Business

Manchester’s Royal Mail sorting office on Oldham Road sold for £45m

It is currently unknown what will become of the sorting office, which is just one of a large portfolio of sorting offices the nation's postal service operates across the UK.

The Manc The Manc - 24th June 2021

The well known Royal Mail distribution centre on Oldham Road in Manchester city centre has been sold to a private investor.

Aviva Investors, which is connected to a Salford-based millionaire, has sold the popular sorting office for £45 million with an initial net yield of 2.75% – a record low yield for the North West.

According to Place North West, it is understood that the buyer is loosely connected to Aubrey Weis, who is behind a proposed £350m skyscraper scheme at Manchester’s Great Jackson Street, which if materialised, will comprise of two 56-storey towers and more than 1,000 apartments.

Royal Mail

Acting for the buyer in the Royal Mail acquisition is Cooper Rose Real Estate, while Savills’ Manchester investment agency team acted for the seller, Aviva.

The popular fulfilment centre is the largest warehouse of its type in Manchester city centre and was acquired by Aviva for £14.4m in 2010. Royal Mail also operates a 340,000 sq ft distribution centre in Warrington.

It is currently unknown what will become of the sorting office, which is just one of a large portfolio of sorting offices the nation’s postal service operates across the UK.

Business

An exclusive pop-up vintage clothing and charity market is coming to Manchester Arndale

Danny Jones Danny Jones charity vintage clothing market Manchester Arndale

Love shopping locally, independently and sustainably and from the likes of traders and regional markets? Well, this one is tailor-made for you (pun intended), because a Greater Manchester favourite is coming to the city centre.

Better still, you can do your bit for charity whilst you’re at it.

That’s right: Salford’s former but ever superb Charity Super.Mkt is making its way from Media City to central Manchester for the very first time.

Popping up at the Arndale for its city centre debut, Exchange Court will be taken over by a sea of indies and vintage clobber for three whole days.

Charity Super.Mkt Printworks 2026 summer dates July pop-up
Credit: Press shot (supplied via Charity Super.Mkt)

Boasting not only some native but even national history, the UK’s first multi-charity pre-loved fashion store boasts countless curated charity finds.

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From second-hand gems and desirable denim, to retro and cult favourite football shirts and more, there’ll be plenty to get your hands on – all whilst supporting charities from nearby and all over the country.

Co-founded by Northern designer Wayne Hemingway MBE – whose Red or Dead footwear brand and fashion label began in Afflecks Palace and over on King Street – the Manc roots behind this run deep.

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Notably, this upcoming and limited-time-only event marks a significant milestone for the initiative, too, as this will be their biggest activation since their highly successful two-month stint at the Quayside shopping complex.

The popular residency was only relatively short-lived, but it’s safe to say that it was much-loved and well-received by plenty more than just Salfordians.

You can read more here:

Inside Greater Manchester’s massive new charity shop ‘department store’
They even teamed up with Salford Red Devils (now Salford RLFC)

Getting underway this month, the pop-up will kick off from 9am on Friday, 10 July, running across the entire weekend.

Participating charities include The British Heart Foundation and the RSPCA, who have already seen support through more than 10,000 vintage items being resold in an effort to raise important funds from the Media City pop-up alone.

This also meant that more than three tonnes of textile waste were diverted from landfill, and over 25 tonnes of CO₂ emissions were offset, not to mention upwards of 4,500 cubic metres of water were saved in the process. Brilliant stuff.

Making its maiden appearance in Manchester city centre, this summer’s Charity Super.Mkt at Manchester Arndale is a must-not-miss; you can find the opening times for each of the days down below:

– Friday, 10 July: 9am–8pm

– Saturday, 11 July: 9am–8pm

– Sunday, 12 July 11:30am–5:30pm

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE

Featured Images — Publicity pictures/Kris Humphreys Photography (via Manchester Arndale)

Business

Government grants pubs permission to stay open until 5am for England’s next World Cup match

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Pubs across the country are being granted permission to stay open until the early hours of the morning on Sunday.

As England’s World Cup journey continues, the Three Lions are set to face Mexico in a Round of 16 knock-out match at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday night, but due to time differences between the two countries, this means that kick-off will be at 1am GMT here – a time when pubs are closed, and let’s face it, a lot of us are already in bed ready for work the next day.

But, in what is set to be a big ‘boost’ for pubs and bars – and football fans – nationwide, the Government has given permission for alcohol licensing hours to be extended for Sunday night’s match.

The Home Secretary has the legislative power to extend licensing hours on occasions of ‘exceptional international, national or local significance’, so this change removes the need for individual premises to apply for extended hours.

This extension to 5am adds to the already-granted extensions for England’s knock-out games that kicked off up until 10pm.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed is set to write to Council leaders across the country to inform them of these changes.

“Football might be coming home but we’re making sure fans don’t have to,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in an emphatic statement.

Road to Victory fan zone Manchester Euro 2024
Pubs are allowed to stay open until 5am on Sunday / Credit: Road to Victory | We Are Football (Supplied)

“Pubs staying open until the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together. The whole country will be backing the team. Come on England.”

Michael Kill, who is the CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said the extension is ‘fantastic news’ that will be ‘hugely welcomed’ by operators.

He continued: ““This pragmatic approach allows venues to focus on what matters most – bringing communities together to support the national team.

Read more:

“Major sporting occasions like this deliver a significant boost to hospitality businesses while creating an atmosphere that unites the country.”

Featured Image – Road To Victory (Supplied)

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