š Birthday Bash Highlights ā 16 Years in Style
Last month marked 16 years since I became the owner of Jones And Co., and it felt like the perfect excuse for cocktails, cake, and a bit of chaos at Jones And Co.
We marked the occasion with a party at the practice ā and you made it one to remember.
Crazy Pedros ā the Manchester legends of late-night pizza and cocktails ā kept the Margaritas flowing. Domonique, our brilliant jazz singer, brought the tunes, and Cre-ate Events laid out tapas and grazing tables that were almost too good to leave room for birthday cake (almost).
Theo brand ambassador Monica flew in with the full collection from Antwerp, and two very happy winners went home with a Brompton bike and a framed piece of original Oasis artwork.
But the best part? Seeing so many of you together ā great glasses, great people, and a brilliant night on King Street.
Thanks for celebrating with us and making 16 years feel very special indeed. š„
Check out the photos below…
š§· Punk Legends Force Optician To Change Name
In recent newsā¦ A Dundee optical boutique named Spex Pistols has changed its name after legal threats from the Sex Pistols. The punk bandās lawyer sent a ācease and desistā letter focusing on the shopās logo, which it said was clearly intended to bring the band to mind. Richard Cook, the shopās owner, concluded that, sadly, it was safer to rename the shop, which is now called Land OāSpex. He added that in his 14 years of trading, his shop had never been confused with the Sex Pistols.
āItās hard to see how we can be a threat to the Sex Pistols. They are a global brand with millions of followers from the punk scene all around the world. We are a wee spectacle shop in the smallest street in Dundee,Ā concentrating on serving our modest but loyal customer base as best we can,ā he said.
Well, all I can say is how excited I am to be an optician and be part of such a rock and roll industry. Last month it was Bruce Springsteen needing his reading glasses repaired. This month, the Sex Pistols are causing chaos. This, ladies and gentlemen, and punk rockers, is why wearing glasses is so cool and to be embraced. š¤
š“ The Angel at Hetton
Iām writing this the day after visiting the Michelin Star restaurant, The Angel at Hetton, in the Yorkshire Dales. We went as a treat for my wife Catherineās birthday.
The team at Jones And Co. very kindly bought me a voucher for The Angel for my birthday last year and I hadnāt got around to using it yet, so I thought it would be perfect to use it as a gift for my wife. Just another example of how the team are endlessly making me look good. Thank you team š.
So we went along for an early lunch on Friday. And it was superb in every way. We went for a five-course tasting menu which was the best tasting menu Iāve ever had. I donāt dine in Michelin star restaurants too often but even so Iād kind of gotten sick of tasting menus. Iāve had some that took an age between courses, so much to the extent I ran out of conversation and patience and I just wanted to go home. Iāve had some where I felt so full I was bursting and I yet I was still only half way through a marathon of courses with miles still to go. Nevertheless, it had been a few years so I felt brave enough to try the tasting menu.
It was perfect. The courses flowed effortlessly and enjoyably. Every course was delicious. And at the end I could still walk and move around comfortably. We had the pescatarian option and it was clear it had been put together really thoughtfully. There was no sense of missing out on the good stuff because you donāt eat meat. I once dined somewhere where I was given a solitary carrot as a main course while friends enjoyed Kobe beef or something. That hurt.
The service was spot on, both friendly and attentive and most of all, the team all seemed genuine and likable. The style and dĆ©cor of the restaurant was very much to my taste as well. All in all, a brilliant experience in the Yorkshire Dales. As you can probably tell, Iām not a food critic and my review may not cut the mustard in the restaurant review world. So hereās what the good people at the Michelin guide sayā¦
Deep within the Yorkshire Dales sits The Angel, a stunning stone-built inn with 15C origins, which now has a modern Nordic style courtesy of polished concrete floors and light wood furnishings. Classic combinations are to the fore but are subtly modernised and refined, with dishes demonstrating a simplicity that allows every ingredient to shine. The exuberant service team enhance the experience, and the bedrooms ā which are spread around the village ā mix the classic and the contemporary.
So there you have it. I was happy. My wife had a lovely birthday and I looked good. Put it on your list of places to visit. Find them at www.angelhetton.co.uk
š A Must-Visit Spot Next Time You Are in Manchester
The Castlefield Viaduct has become one of Manchesterās most unusual green spaces. Since opening in 2022 it has given people a place to walk high above the city surrounded by trees and gardens.
Funding has now been secured to extend the sky park. When the work is finished in 2026 the walkway will more than double in length to over 350 metres and include a gold medal winning garden from last yearās Chelsea Flower Show.
It is the kind of project we love to see in Manchester. Jones And Co supports Manchester City of Trees through 1% for the Planet and they have been closely involved in bringing more green space to the city.
If you have not been yet it is well worth a visit. Next time you are in Manchester for new eyewear plan a detour and enjoy one of the best views of the city.