Manchester is home to a rich underground world that’s often the subject of several urban explorations and group guided tours every year.
From subterranean canals and train tunnels, to hidden atomic bunkers and even WWII air raid shelters, there’s a lot that goes unnoticed underneath the hustle and bustle of city life, and “Manchester’s hardest-working historian” Ed Glinert has been lucky enough to see it all.
Ed confesses he is someone who “has spent far too much time under Manchester”, but his unrivalled expertise in unraveling the mysteries of the deep is what usually sees him deliver a regular guided tours for those seeking an alternative view of our city.
Sadly though, just like most things, three lockdowns and ongoing and ever-changing coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions have put a stop to that.
So, he’s decided to do we’ve all resorted to over these last 10 months – do it on Zoom instead.
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The first fully-booked-up Underground Manchester – The Full Tour on Zoom is due to take place this Saturday, with another sold out event scheduled for the weekend after, but there’s still two upcoming tour dates in the diary that you can grab tickets for.
And there’s no need for sturdy walking boots, a torch, or three-day survival kit either.
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According to the overview, each tour will: “Explore in ravishing detail, with all the relevant pictures, the places you’d love to get down to but can’t anymore, thanks to meticulous and eye-opening research Manchester’s leading historian.
“We will take you to:
Manchester’s biggest World War II air-raid shelter: Still there, rotting away, complete with war-time relics.
The underground Manchester & Salford Junction Canal: From its open-air source, through to its submerged section where the water resolutely refuses to go away – what a story.
The atomic bunker that stretches for four miles under George Street, Piccadilly Gardens and Market Street that was built at a time of government paranoia.
The massive space under Manchester Cathedral, complete with toilets, stairs, space for bunk beds.
Not forgetting the underground streams and rivers.”
Each fully-immersive takes place over one hour, and allows you to live out all of your urban exploration dreams without even having to step foot outside your front door.
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After around half an hour of the tour, there will be time for a break before recommencing for another half an hour of sturdy virtual touring.
And then, you can go ‘home’.
Prices for each tour start at £8.75, and you can grab your tickets via Eventbrite here.
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Aldi is closing all its UK stores on Boxing Day again this year
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has become the latest retailer to announce that it’ll be closing all its stores across the UK on Boxing Day this year.
Christmas is always known to be one of the busiest periods of the year for the retail industry, and Boxing Day has a reputation for being the ultimate day for shopping deals and discounts in the UK, but this year, Aldi has made the decision to close all of its stores nationwide on this bank holiday.
The supermarket retailer says it wants to thank its colleagues colleagues, once again, “for all their hard work” throughout the year.
This means that all Aldi stores will be closed on 25 and 26 December.
All stores will then reopen as usual on Friday 27 December, so customers can pick up all the essentials for their New Year celebrations.
Opening hours at different Aldi stores across the UK will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, so it’s important to check the times for your local store, but the company has confirmed that most branches will be operating extended hours to “ensure customers can stock up ahead of the big day”.
Speaking on the decision to shut up shop on Boxing Day this year, Richard Thornton, who is the Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is such a special period for many of our colleagues, and by keeping our stores closed on Boxing Day, Aldi gives them more time to spend with their loved ones.”
Stores will reopen as normal on Friday 27 December, in time for grabbing New Year essentials / Credit: Aldi
Mr Thornton said that, despite the Boxing Day closure, Aldi customers will have “plenty to look forward to” in the run-up to Christmas.
He said the retailer has some “exciting Christmas ranges” hitting the shelves very soon.
Aldi’s announcement of its Boxing Day closures comes after fellow retailer, Home Bargains, confirmed a couple of weeks back that it would, once again, be shutting UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day again in 2024, just as it has done for several other years prior.
It’s expected that a handful of other retailers will make similar announcements over the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.
Featured Image – Aldi UK
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Space NK to give away hundreds of free goody bags at opening of new Trafford Centre store
Emily Sergeant
Space NK is set to open its new store in the Trafford Centre this weekend, and hundreds of shoppers are expected to turn out.
As the leading beauty retailer – which also recently just opened a swanky new store in Manchester Arndale – prepares to welcome cosmetics fans through the doors of its newest Greater Manchester home this weekend, customers are being told they’re in for a real treat, as the brand has now confirmed some exciting launch day plans.
The first 300 people to visit the new Trafford Centre store on Saturday (21 September) when it opens at 10am will receive an exclusive Space NK goody bag filled with items from some of the world’s best beauty brands.
Not only that, but the first 200 shoppers to spend £150 in store will also receive a goody bag that’s worth an incredible £300.
Known and loved by millions of shoppers all across the country for offering a wide range of products, including skincare, cosmetics, and even beauty ‘gadgets’ too, Space NK stocks more than 130 world-renowned brands.
Drunk Elephant, Nars, Charlotte Tilbury, and Diptyque are just some of the big names the retailer is known to stock, alongside a whole host of exclusive products.
The new Trafford Centre store will feature 18 makeup ‘gondolas’, more than 300 shelves of the most in-demand brands, and dedicated areas for customers to try products at their leisure.
Space NK is opening a new store in the Trafford Centre this weekend / Credit: Space NK (via Facebook)
To make sure no launch-day customer walks away empty handed, Space NK branded tote bags will be handed out to Trafford Centre shoppers, alongside a selection of different beauty samples for anyone joining the queue.
Across the opening weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, any customer who makes a purchase in-store will also get the chance to play the ‘Spin to Win’ wheel game, and there’s loads of amazing prizes set to be won – including a much-coveted Space NK advent calendar, just in time for the festive season.
DJs will be blasting tunes to entertain shoppers all weekend long, and there’ll also be an exclusive set from TikTok sensation, the Altego twins, as well as complementary croissants and cookies for the first customers in the queue.