In April 2020, everyone in Manchester seemed to come to the same conclusion – it was time to get fit.
The world was closed for business and everyone was cooped-up inside until further notice. There had never been a more ideal time to shed some pounds and pack on some muscle.
Demand for fitness equipment was insane. Dumbbells, exercise bikes and yoga mats all vanished within a matter of weeks, meaning people had to improvise.
People filled water jugs to use as weights, used resistance bands instead of cable machines, and hit the tarmac instead of the treadmill.
And it worked.
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Those who embraced a street-style fitness regime saw some of the best results and found the workouts more fulfilling – and it’s this raw, urbanised form of training that Urban Reform has been running since setting up in 2018.
Inside the industrial unit on Pollard Street is where it started for Urban Reform.
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Fitness fanatics were flipping tyres, swinging kettlebells and throwing about heavy weights, and although seemed a tricky task, people who’d never lifted in their life were squatting like pros and doing walking handstands. But that’s just the way things are at Urban Reform – progress is fast.
People went to the facility looking to transform their lives, and within weeks, they knew more about themselves and their bodies than ever before.
Urban Reform was set up by Dean Ashton and Ricky Gibbins, and began life offering outdoor fitness programs / Credit: The Manc Group
“We want people to leave the gym feeling good about themselves,” co-founder Dean Ashton tells us.
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“Our ethos is to educate people so they can take full ownership of a healthy lifestyle with simplified and tailored programs [and] we offer the right info, at the right pace, at the right time – it’s as simple as that.”
Urban Reform was set up by Dean Ashton and Ricky Gibbins, and began life offering outdoor fitness programs.
Personal Trainer Dean decided he wanted to bring fitness to the doorstep of the Manchester community, and so he started conducting classes in car parks and green areas – which would grow in attendance almost every week – and meanwhile, on the other side of town, Ricky was running an enormously-successful Personal Training business that transformed lives from his home garage.
The pair decided to put their heads together, merge their respective followings, and set up Urban Reform – a fitness centre that retained a grassroots feel while offering a more holistic kind of service.
“Our ethos is to educate people so they can take full ownership of a healthy lifestyle.” / Credit: The Manc Group
“PT businesses can be narcissistic sometimes,” Dean says.
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“They can push vanity and perfection. We wanted to do it right. We wanted to utilise our skills of understanding people and put them into Manchester – using fitness as a way to help people develop a balanced lifestyle, keep fit and healthy.
“As fitness trainers, we’ve got a duty of care to busy people living and working here, which is why we’ve brought in staff in different areas, including mental health specialists, transformation coaches, weightlifting coaches, lower back pain experts, trainers adept in helping young and older adults, and nutritionists.”
The multifaceted fitness centre has been a smash-hit with Mancs throughout 2020 and into 2021, with programs in physical and wellness transformation having been hosted both online and on site, depending on tier restrictions.
“During COVID, we offered online services that have proven extremely popular; such as online exercise plans and videos,” explains Dean.
“And after lockdown, all our classes were fully booked – now, we want to grow and develop.”
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The multifaceted fitness centre has been a smash-hit with Mancs throughout 2020 and into 2021 / Credit: The Manc Group
Both Dean and Ricky’s determination to support the mindset of busy city centre lives has led to a number of collaborations with businesses to support the resilience of staff on a wider scale across Manchester.
Dean continued: “We’re launching a new service at Exchange Quay with AJ Bell to offer a wellbeing service for all their staff, as well as working with Capital and Centric to provide services for their residents.
“We are now located in a new facility near Piccadilly Train Station that’s double the size of our current venue, and it’ll have a focus on creative fitness, strength and offering consistent wellbeing messages.”
Urban Reform is has a number of packages to engage all levels, including physical and mental transformation programs, strength-based classes, urban fitness outdoor bootcamps, and even weight lifting programs that teach beginners to lift like a pro. So whether you’re brand new to training, or a top level athlete, the team is more than equipped to support everyone and provide the highest level quality.
Urban Reform is has a number of packages to engage all levels / Credit: The Manc Group
There’s just as much focus on the mental side as well as the physical.
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“Every one of our coaches are put through a mentorship program which involves mental health courses, so they can recognise anxiety and depression,” Dean explains
“Mental health first aid is essential in this line of work. As a PT – you’re a support worker, too [and] you need to understand or be aware if someone is struggling.
Thousands of Mancs found solace by working out in their gardens or streets during lockdown, and Urban Reform is taking the spirit of this training, cranking up the intensity, refining the focus – and making us a fitter region as a result.
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Urban Reform’s open day is taking place on Saturday 11 September, and you can find more information by heading over to the website here.
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There’s also a chance for one lucky fitness fan to bag themselves a 12-week transformation program worth £1,000.
You can find more about the competition and get your entries in here.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
Manchester
Olly Murs announces Manchester show on huge arena tour – with Blue as support
Daisy Jackson
Olly Murs has just announced details of a huge arena tour, including a stop here in Manchester.
He’ll be playing the city’s biggest arena, the Co-op Live, as part of his 2025 tour.
The news comes fresh off the back of his nationwide tour supporting Take That on their massive This Life on Tour tour.
He’s announced a massive support act for himself too, bringing along British boyband favourites Blue.
Olly Murs first rose to stardom when he placed as runner-up in 2009’s The X Factor competition (though his career has soared past winner Joe McElderry’s).
Since then, he’s released seven solo studio albums, including last year’s Marry Me.
His massive hits include Heart Skips a Beat, Dance With Me Tonight, and Troublemaker, and he’s worked with the likes of Rizzle Kicks, Snoop Dogg, Demi Lovato and Flo Rida.
Olly Murs is now heading back out on the road for an all-singing, all-dancing arena tour.
It will include dates in Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and loads more.
Olly said: “Celebrating 15 unbelievable years doing what I love best will be truly special. But to top it off I’m taking a band with me who I was obsessed with in my college years, BLUE!
“No doubt the pranks and banter will be free-flowing but most importantly it’s going to be a great night for the fans to enjoy, I can’t wait.”
Blue said: “We were really delighted when Olly asked us to join him on his Arena tour next year and can’t wait to get on the road with him in the Spring!
“We are going to have a whole lot of fun and look forward to making him an honorary Blue boy! We’ll be singing the biggest hits and maybe the odd joke here and there – watch out Olly!”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 13 September at 10am – you can get yours here.
Olly Murs 2025 tour dates in full
24 April – Plymouth, Pavilions
26 April – Brighton, Centre
27 April – Hull, Connexin Live
29 April – Dublin, 3Arena
30 April – Belfast, SSE Arena
2 May – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
3 May – Aberdeen, P&J Live
4 May – Newcastle, Utilita Arena
6 May – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
8 May – Manchester, Co-op Live
9 May – Leeds, First Direct Arena
10 May – Sheffield, Utilita Arena
12 May – Cardiff, Utilita Arena
15 May – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena
16 May – Birmingham, bp pulse LIVE
17 May – London, The O2
Featured image: Mark Hayman
Manchester
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Lina Stores is set to open its very first restaurant in Manchester early next year, taking its beloved mix of handmade pasta and deli food outside of London for the first time.
80 years after opening for the first time in Soho, Lina Stores is heading north to open a 150-cover restaurant.
Blending coffee shop, delicatessen, restaurant, and bar, the new space will be styled in traditional Lina Stores shades of pastel green hues, warm timber woods, and terrazzo and timber flooring.
You’ll find bespoke marble tables, original vintage Bentwood chairs, dark green booth seating and opaline globe lighting inspired by the original Brewer Street delicatessen.
Diners will be spoilt with an Italian-inspired breakfast menu, featuring dishes like truffle scrambled eggs with toasted sourdough, Greek yoghurt with Italian Macedonia fruit salad, and a selection of breakfast panini.
At lunchtimes and dinner there’ll be antipasti such as ricotta and herb gnudi fritti with Calabrian chilli marmellata, and tuna crudo with capers, pink peppercorn and salsa verde.
Lina Stores Manchester will have the brand’s beloved pasta dishes, such as the 30-egg yolk taglioni with black truffle, and lamb sausage ragu pappardelle, plus new options like lemon sole and potato raviolo.
For secondi (because this is Italy darling, you can have two mains!) there are dishes like chicken Milanese and Luganega fennel sausage.
And for dessert, it’s set to be a feast of Sicilian cannolo (filled with ricotta, pistachio and chocolate) and tiramisu.
Lina Stores – Italian deli restaurant serving homemade pasta and more is heading to Manchester. Credit: Rebecca Hope
In the open-plan delicatessen, you’ll be able to grab filling salads, freshly-made panini, and delicate cakes and pastries.
Shelves will be stocked with Lina Stores Collection pantry essentials, from olive oil to traditional biscotti.
And just next to that will be Bar Lina, serving classic and modern Italian cocktails for aperitivo hour until late at night.
Expect favourites like the bloody martini, Rinomata americano, and the basilico with gin, vermouth, basil and lemon.
The bar will have a versatile wine list from all corners of Italy, including the brand’s own signature collection.
Lina Stores Manchester will be located on Quay Street in the recently-refurbished Quoin building, right opposite the Opera House theatre.
Masha Rener, Head Chef of Lina Stores, said: “We’re extremely excited to be opening in Manchester this spring.
“The city feels like a natural home for us considering the area’s rich history, vibrant culinary scene and lively nightlife, and look forward to sharing our passion of great Italian food and produce with the Manchester community.
“Quay Street is the perfect location for us to do so, sitting right in the trifecta of Spinningfields, St John Street and St Peter’s Square.”