Articles

Manchester World • 26th April 2024

I queued overnight for new first Popeyes drive-thru - the food is something special

Mancs queued for more than 16 hours for that opening six months ago. However, the record was broken here when one queue-dweller arrived at 9am the day before opening to camp out in his car.

The first three people in the queue, both on-foot and in cars, won free chicken sandwiches for a whole year; additionally, the first 25 customers in both queues were rewarded with a free chicken Sandwich and exclusive merchandise.

“I’ll be giving a lot of this to homeless people, that's the aim,” said the m

Manchester World • 23rd April 2024

I got a taste of bonkers medieval sport where weapons break as people fight for real

It is of course a mediaeval martial art form, derived from the old French word ”Béhourd“, which literally translates to “wallop”. The sport takes heavy inspiration from 13th to 16th century style of fighting and sports. Cladded in authentic armour, competitors are given blunted weapons to whack their opponents with.

The Castleton Cup, held annually in Rochdale, is part of the Honour and Arms Buhurt League Challenger, which takes place in different locations all over the globe. I went down to wa

Manchester World • 19th April 2024

I went to see new attraction that is bursting with Manc pride from start to finish

‘Greater Mancunians’ welcomed its first visitors to Central Library on Friday and features pictures of more than 120 significant Manchester names. One of the special things about it is all the images are taken by students of Manchester College. The project is supported by the city council and co-ordinated by tutor Harry Potts.

Some of the most well-known names include Noel Gallagher, Andy Burnham, council leader Bev Craig, Olympic athlete Keely Hodgkinson and Manc music favourites Clint Boon, J

Manchester World • 19th April 2024

I started humble brewery on my own - now we're ready to mark anniversary in style

Runaway Brewery will open up their taproom on Astley Street from May 30 to June 2. After beginning the brewing business alone in 2014, founder Mark Welsbey is amazed by how far his business has come.

“Our little brewery started with very humble beginnings, so the fact we’re still here is amazing to me,” he said. “Yes we’ve worked hard, but we’ve also been incredibly lucky over the years – it’s been a real privilege to work with so many brilliant people. It only feels right for us to take a mome

Manchester World • 15th April 2024

We lost our home but major new project could be exactly what this town needs

In March 2018, Marple Baths was shut when the building was deemed unsafe and has remained closed ever since. This left many to travel to neighbouring towns Romiley or Hazel Grove to go for a swim.

Now there is hope on the horizon with a planning application submitted last month for a new community hub in Marple after the council secured £20million in Levelling Up funding 12 months ago.

The scheme would see Marple Library demolished along with the existing police station and health clinic, to b

Mancunian Matters • 27th March 2024

Review - The Fabric of Us sustainable fashion show

Sequins, sparkles and sustainability – I went to a sustainable fashion show which celebrates the past, present and future of Mancunian fashion.

So La Flair and the Night People performed in The Fabric of Us sustainable fashion show. The event, hosted at the Science and Industry Museum, was a celebration of past, present and future Mancunian fashion.

Each look was carefully curated by Erin Taylor Thomas, owner of thrift and swap shop Beg Steal and Borrow, using items that were traded into her s

Mancunian Matters • 24th March 2024

Stockport hosts 'Town of Culture' weekend

Stockport was named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ last year, and celebrated this weekend with a town-wide celebration of arts and crafts.

Poppy Dippnall went down to Stockport to report on the event:

Manchester World • 23rd March 2024

"There is a special thing about Manchester - and that's what makes it s**t hot"

Manchester is a city in many ways shaped by its iconic music scene. It's the birthplace of Oasis, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Blossoms, and The 1975 as well as culturally significant industries and movements like Factory Records and The Hacienda.

One of those Manchester music legends was DJ Paulette, whose career now spans four decades. The 57-year-old was one of only two women to hold a monthly spot in The Hacienda early in her career so is well placed to talk about t

Manchester World • 22nd March 2024

I went down to the new Stockport interchange and found it's so much more than buses

Stockport’s new building on the block is nothing short of impressive. The long-awaited travel hub was a huge project that started back in 2021. The £140m building was officially opened March 17, alongside the Viaduct Park which sits on top of the station.

During the construction period, the project created around 151 jobs, enabled 56 work placements and held 675 weeks of apprenticeship and training weeks, according to the construction company chosen to build the interchange, Willmott Dixon. Now

Manchester World • 18th March 2024

“It has become a celebration of what is great about Manchester”

The Manchester College project, supported by the council, has seen students photograph significant Mancs in a location that is important to them. Co-ordinated by tutor Harry Potts, there are now more than 120 pictures in the collection including Gallagher, Burnham, council leader Bev Craig, Olympic athlete Keely Hodgkinson and Manc music favourites Clint Boon, Johnny Marr and Peter Hook.

“It's become a celebration of what's great about Manchester,” said Potts, who has 24 years of press photogra

Manchester World • 15th March 2024

I went to Stockport to find out why it's been named best place to live in North West

A definitive study has crowned Stockport the best place to live in the North West, with The Sunday Times calling it one of the most exciting towns around.

The area is set for an exciting future it is increasingly growing into the place to be in the region. There's the new transport interchange developments, the fact its been crowned Greater Manchester's Town of Culture and just this week, high-flying Stockport County's plans for an improved stadium.

But do the people of Stockport agree? I spok

Mancunian Matters • 15th March 2024

Stockport named the best place to live in the north west

Stockport has been named the best place to live in the north west, according to The Sunday Times’ annual Best Places to Live guide.

The Sunday Times judges have crowned Stockport one of the most exciting towns around ahead of its industrial developments, including the town’s new interchange project to improve the transport to and from the borough.

The town secured a £50,000 investment from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) after being crowned Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Cultur

Manchester World • 9th March 2024

I run Manchester's pink paradise after arriving from the US and opening my shop at 21

The brain behind the vibrant runway looks is Erin Taylor-Thomas, owner of independent thrift and swap shop Beg, Steal and Borrow. She said: “My experience in the city is I feel like people do dress exactly how they want to. There are people who love to showcase their fashion and I’m drawing a lot from the sense of freedom that comes with Manchester’s fashion.

“We came up with a very loose idea for the story, so that gave us room to reference and use historical pieces and showcase upcoming desig

Manchester World • 9th March 2024

I run hugely popular steakhouse chain - and now I'm bringing it home to Manchester

A London steakhouse chain is opening its first Manchester restaurant in Deansgate – selling affordable steaks and its own brand of red wine.

Flat Iron has announced they are opening a new 150-cover restaurant this summer in the historic building that formerly housed outdoor clothing chain Blacks.

The restaurant's signature ‘Flat Iron’ steak costs just £14 while the chain also has its own brand of Malbec wine specially blended using grapes grown in the Limoux area of the Languedoc in southern F

Mancunian Matters • 5th March 2024

Unique thrift store in Manchester encourages you to Beg, Steal and Borrow

Meet the woman behind Afflecks Palace’s stylishly sustainable thrift and swap shop which she set up in her early 20s after moving from the USA.

What was the most impressive thing you did in your 20s? Did you have your life figured out? Had you started a new career? Were you travelling the world?

Not every twenty-something knows exactly what to do – but Erin Taylor-Thomas had her life planned out in pink.

Erin owns the quirky and vibrant thrift shop Beg, Steal & Borrow in Afflecks Palace, Manc

Manchester World • 4th March 2024

"I was born and raised here - I've seen the decline and now I'm seeing the comeback"

Stockport’s title of ‘Town of Culture’ is yet another sign it has become one of the most exciting and desirable areas in Greater Manchester, according to local businesses.

The local community is coming together to host more than 50 events across 25 different locations to celebrate the honour the town has been given for 2024. It comes amid a town centre transformation with new flats going up around improved transport infrastructure, and a stream of new cafes and bars opening.

Some upcoming even

Mancunian Matters • 7th February 2024

Feminist Focus - Women In Sport

In this episode of Feminist Focus, Poppy takes a deep dive into the world of women’s sport – how much has changed in recent years?

Listen to the episode here-

Mancunian Matters • 13th December 2023

Manchester’s overweight and obese population at the lowest ever percentage, according to the ONS

Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that the percentage of overweight and obese adults in Manchester was at the lowest ever in 2021.

In 2021, Manchester had the lowest percentage of overweight and obese adults with 59.92% – which is the lowest ever percentage recorded.

Despite a peak of 64.16% in 2017, Manchester’s obese and overweight adult population is on the decline and has remained under the national average since 2018.

From 2020 to 2021, the data found there was a dec

Other • 25th October 2023

‘We never trick or treated when we were younger - it’s a very new thing’

It’s October, the ghosts are looming and the darker nights creeping in as the spooky season falls upon us - Halloween. It has been a growing favourite holiday for both children and adults, with creating or choosing creepy costumes, hosting parties, pumpkin carving, haunted attractions and chilling horror films.

But it wasn’t always so festive, as reporters Mia and Poppy found out with pensioners Margaret and Terrence Kilburn, who were visiting Manchester from Leeds.

The couple have witnessed t

Mancunian Matters • 24th October 2023

Lowry Hotel named one of best spas for menopause treatments

The Lowry Hotel in Manchester has been named one of the top spas in the country for menopause treatments. by Spabreaks.com for World Menopause Month.

UK’s leading spa booking agency, Spabreaks.com, has revealed five best spa breaks for women experiencing menopause as part of World Menopause Month in October.

And the five-star Lowry, on the banks of the River Irwell in Salford, is included on the list.

Abi Selby, founder of Spabreaks.com, said: “The spa has so many benefits to offer for both o

Mancunian Matters • 4th October 2023

“I love the story I’m sharing“: Self-published teen becomes voice of inspiration for young people struggling with invisible disabilities

A teen author from Lancashire who shared his experiences of growing up with autism is now looking to inspire young people with hidden disabilities.

Teenage Charlie Michael Baker became an overnight success with his self-published book ‘Autism and Me’.

The book – about the 16-year-old’s struggle growing up with autism and the adversity he faced from his peers in school – sold more than 14,000 copies.

“It has been crazy, a load of dreams coming true,” he said. “I’ve been quite successful in the

Mancunian Matters • 8th September 2023

Watch: The Interflora World Cup has come to Manchester

World Cup frenzy is sweeping the nation…and it’s not just about rugby! The 15th Interflora World Cup has come to the UK for the first time with Manchester as its host city.

The Interflora World Cup is the world’s largest floristry competition, which started in 1972, and has now arrived in the UK at the Manchester Central Convention Centre.

For the first time ever, the competition is opening its doors to the public to watch the competition take place this weekend (7th-9th September).

From acro

Mancunian Matters • 8th August 2023

Stockport-based charity's 30th anniversary golf event raises more than £17,000

Stockport-based charity Supportability raised more than £17,000 in their 30th anniversary charity golf event.

Supportability encourages adults and children with complex physical and learning disabilities to live a fulfilled and independent life.

The 30th edition of their annual Golf Day event raised a total of £17,360 for the charity in mid-July and saw the largest turnout to date.

The event was held at Heaton Moor Golf Club, Stockport, where it has been hosted every year since the charity’s

Other • 1st July 2023

WATCH: The Other Art Fair returns to Kings Cross

The Other Art Fair returned to Kings Cross, brighter and bolder for its summer fair.

The international art exhibition was back for its summer edition to exhibit over 100 of London’s independent artists.

Presented by Saatchi Art, the world’s leading online art gallery, the fair advocates the selling of affordable artwork from independent artists.

Colourful and original art filled the exhibition, as well as a chance to meet the artists behind the pieces.

Also available from the partners of the