Competitions, auctions and performances as Eat Well MCR team up with United We Stream

On Saturday 6th June, hospitality collective Eat Well MCR will take over United We Stream, the Greater Manchester-based streaming platform, for a ‘variety show for the lockdown generation.’  

The five hour extravaganza will include a huge auction and a prize draw with money-can’t-buy prizes from Manchester legends of music, food and entertainment. It will also feature entertaining segments such as the Chicken Olympics, Ready Steady Cook, viewer competitions and an all-star Manchester Vogue Ball hosted by the House of Ghetto (from 7pm to midnight).

We started off as a small group of chefs but with this show we have the opportunity to bring together some of Greater Manchester’s best loved creative talents

The cost of producing one nutritious meal for a foodbank or to feed frontline doctors, nurses and cleaners during their shift, is £1. Eat Well MCR aim to raise funds to continue their work supplying chef-cooked meals to those living with food poverty, women seeking refuge, homeless people, and NHS workers (read more here.)

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The recent Schloss weekend pop up raised £9000 for Eat Well MCR

In partnership with Albert’s Schloss, Eat Well MCR recently raised a whopping £9000 after the popular beer haus transformed into a pop up bar and bakery for the weekend offering socially distanced take away boxes of goodies and flaggons of beer (read more here.)

Renamed ‘United We Feed’ for the one night only, Hits Radio presenter Hattie Pearson and Manchester legend Clint Boon will host the upcoming United We Feed evening which will feature performances, appearances and prizes from Elbow frontman and 6 Music presenter Guy Garvey, Doves, Bez, John Cooper Clarke, Haçienda Live; comics Stephen Bailey and Justin Moorhouse; chefs James Martin, Adam Reid and Mark Birchall; cartoonist Tony Husband and many, many more.

The first money can’t buy prize of ‘a pint with Guy Garvey’ was announced on Instagram at the weekend. Garvey said; “I couldn’t say no to getting involved with Eat Well MCR’s United We Feed event, it’s going to be an incredible night - something a bit different and loads of fun. Knowing that the funds raised will help them plan for the future too, they’ve made such a difference to peoples lives in eight weeks, I look forward to seeing what they can do in eight years.”

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Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (L) and Time Economy Adviser Sacha Lord (R) who adapted the fundraising platform United We Stream GM from a similar concept in Berlin

Created in April by night Time Economy Adviser Sacha Lord, The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and the GMCA Culture team, in swift response to the UK shut down due to coronavirus, United We Stream GM is live every weekend with a donations page, where viewers can watch for free but can buy a ‘virtual ticket’ for whatever price they choose to enjoy the channel. So far, the project has already raised a staggering £380,000 for the city region’s night time economy, cultural organisations and chosen local charities (read more here.)

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “In Greater Manchester, we’ve always looked after each other and Eat Well MCR is such a brilliant and shining example of that. We’ve got some phenomenal chefs, restaurants, breweries and business owners.

“They’re all under phenomenal pressure at the moment, and yet they’re choosing to help the NHS key workers, and vulnerable people across the city-region. The support Eat Well MCR is giving to these people is proof of the spirit of this wonderful place and I am looking forward to their big show on United We Stream GM, on June 6th.”

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Founder of hospitality collective Eat Well MCR, chef Mary-Ellen McTague

Mary-Ellen McTague, founder of Eat Well MCR and The Creameries in Chorlton, said of the United We Feed event: “We’re beyond delighted that United We Stream GM have given us this incredible platform to raise vital funds so that we can secure the future of Eat Well MCR. We started off as a small group of chefs but with this show we have the opportunity to bring together some of Greater Manchester’s best loved creative talents. It’s going to be brilliant fun and there’s lots of opportunity for people at home to get involved. We can’t wait!”

Hattie Pearson, Hits Radio DJ and host of United We Feed added: “When Mary-Ellen asked me to get involved and host United We Feed, it was just an auction and an idea - now we have Chicken Olympics, Ready Steady Cook, Cook-a-longs, Zoom Rooms, all sorts - I can’t wait. Eat Well MCR is such a great cause with big plans for the future and I’m glad I can help them along the way”

The auction and prize draw will go live on Thursday June 3rd, and many lots will be revealed via Eat Well MCR’s social channels in the coming days.

With opportunities for audience participation and prizes at every turn, Zoom Rooms, cook-along pizza and kebab making and a massive set from Clint to round off the night, Eat Well MCR are throwing a massive party for Manchester and they’d love you there to support them and the work they do to help our community.

Follow Eat Well MCR on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates


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