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Mind the Gap!

A warning! Help protect a long-standing Manchester pub, the Marble Arch, before November 7th

We are all probably familiar with the phrase in relation to the London Underground now applied to trams and Trains. We all know what the warning means. This note is also a warning a clarion call. The Gap in this case is land immediately surrounding the pub on its Rochdale Road aspect and Gould Street to the side and behind.

This is a request to all members of the Manchester branch to immediately lodge an objection to the revised building proposal by the McGoff Group entitled Downtown Victoria North 2. Please lodge your objection by emailing their professional advisors moc.psw@tnemmoCgninnalPKU

You can view their revised proposal at www.downtownvictorianorth2.com Simply copy the above links into your web browser.

Not online? Telephone to voice your opposition to their proposal on 0161 200 5000 Monday to Friday during office hours Please pass the information on to allow others to act to. Why

McGoff are testing the water inviting consultation through their managing agents WSP before submitting their full planning application for their revised damaging proposal to the City Council. Jan Rogers and Nick Bennett owners of Marble Beers (MB) need our help to defeat the proposals

. The original positive Proposal and The Gap

Respected the physical position of the pub and provided a sympathetic treatment of the space immediately surrounding the pub creating a well-designed public space providing access to developments to the rear. This proposal which respected the immediate surroundings had the support of MB. This proposal provided appropriate and proportionate space between a sizable developing structure by Mc Goff slightly north along Rochdale Road. The space provided for the qualitative public space and respected the scale of the pub.

The revised negative Proposal

McGoff’s revised proposal is radically different from their originally conceived plan. Its two high rise blocks (15 floors & 17 floors) fill what was the public space and the 15 storey block is hard fast against the pub gable wall. Both blocks are unsuitable in their scale and smother, belittle and disregard totally the physical integrity of the pub. The Marble Arch Inn has since 1888 with its iconic Victorian Gothic architecture occupied a principal position on the corner of Rochdale Road and Gould Street. McGooff’s proposal seems to disregard the fact that the Pub is a Grade 11 listed building and a longstanding entry in CAMRA’S Britain’s Best Heritage Pubs. We should not allow current day architects to spoil the work of their professions previous arbiters of good taste local architects Darbyshire & Smith.

Steve Ingham, Central Manchester Branch of CAMRA

Next Branch Meeting

The next Branch meeting will be at Old Monkey on 4th November starting at 1830.

January branch meeting including GBG shortlisting is 1830, 6th January in upstairs room, Town Hall Tavern.

Next Branch Social

Is planned to be a Christmas Social at Cask Liverpool Road celebrating 15 years continuously in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide! The presentation will be made at 7pm!

On January 17th we will be getting the 11:46am train from Piccadilly, with our first stop being The Bakers Vault. From there we will move on to the Saints Club, with our third stop being just across the way at The Petersgate Tap. We then have a bit of a walk to get to our fourth pub, The Crown Inn, with our final stop being at Runaway Brewery & Taproom.

*Please be aware Stockport is quite steep in places so could be difficult for people with a lack of mobility (according to Google Maps it is a 38 minute round trip)

11:46 - Piccadilly Train Station

12:10 - The Bakers Vaults

13:10 - Saints Club

14:10 - Petersgate Tap

15:10 - The Crown Inn

16:10 - Runaway Brewery & Tap Room

17:26 - Stockport Train Station

The above times are estimates and could change due to train time changes/delays or spending too long in the previous pub! So to make sure no one is left behind, we will be keeping our progress up to date on our Branch Social WhatsApp group. If you haven't already joined, please do so by clicking the link below.

News of any socials will be posted here as soon as they are known!. Meanwhile enjoy your beers - and score them! If you have any thoughts or ideas for any socials please let the Branch Chair know! ku.gro.armac.retsehcnamlartnec@riahc

Latest Pub News

When you visit any pubs in the Branch area (or for that matter in ANY Branch!) make sure your score your beers on the newly launched CAMRA Experience We need the scores to decide our entries for future GBG's.

We encourage you to start using and familiarizing yourself with this new platform .

Why you should score your beer!

How to score your beer!.

Thank you for being a valued member of CAMRA.!

Cheers, Branch Chair, Sean O'Mahoney (he/him)