David Adamson reports back from goingson in the city and beyond
In his editor’s diary, David Adamson reports back on life in the city and beyond.
Brian Jonestown Massacre, Albert Hall
We do now of course have not one but two performance spaces in the city - Co-op Live and Aviva Studios - that have all the bells, whistles and associated costs of a modern shapeshifting live music venue.
But before they arrived one venue bridged that gap between an eventful but intimate headline set in the likes of the Academy or the Apollo, and the rather more spacious and corporatised environment of the AO Arena. Albert Hall was a godsend.
I’ve now seen a sort of psychedelic holy trinity of artists there in the past few years; Kurt Vile, Cate Le Bon and now, finally after 15 years, Brian Jonestown Massacre. I wasn’t disappointed, and the venue contributes a great deal towards that. Grade II listed and loved by every artist that seems to step onto the stage, long may it continue.
Exhibition Spring menu
Hayden and I were invited to Exhibition, off Peter Street, to try the new menus from the trio of kitchens that operate there; Baratxuri’s Basque fire cooking, OSMA’s take on Scandi small plates and Jaan by Another Hand’s foray into Persian flatbreads and larger plates.
Whenever I’ve suggested Exhibition to someone looking for a place to eat, I’ve always struggled to find the right phrase. ‘Multi-kitchen’ sounds a bit industrial estate and ‘shared kitchen space’ a little too close to student living for my liking, so Exhibition calling itself a ‘collective kitchen space’ about does the job.
This has now extended as far as the layout of the menu itself, which is no longer categorised by kitchen but instead jumbled up into a culinary tombola and laid out in list form. An interesting decision, to focus on the food and anonymise the kitchen, especially with big names in there. It works to make Exhibition feel closer to a restaurant rather than the lavish quasi-food hall it could sometimes resemble. The dishes, all equal on the page, were all equally delicious.
The Little Sri Lankan supper club, Miru Mill
Al and I were back in Stockport, this time to kindly accept an invitation from The Little Sri Lankan, whose monthly supper clubs are taking place in Miru Mill, just up the hill from the Robinson’s Brewery and Mekong Cat, the last Thursday of every month.
Set up by couple Michael and Malanie Hooper Tillekeratne, it’s an easygoing education in Sri Lankan food and its flavours, something often in the shadow of Indian cuisine.
The presence of coconut and the almost masochistic level of chilli playing more prominent parts in the dishes, it’s a refreshing change from restaurant dining in all respects.
I think supper clubs should be a state-subsidised playground for ambitious and interesting chefs and restaurateurs, lord knows we’ve got enough mills and derelict buildings. Don’t get eaten by overheads within six months and instead have the space and sense of play needed to really discover what you can bring to people; just like The Little Sri Lankan.
A Play in the City: Supra
The final act of A Play in the City is upon us. Where the Light Gets In’s Supra is the team’s take on the feast, inspired by Georgian traditions of communal nourishment. You know, eating together and talking.
We sat with Sam and discussed Lego and Great British Menu. I asked him if he’d ever go on GBM and he said he already had been, with Tom Barnes back in 2018. Ah. Right. I made my excuses and picked up another leek and tarragon croquette.
A Play in the City, has, I would say, been a triumph. There was an opportunity to do interesting things with the six months the team were given while structural work to WTLGI took place, and they seized them.
Since November they’ve done a take on the chicken shop, the burger joint, the bistro and the feast, and in each one had both a reverence and a sense of humour. Besides, anything that boils the piss of The Daily Mail is doing something right.
It’ll be almost a shame when the Bungalow space at Kampus is returned, the stage set is dismantled and the team return to Stockport, but then A Play in the City was always just that, a play. They rocked up in town, put on a show, peeved a few people and will soon leave.
The Dog and Collar Pub launch
I got the train over to Liverpool for the press night of The Dog and Collar pub on Hope Street, recently taken over by the PINS Social Club team (now also overseers of Almost Famous).
The building, a Georgian beauty, was most recently Lui Shi, a restaurant whose dishes baffled me from start to finish and had the decor of a branch of Laura Ashley going through a tough divorce.
So when I walked in on Thursday night it was a revelation. A genuinely charming, cosy and interesting use of space that is another example of what Liverpool does very well; putting a pub in and making it seem like it’s always been there.
With the kitchen headed up by La Bistroteca’s Livia Alarcon (recently on GBM, note taken), and a very handsome dining room upstairs away from the bustle, I’m intrigued to see what it’s like, and will be paying it a visit sometime soon for round two with 60 Hope Street.
Akinyemi Oludele exhibition, Saan 1 gallery
When I was training as a journalist at the excellent News Associates, part of my portfolio was an interview with Mancunian artist Akinyemi Oludele.
I’d been in Night and Day Cafe one July when he came over to our table and handed me a sketch of myself. A week or so later I interviewed him in Stephenson Square, which you can read here.
He was also kind enough to showcase his skill of live-drawing to music for the article, in my erstwhile studio flat in Didsbury with my friend Max as sitter, which was a fun afternoon.
So I will be paying a visit to Akinyemi’s exhibition at Saan 1 gallery in the Northern Quarter, on from Friday 14 March to Wednesday 19 March, to see how he’s doing.
AND OTHER ADVENTURES…
Here’s assistant publisher Harley Young with her report back from two International Women’s Day events.
A morning of celebrating International Women’s Day
Watches of Switzerland Group and King’s Trust team up on Change a Girl’s Life campaign
On Thursday 6 March, ahead of International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March) I was invited to join The Watches of Switzerland Group and King’s Trust for a ‘Brilliant Breakfast’ at Goldsmiths Trafford Centre, designed to share more information about the ‘Change a Girl’s Life’ campaign which aims to give more young women a working future.
With a panel of incredibly inspiring and influential local females, from an independent jeweller to a company leader and self-employed photographer, I learned more about this programme, why it was in place and the difference it can make to someone’s life and future.
According to King’s Trust, almost a million young women between the ages of 16-24 are currently not in education, work, or training. This often leads to a feeling of isolation, poor mental health, and/or a loss of confidence.
Thankfully, the Change a Girl’s Life campaign helps these young women to overcome adversity and build brighter futures by raising funds to offer training, provide job opportunities and boost entrepreneurial skills.
If you want to learn more about how to get involved with this brilliant campaign, from donating, to shopping, to even hosting your own Brilliant Breakfast, head to kingstrust.org.uk.
Total Ninja, Empower Apparel and The Green Lab host an International Women’s Day fitness session
On the same afternoon, I swapped my gladrags for gym gear - courtesy of the incredible female-owned clothing brand Empower Apparel - and bounced my way on down to Total Ninja for a fun-fuelled workout that I’m still aching from.
Despite being the furthest thing from a fitness influencer (just running for the bus has me out of puff), I was welcomed with open arms by a group of incredible women who gave our Ninja Warrior-winning trainer a run for their money, making every challenge look like an absolute breeze.
This year’s IWD theme is ‘Accelerate Action’, and wow, did we put those words into motion - vaulting up walls and swinging from bars, even falling off of things felt thrilling.
After tackling the courses, we got to explore the inflatables, whizzing down slides and barreling over one another like Bambi on ice with half an hour of non-stop laughter.
Once we were all tuckered out and in need of a refuel (no wonder parents absolutely love taking their kids to these places, I slept like a baby afterwards), female-owned health food business The Green Lab were on hand to provide nourishing salad bowls and juices to enjoy as the group exchanged social media handles as new-found friends.
For a couple of hours, our group of professional, hard-working females were kids again. It felt fantastic to let loose in a supportive environment where there was no judgement to be had. Even though our small group of 12 had the venue to ourselves that morning, the whoops and cheers of encouragement filled the room and will continue to ring in my ears every time I second guess or doubt myself. Girls supporting girls is a great feeling.
Total Ninja hosts regular women’s only sessions, for women to come together to train and have fun without judgement or prejudice. The sessions also include training, guidance and personal challenges from the Total Ninja Crew.
To find out more and take part, head to TotalNinja.co.uk.
And finally here’s Lucy Allen with her thoughts on Arighi Bianchi’s ‘A Taste of Japan’ launch.
Arighi Bianchi’s ‘A Taste of Japan’
Attending the 'Postcards from Japan' event at Arighi Bianchi was a truly immersive experience in craftsmanship and culture.
CEO Sarah Bianchi started the evening with a warm welcome, sharing her family’s heritage and how her travels through Japan inspired the collection. Her reflections on Kyoto’s temples, Tokyo’s skyline, and the mindfulness of Japanese traditions highlighted the essence of balance and simplicity woven into the new designs.
Coco Sato’s interactive origami workshop was a lovely moment - I enjoyed folding my own butterfly to take home for the little ones. Calligraphy artist Eiko Ishida also left an impression, sending us home with personalised bookmarks.
The talented Junko Popham’s Ikebana demonstration showcased the harmony of Japanese flower arranging. It was calming and peaceful to watch.
Meanwhile, a live sushi demonstration by Victors brought traditional culinary artistry to life. I particularly enjoyed the duck and plum, accompanied by Japanese cocktails.
Sarah Bianchi closed the night with a fitting remark: “Japanese design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a way of life that teaches us to live with intention, embrace simplicity, and find beauty in imperfection.” For those looking to bring a touch of Japanese craftsmanship into their homes, the 'Postcards from Japan' collection is available at www.arighibianchi.co.uk.
Get in touch
Got something you think David and the Confidentials team should come along to? Get in touch at davida@confidentials.com / editorial1@confidentials.com
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