Lancashire’s Highest Point Festival has revealed two new headliners for its line-up, as it prepares to return to its 54-acre home in Williamson Park this summer.
The festival has revealed that Grammy award-winning chart-toppers Clean Bandit are set to perform the headline slot on Friday night, followed by rock legends Kaiser Chiefs on Saturday.
The Lancashire event, which lays claim to the title of being the county’s biggest open-air music festival, has already confirmed music royalty and former ‘The Verve’ frontman Richard Ashcroft as its third headliner.
Image: Highest Point Festival
Further announcements revealed by Highest Point today include support slots from the likes of Basement Jaxx, Sigala, Example, Brit Nominee Not3s, Low Steppa, as well as performances from breakout stars Mae Muller and Mimi Webb.
Revellers can also look forward to appearances from Horse Meat Disco, SASASAS, Shy FX, Sub Focus, Turno, DJ & producer Emily Nash, Lancaster natives Lowes, Judge Jules, Luke Una, Charlie Tee and local hero Matt Thiss plus indie favourites Reverend and the Makers, The Lottery Winners and The Sherlocks.
Bringing a heavy dose of nostalgia, Escape Classics, Mr Wilsons Second Liners, 80s V 90s and Funkademia promise to wow crowds.
Elsewhere, festival favourites The Cuban Brothers will return once again with their outrageous comedy performances.
During the 2022 festival, guests can expect to see a huge variety of artists across multiple stages whilst enjoying regional street food and craft beer on-site.
Image: HIghest Point Festival
New additions to the festival this year include the Not-tober beer hall, a new area of the festival which will feature an immersive bingo experience with rave intervals, dance-offs and audience participation, karaoke, drag acts & more.
There will also be a new drinks masterclass area, a bigger stage area at The Woods, plus more bars and more toilets.
The next wave of tickets for the festival go on sale this Friday at 9am and can be bought through Skiddle. This year the festival will take place between Thursday 12 and Saturday, 14 May 2022
Full weekend tickets start at £135 for an adult, or £115 for a two-day ticket, whilst individual day ticket prices start from £42.50.
The setting for the festival could very well be one of the most beautiful event sites in the UK, with enchanting woodland, and breathtaking views over Morecambe Bay and the Lake District fells and mountains.
Image: Highest Point Festival
The park is also home to Lancaster’s most iconic building, the Ashton Memorial, which dominates the city’s skyline at around 150 feet tall.
Jamie Scahill, co-founder of the festival said, “It was amazing to be able to host the festival last September after two years off, the crowd was amazing and we had such incredible feedback.
“Now we’re back to our usual festival weekend in May, and we have another huge line up heading for Lancaster.
“We can’t wait for the festival season to kick off!’In 2021 the festival welcomed 35,000 ticket-holders for four days of fun-filled musical performances from some of the music industry’s biggest names.”
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You can stay in an aircraft, helicopter or old school bus at this glamping pod near Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s a glamping retreat near Manchester offering extraordinary stays in an aircraft, helicopter, old school bus and more.
Over in Blackpool at Manor House Glamping, there is a range of static vehicles that you can have an overnight stay or two in, and according to the pictures on its website, there’s even a resident emu.
You can stay in various modes of transport, such as an aircraft, an iconic yellow school bus, a campervan or a military green truck.
Each has its own perks ranging from a hot tub, outdoor bath, fire pit, sandpit and more. Whatever type of getaway or retreat you’re looking for, you’ll find everything you need right here.
The most eye-catching of the company’s stays is certainly the aircraft, which has kept its original cockpit features, although it’s safe to say the interior has definitely had a makeover.
There’s no such thing as a bad in-flight experience with this guest house, as you can get cocktails delivered to the cockpit after taking a dip in your own personal hot tub – not too shabby, eh?
With the bright and unmissable yellow school bus, there are plenty of decorations that help continue this theme in the form of various American road signs, one of which acts as your headboard for the night.
If you’re after a more toned-down chance to unwind, you can step into a pale-white camper van with cosy cushions and a snug haystack-turned-sofa adorned with some gorgeous blankets.
And if you’re looking at going all out, then your Manor House Glamping accommodation of choice has to be the chopper, which was once used by the Royal Navy.
Worried this option might be a tad nippy? Fear not, because this helicopter is fully kitted out to suit your glamping needs with two fluffy-lined cushions on each seat of this vintage heli.
Anyone who experiences cabin fever, fear not, because all the aircraft and vehicles are static and aren’t planning on making a long-haul journey anytime soon, you’ll still be able to keep your feet firmly on the ground.
Manor House Glamping has a variety of vehicle-themed guest houses, both old and new, for you to stay in overnight and if you’re interested or after any further information.
If you fancy staying within the boundaries of Greater Manchester but still fancy getting the feel for a cockpit, though, there’s a very fun day out over at Barton’s City Airport.
More than 100 ‘unsafe’ counterfeit Labubus seized in Oldham
Daisy Jackson
More than 100 counterfeit Labubus and accessories have been seized in Oldham, the council has announced.
The Labubu dolls – a plush collectible with giant smiles and bunny ears – have been seized because they are fake, and unsafe.
The haul of 104 Labubus has been given a street value of between £800 and £1000 – but if they were the real deal, they’d be worth more than three times as much.
The poorly-made figures were being sold for a fraction of the price of a real Labubu, which are manufactured by Chinese company Pop Mart (it’s set to open its second Manchester store in the Trafford Centre next week).
Oldham Council’s Trading Standards team said it seized the counterfeit Labubus from local businesses and found that they were unsafe and poorly made.
Officers raised concerns about the safety of the dolls, which had small parts such as eyes, hands and feet broke off easily, creating a choking hazard.
What a genuine Labubu should look like. Credit: The Hoot Leeds
They were also missing legally required safety marks such as the CE or UKCA labels, and lacked the name and address of a UK supplier, which is another legal requirement.
Councillor Elaine Taylor, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Licensing, said: “Oldham Trading Standards carries out regular checks to help keep unsafe products off the shelves. In this case, these counterfeit toys failed safety standards and have now been removed from sale.
“We know it can be tempting to buy toys that look like a bargain, but parents need to be extra careful. Fake toys like these may be cheaper, but they can put children in real danger if they’re not made to strict safety standards.
“If anyone has concerns about toys they’ve purchased, or if they see unsafe products on sale locally, we’d encourage them to get in touch with Trading Standards through the Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.”
Georgina Pellant -
9th February 2022 
