It’s now been just over a year since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit and the first national lockdown was announced.
A year since life as we once knew it was flipped on its head and everything changed.
When we take a reflective look back on this past year, while many of us will remember fond memories of our local communities and the nation as a whole coming together to support one another at a time when it truly was needed most, it’s still difficult not to acknowledge that it’s been a turbulent time for Greater Manchester.
The region has certainly faced its fair share of challenges.
Several national and local lockdowns, and a number of ongoing COVID-safe restrictions and social distancing measures, have meant that businesses have been forced to shut up shop, industries have temporarily closed down, and countless events have been postponed or cancelled.
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It’s also sadly meant that many Mancunians have spent a considerable amount of time apart from our brilliant city centre.
It’ll still likely be more time before mass-participation events are back, as well.
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But for everyone keen to get fit and active, have a bit of fun, raise some money, and most importantly, re-discover some of the city’s finest sights that we’ve not been able to see for so long, the We Love MCR Charity, one of Manchester’s most iconic charities, has the perfect solution – the Landmarks of Manchester 10K.
BIG NEWS!
Our exciting challenge starting 29th March – the 'Landmarks of Manchester' 10K! 🏃
Fall in love with our city all over again & raise money for our work ❤️
Now that the second phase of ‘Step One’ in the government’s roadmap to lifting England’s current national lockdown has been implemented from 29th March – with the ‘stay at home’ order lifted, along with the return of the ‘rule of six’ for outdoor meeting and the resuming of outdoor sporting activities among the measures introduced – people are permitted to travel into Manchester city centre for exercise, and the Landmarks of Manchester 10K is designed to not only help you get those steps in, but to also take you on a circular route past some of the places where Manchester’s history was written.
To put it simply, We Love MCR Charity wants to help Mancunians “fall in love with our city again”.
So, what are some of the landmarks you’ll be paying a visit to then?
Canal Street – In the heart of the vibrant Gay Village.
China Town – To visit the Chinese Arch.
Manchester’s iconic Central Library.
The Hacienda – A chance to see the historic site.
Rusholme’s “Curry Mile”
The Pankhurst Centre – Where the Pankhursts forged the campaign for votes for women.
The Rutherford Building – Where Ernest Rutherford first split the atom.
Manchester Technology Centre – Where Alan Turing helped to create the first programmable computer.
The Vimto Statue – Honouring the region’s beloved purple nectar.
While the Landmarks of Manchester 10K is all about simply getting involved, having fun and raising some money, for the competitive folk among us, there’s still a chance to earn some exciting prizes as there will also be a competition to crown the ‘Best Selfie or Video’ submitted by a participant while out completing the route, and the Lord Mayor of Manchester is set to review the entries and pick two which best capture the spirit of the event.
The winners will bag themselves either a £200 dining voucher to use on a selection of Manchester restaurants, or a £75 voucher for the for the legendary Rudy’s pizzeria.
So get creative and come up with the best ideas for your selfie entries.
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“Now is the perfect time to fall in love with our city again.” Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Tommy Judge, said.
“The Landmarks of Manchester 10K route will take you past some of the most significant places in our incredible history. We’re blessed with such diverse heritage and rich scientific breakthroughs and this 10K run will help us all to uncover and celebrate our history.
“Please take part as a walker or a runner, and please raise some sponsorship for We Love MCR Charity – a great charity which I’m proud to Chair”.
We Love MCR Charity
We Love MCR Charity
Fancy giving it a go then?
The Landmarks of Manchester 10K isn’t an officially measured and registered 10K course, and participants should only run or walk it either alone, with members of their own household / social bubble, or within the ‘rule of six’ guidelines, until restrictions on this change.
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Participants should always follow the current government guidelines on COVID-19 restrictions.
To enter the Landmarks of Manchester 10K, simply fill out the registration form here, or visit the We Love MCR Charity website for more information. After you’ve signed-up to the event, the charity will then send you a ‘Welcome Pack’, which includes an A3 colour map of the run, guidance on how to take part safely, and top tips for raising sponsorship.
The Landmarks of Manchester 10K is FREE to enter and is now open until 31st July 2021.
Today is the official 1st day of our Landmarks Of Manchester 10K! 🏅
Join the We Love MCR team as we warm up at the start point in @PiccadillyPlace! 🥵
All sponsorship raised from the Landmarks of Manchester 10K will go directly to supporting We Love MCR Charity’s two current grant programmes – the ‘Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund’, and the recently-relaunched ‘Stronger Communities Fund’ – which support local communities and ambitious young Mancunians to recover from the problems created by the pandemic.
We Love MCR Charity’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund has already awarded nearly £1 million to 312 voluntary groups and charities to support over 50,000 Mancunians.
This is your chance to help support even more.
Feature
Mercury Prize 2026 review: RAYE takes home the crown as Newcastle celebrates the very best in music
Clementine Hall
One of the biggest nights in music kicked off last night as the Mercury Prize 2026 was awarded.
If there was ever a night to fall head over heels in love with British and Irish music, the 2026 Mercury Prize made a very convincing case.
Bringing together some of the country’s most exciting artists under one roof in Newcastle, this year’s ceremony was a reminder of just how much talent is packed into the current music scene.
From established legends to the names shaping what comes next, it was an absolute belter.
Images: Audio North
Held at the Newcastle Utilita Arena for the second year running, I think everybody in that room felt very lucky to be there to see firsthand who took home the coveted prize.
The shortlist brought together an impressive mix of artists, with Florence + The Machine, Olivia Dean, JADE, Suede, Pulp, Dave and Sir Paul McCartney among the big names making the lineup very star studded indeed.
Suede kicked things off with ‘Dancing With The Europeans’, bringing their unmistakable energy to the ceremony, while Pulp delivered ‘Begging For Change’ as part of the HELP(2) charity compilation.
It was a line-up that demonstrated the sheer range of music being made across the UK and Ireland, from contemporary pop to established rock and even jungle thanks to Bradford’s own Nia Archives.
And of course, there was one woman who had every reason to leave with a smile on her face.
RAYE took home the coveted Mercury Prize for THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE., an ambitious, genre-hopping album that blends jazz, soul, R&B and classical influences into something so fabulously unique.
Image: Audio North
Newcastle’s own Knats performance was definitely a highlight of the evening, combining slick jazz with spoken-word poetry against a projection of The Tyne Bridge.
A fitting image, and one that underlines the importance of holding such huge events in the north and highlighting the obvious talent that thrives here.
The 2026 Mercury Prize was a brilliant showcase of the country’s music at its best.
And with RAYE taking home the trophy, it’s clear there is plenty of ‘hope’ left in British music.
The most magical Christmas displays have now landed at one of the North West’s best garden centres
Emily Sergeant
Christmas has officially arrived at one of the best garden centres in the North West, and it’s just as magical as you’d hope it would be.
Just outside of Greater Manchester in the village of Glazebury in Warrington, you’ll find Bents Garden and Home – a multi award-winning destination garden centre that’s often voted one of the region’s best. It’s great place to visit all year round, but as anyone who has ever made the trip there will tell you, this place really comes alive during the festive season.
Bents first started out life all the way back in 1937, when Alfred and Margaret Bent began growing and selling roses in the front garden of their terraced house in Glazebury.
Ever since then, the business has gone from strength to strength – opening its first dedicated garden centre building in the early 1950s, and then undergoing several expansions in the 60 years that followed to create the place we know and love today.
A place that’s home to everything you need to kit out your home and garden, several cafes and restaurants, a food hall, a cook shop, a children’s boutique, and plenty more.
Christmas has arrived at Bents Garden and Home for 2026 / Credit: The Manc Group
And then at Christmas time, you can also get to wander around all the magical festive displays and stop for a bite to eat at the winter food markets.
Christmas at Bents originally began in the 1970s, establishing what would become one of the garden centre’s most successful – and favourite – times of the year, with people travelling in their thousands from all across the North West to visit, making it an annual tradition in the festive events calendar for many families.
With a jaw-dropping display to suit everyone’s festive decor tastes, Christmas at Bents really does need to be seen to be believed.
Expertly decorated trees form the centrepiece of each display, with all the baubles and decorations adorning them for sale by the side for you to recreate yourself at home.
Walking around the centre, you’ll also find every type of artificial tree (both normal and pre-lit), an array of fairy lights, wreaths, and garlands, before you arrive at what is sure to be one of the best Christmas Lemax Model Village set-ups you’ve probably ever seen.
A trip to Bents is an annual festive tradition for thousands across the North West / Credit: The Manc Group
Then, once you’ve filled your basket up with all the decs you need, you have to stop off at the Winter Food Markets before you head home.
There’s a wide array of different street food options to choose from like bratwursts, giant filled Yorkshire puddings, loaded fries, nachos, mac and cheese, crepes, churros, and build-your-own crumble, before taking a pew in one of the little wooden huts and washing it all down with festive-themed hot chocolates and mulled wine.
Don’t forget to stop off at the food hall, farm shop, and deli counters to stock up on plenty of goodies there before you leave too.
Basically, if you’ve never been to Bents before, we honestly cannot recommend it enough – even more so during Christmas time.
Don’t forget to stop off at the Winter Food Markets before heading home / Credit: The Manc Group
But it is really important to note that it does get very busy here, especially on weekends and at peak times like the run up to Christmas.
So you may have to be prepared to patiently wait for parking spaces and cooperate with your fellow shoppers, as well as join queues at the cafes and restaurants, all while respecting the hard-working staff at all times.
Let’s be as respectful as possible, and make this a place where everyone can enjoy a magical festive experience in 2026.
Emily Sergeant -
26th March 2021 
