped deep fried in sausage meat and bread crumbs – could be served under the rule.
Read the full story here.
Defence Images / Flickr
The UK is getting a four-day Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate the Queen’s jubilee
There was finally a bit of good news in 2021…
On March 12th, the nation was delighted to hear that a four-day bank holiday was on the cards to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
In June 2022, the Queen will have been on the throne for seventy years, making her the longest reigning monarch in British history. And to commemorate the occasion, the May Bank Holiday will be moved to Thursday June 2nd while an additional new Bank Holiday on Friday June 3rd will see four days of celebrations.
Read the full story here.
@wowyauchow / Instagram
There’s a new bottomless Chinese brunch with gin fizz cocktails, bao buns and dumplings
A slight change of tone but who doesn’t love bottomless Chinese brunch?
On April 17th, we brought you the very important news that a Chinese restaurant here in Manchester had launched the revolutionary Chinese bottomless brunch complete with gin fizz cocktails and dumplings.
Altrincham’s WowYauChow completely transformed the bottomless brunch scene with their £23 deal, which allows guests to build their own ‘lunch basket’, choosing a dish from three sections: dumplings, bao buns and rice/noodle bowls. There’s also a selection of tofu, pork & chive and buffalo chicken dumplings, as well as bao buns filled with the likes of char siu pork and crispy chilli chicken.
On the drinks front there’s a selection of cocktails, wines and beers, including gin fizz, blushing dragon, prosecco and Tsing Tao.
Read the full story here.
@ADixonFiction / Twitter
The tragic story of the ‘dream home’ next to Hollingworth Lake that’s never been lived in
A tragic story of a structural disaster caught a lot of attention…
On May 26th, we published the story of 15 Lake Side, an abandoned bungalow situated next to Hollingworth Lake in Rochdale with a tragic history.
The property was built in 1998 by pensioners Dr. Stephen Watkins and his wife Elizabeth, who wanted somewhere to relax after stressful working lives. However, the house was never completed, and the dismal reason why has since been cited at Westminster as an example of what can go wrong for people who build their own homes.
To put it simply, the Watkins were unsatisfied with the quality of their home and were embroiled in vicious legal disputes for two decades, before the building was eventually demolished.
Read the full story here.
People who kill children will face mandatory life sentences under new Arthur’s Law
A bitter sweet story to end the year.
On December 7th, the Prime Minister backed a proposed law that will ensure child murderers will never leave prison in the wake of the death of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. Boris Johnson said in a statement: “Anyone who plans then carries out the murder of a child should never be released from prison. So we’re toughening the law to make whole-life orders the starting point for such abhorrent crimes.”
Arthur’s stepmother Emma Tustin was jailed at the start of the month for at least twenty-nine years for the little boy’s murder, while his father Thomas Hughes was sentenced to twenty-one years for manslaughter.
Read the full story here.