A new club night will launch in Manchester this Friday in the Northern Quarter, specialising in feel-good futuristic house and other eclectic sounds.
Called XXYLO, the new, alternative electronic night will bring something a little different to the city’s nightlife scene, mixing the best in amapiano, UK funky house, garage, world, soulful house, broken beats and liquid drum and bass.
Launched by TRPHSE founders Sham Steele, Kieran, and Jahmel, the new futuristic house night will see Off The Square transformed into a tropical canyon oasis, right in the centre of Manchester’s concrete jungle.
Image: XXYLO
From 11pm until late, revellers can expect some crazy mapped projections visuals alongside a line-up of the most in-demand DJs, including Sham Steele, Rosie Vacci B, DJ Chaise, Jack Bagshaw, and Papu Raf.
The trio are on a mission to diversify the nightlife scene across the UK by creating spaces that showcase emerging sounds, provide a platform for emerging talent and unite communities through an appreciation of experimental music.
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Having lost quite a few venues that always championed these underground sounds in recent years, it’s a welcome addition to the Manchester scene.
As the Brit Awards showed last night, the mainstream music industry in the UK is still heavily dominated by London – despite the fact that many brilliant emerging artists come out of the north, and Manchester in particular.
Our city is known for its music, it birthed a modern clubbing revolution in the UK, and has made a name for itself creating spaces that showcase emerging sounds. The Hacienda, of course, being the most obvious example.
In recent years, however, a number of smaller independent venues have closed – often to be replaced with apartment blocks or shops.
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Legendary Manchester nightclub Sankeys is just one to have fallen victim to property developers, but we can think of many more. Music Box is now a Tesco Metro, Antwerp Mansion a shell of its former self (not that it was ever in great nick to begin with, but at least the lights were still on).
So it’s refreshing to see a new alternative electronic night land on the city’s scene, championing sounds from a varied selection of artists like Kaytranada, Disclosure, Bugs In The Attic, Wookie and more.
Exclusively for XXYLO’s launch, free tickets are up for grabs on Skiddle. These will be valid until 12:30am, any entrants after this will be able to purchase a ticket for £6-£10 on the door if there is capacity.
XXYLO will debut in Manchester on Friday 11 February at Off The Square, 65-67, Lever Street, M1 1FL.
Tram disruption to continue into the evening following damage in city centre
Daisy Jackson
Disruption to Metrolink trams will continue into the evening as engineers scramble to repair damage to an overhead line.
Power has now been restored following an earlier incident but services are still unable to run through Deansgate-Castlefield, a crucial stop in the city centre.
It’s left trams operating on a revised service pattern while damage to the overhead line is repaired.
Earlier today a driver in Manchester city centre reported a loss of power and damage to a pantograph – which is used to connect trams with the overhead power lines.
Images now shared by TfGM show the damage that has taken place, with the pantograph collapsed onto the roof of the tram.
The new tram service pattern began at 3pm and will continue until further notice, as follows:
Altrincham – Cornbrook
Eccles – Cornbrook
Manchester Airport – Firswood
East Didsbury – Firswood
Rochdale Town Centre – Exchange Square
Bury – Ashton-under-Lyne
Trafford Centre – Wharfside
Customers are able to use their Metrolink tickets on Bee Network bus services and some train services while the disruption continues.
TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, Ian Davies, said: “We are sorry to anyone whose journey has or will be impacted because of today’s disruption.
“Power has now been restored, and the cause has been identified as damage to overhead lines near to Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop.
“Specialist engineers will be making repairs today and staff will remain out on the network to assist passengers with their journeys.
“We have had to make some changes to services while the repair work takes place, and I’d encourage people to continue to check the Bee Network app, website and social channels for the latest information and advice for the remainder of the day.”
Chester Zoo named UK’s best zoo for second year running after more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo has been named to best zoo in the UK for 2025.
While everyone in and around Greater Manchester and the North West may already be familiar with just how brilliant the UK’s biggest charity zoo is, you may remember that last year it was officially named the UK’s best zoo thanks to tens of thousands of positive TripAdvisor reviews… and now, the zoo has managed to retain that respectable title.
The world’s biggest travel guidance platform has, once again, named Chester Zoo as the best-rated zoo to visit in the UK this year.
This is the second year running that the zoo has got more than 11,000 ‘excellent’ ratings.
Chester Zoo has been named the best zoo in the UK for 2025 / Credit: Chester Zoo
Based on millions of online reviews, the updated ranking puts the beloved Cheshire-based attraction ahead of the country’s other zoos after earning consistently good feedback from its visitors.
Not only has the zoo’s strong focus on conservation and unforgettable visitor experiences made it the best in our country, but this has also earned it a place among Europe’s elite too – with the new listings placing it as the third best zoo or aquarium in the continent.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be named the UK’s top zoo,” commented Jamie Christon, who is the CEO of Chester Zoo.
“This recognition, based on thousands upon thousands of genuine visitor reviews, is a huge testament to our incredible team and everything they do to make Chester Zoo such a special place.
Guess who’s just been named the BEST zoo in the UK? 🎉⁰Hint: It’s us… but we couldn’t have done it without you! Your incredible Tripadvisor reviews made this possible 🙌
Even more exciting? We’ve climbed the ranks to become #3 in all of Europe, up from 8th last year 🌍👏… pic.twitter.com/ARJfwomIFL
“Every visit helps support our vital conservation work, both here in the UK and around the world.
“As a charity and a national conservation zoo, it means the world to know our efforts are being so warmly received by our guests. It’s people coming through our gates who enable us to do what we do – lead the charge to save wildlife, protect and restore habitats and safeguard ecosystems.
“Together, we’re securing the long-term future of some of the world’s most endangered species.”
Chester Zoo’s renewed title comes after it opened the UK’s largest-ever zoo habitat, Heart of Africa, which is home 57 iconic African species, earlier this month.
It also comes ahead of the unveiling of another exciting new development at the zoo this summer – The Reserve, which Chester Zoo is calling its answer to a ‘premium safari getaway’ right here in the UK, with 51 luxury African-themed lodges offering guests the chance to stay overnight and support conservation for the very first time.
Georgina Pellant -
9th February 2022 
