⏩ The Gloucester Start: Monday January 20th
Top cafe to close | Teens arrested | Things to do this week
Good morning and welcome to another week with today’s Start. There’s a fair few more of you here today after an influx of new subscribers - welcome and thank you for signing up. Do please help spread the word with a quick share, and if you’ve got something you want to include in a future edition you can submit news, events and community information here.
🍴 One of Gloucester’s best cafes is closing. The Hungry Bean, in Kingsholm, will shut after seven years in business on February 16th, although its owners have said they ‘have a plan’ with more to be revealed soon. 👇
👢 It’s not the only well-liked independent business calling it a day - shoe shop AG Meek has been a fixture in the city centre for more than 60 years but rising costs and falling footfall means it is closing down in April. - AG Meek on Facebook
⚠️ The risk of falling masonry from Longsmith Street car park has forced the neighbouring Cross Keys Inn to close its beer garden. Landlord Steve Wood said he has repeatedly raised safety concerns about the city council-owned multi-storey. - BBC Gloucestershire
☁️ Today’s weather: Grey and cloudy most of the day, temperatures around 7C.
🚓 A man and a woman were injured in a suspected shooting in Coney Hill on Saturday. Three suspects fled on motorbikes and police have said violent crime ‘will not be tolerated’ as they attempt to find them. - Gloucestershire Live
🪨 Stones were dropped from a bridge over the M5, causing damage to vehicles and shutting the motorway to clear up the debris. It happened last Monday night, with police wanting dashcam footage from anyone passing. Two 15-year-old boys were arrested and bailed. - Gloucester News Centre
🐎 Horseback police officers rescued a pair of students stuck in a platform lift. They heard cries of help coming from the university accommodation block in Ladybellegate Street. - Gloucester City Neighbourhood Policing Team
⛵ Gloucester’s next Tall Ships Festival could last longer and may not have barriered entries, under plans being drawn up. Last year’s event was criticised for its ticket prices and 2027’s festival will form part of a wider year-long cultural programme. - Gloucestershire Live, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
↪️ But it could also have fewer tall ships. The costs of getting them to last year’s event - which lost the city council £117,000 - are ‘hard to justify’, a meeting heard. - BBC Gloucestershire
👩🏫 A new consultation has opened on plans to merge two primary schools. Moat Primary would close under the plans by the Greenshaw Learning Trust, joining forces with Robinswood Primary Academy. - Gloucestershire Live
😤 A senior Gloucester city councillor stormed out of a meeting after being told to behave himself during a question and answer session. Conservative Andrew Gravells left the chamber after rowing with Liberal Democrat council leader Jeremy Hilton. - Gloucester News Centre, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
🛍️ More full-price goods can be sold by retailers at Gloucester Quays after a decision was finally made on a planning application first submitted seven years ago. The amount of space in question equates to less than one per cent of the Quays’ floorspace, a spokesman for the outlet centre said. - Punchline Gloucester
🪩 An historic barge moored in Gloucester Docks will host a rave next month. The Grief Rave takes place on Sabrina 5 on February 15th and will see Gloucester join a list of cities including London and New York to have held similar events. - GAS Projects
Things to do this week
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📽️ We Live in Time, Conclave, Better Man, Wicked, Paddington in Peru, Moana 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Mufasa: The Lion King and Nosferatu all showing at Sherborne Cinema, Kingsholm | Tickets £6/£7 | Details
👣 Baby and adult hands and feet casting for Mother’s Day at Hobbycraft, Peel Centre | Today, 11.30am-4pm | Prices vary | Details
🗣️ Bristol Junction Canal talk by Stuart Fisher at the National Waterways Museum | Tuesday, 10.30am-11am | Free to members, £2 to others | Details
🩰 Dance and drama trial lessons at Longlevens Community Centre | Tuesday, 3pm onwards | Free trial | Details
🪘 The 31st annual Cajun and Zydeco Festival starts at Gloucester Guildhall | Friday-Sunday | Day tickets from £30 | Details
The most popular posts from Friday’s Start
🌲 Users of the city council’s garden waste service will no longer get a sticker for their green bin. - Gloucester City Council
🚌 People living rurally should move house if they expect a good bus service, a councillor has said. - Gloucester News Centre
🚯 No litter fines have been issued since October after a council contract was cancelled. - Gloucester News Centre