Manchester City Council is urging members of the public to put “safety first” as the city reopens ahead of the busy festive period.
Council leaders are asking that all visitors to the city centre continue to “adhere to COVID-19 regulations”.
The advice arrives as England’s second national lockdown amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has come to an end today, and a return to the government’s new “tougher” three tiered regional system has commenced, with Greater Manchester entering into Tier 3 restrictions.
It also comes as non-essential retail stores reopen under Tier 3, allowing people to get their Christmas shopping done ahead of the big day.
New “Welcome Back Manchester” signage has also been installed across the city centre – taking an appropriate festive theme as the national lockdown comes to an end – but they carry serious reminders for people visiting to plan their journey, keep their distance, wash their hands, and wear a face covering where necessary to do so and where social distancing cannot be upheld.
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To ensure shoppers can remain safe while working through their Christmas lists, more uniformed COVID Marshals are on hand in busy shopping areas – such as Market Street – to manage crowding issues quickly and efficiently.
And these marshals will also be stationed around district centres across the city to ensure our high streets are as safe as possible.
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Pavement widening schemes across the city, which were installed following the first national lockdown earlier in the year, will remain in place, along with the road closures that were put in place at the same time, meaning parts of Deansgate, and Thomas Street and Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter will continue to be closed to traffic.
This is to support the hospitality industry – especially once it can fully reopen – and to help pedestrians maintain their distance while in the city centre.
Speaking on the city’s safe reopening, Cllr Pat Karney – spokesperson for Manchester City Council – said: “Lockdown in the winter months has proven a very different prospect to summer, and we know people will be raring to get out and get their Christmas shopping done.
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“Supporting local businesses at this critical time of year is really important, but we do need to remain cautious and following safety guidelines is as crucial as ever.
“COVID has not gone away.”
“You will see more COVID marshals in the city centre to keep us safe and manage crowds, and road closures will still be in place to give pedestrians more room to distance.
“And remember to wash your hands regularly, and wear a face covering.”
You can find more information regarding COVID safety measures over the festive period via the Manchester City Council website here.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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PrettyLittleThing founder marries model in star-studded £20m wedding
Daisy Jackson
The founder of Manchester fashion brand PrettyLittleThing, Umar Kamani, has married his model love in a lavish four-day wedding celebration.
The entrepreneur married Nada Adelle in the south of France in a glittering event reportedly costing £20m.
Among the guests were a-listers like Naomi Campbell, Anthony Joshua, and Rio Ferdinand, with performances from Mariah Carey and Ronan Keating.
Umar, originally from Manchester, also invited fellow Mancs like all three Thomas brothers Ryan, Scott and Adam, and fellow entrepreneur Steven Bartlett.
The stunning wedding took place three years after the happy couple announced their engagement (he proposed with a diamond ring worth £1.45m).
Umar, 36, co-founded online fashion giant PrettyLittleThing with his brother Adam. His bride Nada, 31, is a model.
And while he’s famed for creating affordable fashion, this wedding leaned the other way – Nada wore an haute couture Dior gown designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri, which took 540 hours to make.
The PrettyLittleThing founder’s wedding kicked off with a poolside welcome party where all guests dressed in white.
Then came a black tie wedding celebration, where Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang The Prayer as Nada walked down the aisle.
The reception that followed took place inside a huge ballroom, where Mariah Carey sang several of her biggest hits to delighted guests.
On the third day of the wedding, it was time for the traditional Indian wedding celebration, Nada this time dressed in a sparkling gown in contrast to her more simple Dior dress.
And guests were treated to a barbecue on Sunday before heading home from France.
Mariah Carey performing at the Kamani wedding. Credit: Instagram, Lucy MecklenburghScott Thomas shared a glimpse into the lavish black tie wedding reception of PrettyLittleThing founder Umar KamaniAndrea Bocelli performing at the Kamani wedding. Credit: Instagram, Ryan ThomasAdam Kamani’s sweet message to his brother and PrettyLittleThing co-founder Umar on his wedding day
Many of the celebrity guests have been sharing snaps from the big day(s), including Scott Thomas, who wrote: “There is nothing quite like a Kamani Wedding. Congratulations @umarkamani @nadakamani. Memories for a lifetime…”
Umar’s brother and PrettyLittleThing co-founder Adam also shared a sweet message from the wedding, writing: “Walking down the aisle to see you at the end of it stood there so handsome and strong before you got married. A feeling i can’t describe. I really am so proud of you. Love you so much @umarkamani.”
Naomi Campbell posted: “My chosen family ! Would not want to be anywhere else than with you on this day , TO WITNESS THIS BEAUTIFUL UNION OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE MR&MRSKAMANI WE LOVE YOU !!”
The supermodel icon also described it as a ‘divine weekend of love’.
The player celebrations from Stockport County’s League Two trophy presentation are glorious
Danny Jones
If you’re a Stockport County fan, you’ve had a very good year as the Hatters have just been crowned League Two champions and will be back in the English third tier next season – safe to say they’ve been making most of the trophy celebrations.
Players and staff very much included.
Edgeley was filled with flares and even people climbing on rooftops when they officially secured promotion back to League One for the first time in 12 years – the second time they’ve managed to go up in three seasons – and there was a great attendance in Stockport town centre for the bus parade.
But it was last week’s trophy presentation back at the stadium that produced some of the most memorable scenes, with County topping off a season of impressive and often high-scoring performances on the pitch with plenty more pageantry. Cue the music.
— Stockport (C)ounty (@StockportCounty) May 3, 2024
No one ever takes those pitch invasion ‘warnings’ seriously – not even the players.
We still haven’t stopped laughing at Kyle Knoyle.
From bringing Isaac Olaofe’s ‘Tanto’s on fire!’ chant to life to hammering home puns on names like Fraser Horsfall, no matter how obvious, these are the kind of deeply unserious celebrations we expect from a trophy presentation.
County fan or not, you’ve got to admit it looks like a good party.
It’s moments like these that players, fans and staff work hard all season for; to prat around like muppets in front of their adoring supporters. They even got assistant coach, Clint Hill, in the mix and, as it turns out, he proved to be one of the biggest ring-leaders.
We sincerely hope the Hatters keep trickling out more of these party scenes as we know there’s plenty more that fans would love to watch back.
We’re still yet to see captain Paddy Madden, who won Player of the Month for April, and the gaffer himself, Dave Challinor, who has comfortably secured his legacy as one of the club’s all-time greats.
Challinor and the club have made no secret of seriously eyeing up the Championship and who knows what else at County’s momentum continues to build, especially with a huge stadium redevelopment kicking off soon.
What do you reckon, Hatters – do you reckon a third promotion could be on the cards?