First look images in plans to redevelop the pavilion at Piccadilly Gardens have been released, and they give a glimpse at the future of the community hub.
The plans include removing the canopy overhead, splitting the concrete pavilion split into two separate sections, and refurbishing the two restaurants
Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets (LGIMRA) – which owns the concrete pavilion that carves Piccadilly Gardens off from the tram lines and bus station – also plan to install an art installation along the concrete wall.
Metal, glass and LED lighting on the walls would feature thread-like lines and holes in a nod to Manchester’s famous industrial past, with new lighting also added around the perimeter of the pavilion.
“We want to transform Piccadilly Gardens into an outstanding public space.” / Credit: LGIMRA
Piccadilly Gardens and the surrounding areas have drawn a reputation for crime, drugs, and violence in recent years, but work to revamp the site began in 2020 – when a concrete wall known locally as the ‘Berlin Wall’ was demolished.
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These new redevelopment plans come ahead of a wider £25 million investment to give the public space a facelift.
A planning application has now been submitted by LGIMRA, the company which bought Deansgate Square’s North Tower two years ago.
Manchester City Council is also in the process of shortlisting urban landscape teams after launching the first phase of an international design competition to improve the area back in October 2021.
Speaking on the release of the first images, Rob Codling – senior fund manager at LGIMRA – said: “This project creates an excellent opportunity to increase the approachability of Piccadilly Gardens and make spending time there a more enjoyable experience for residents and visitors to the city.
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“We are pleased to be moving these plans forward and to be engaging with local artists to start to create a public space that Manchester can be proud of.”
“Piccadilly Gardens is a busy and important place in the heart of our city, but we know that there’s considerable scope to improve it,” Bev Craig – Leader of Manchester City Council – added on the plans.
“We want to transform Piccadilly Gardens into an outstanding public space [that’s] welcoming, family-friendly and capable of hosting a wide range of events.”
Featured Image – LGIMRA
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Major pop star crowns humble rice and three cafe as ‘Jewel of Manchester’ ahead of sold-out gig
Thomas Melia
A beloved city centre takeaway has been given the title of ‘Jewel of Manchester’ by chart-topping UK singer Sam Smith.
Known for hits like ‘Stay With Me’, ‘I’m Not The Only One’ and more recently ‘Unholy’, UK pop-ballad act Sam Smith also likes to drop a food review every once in a while.
Currently on the road with a run of shows in Manchester and London for their ‘To Be Free’ live shows, Sam Smith is stopping off at some of our city’s much-loved spots.
On their food-reviewing account titled ‘Sam Served’, where they adopt the aptly-fitting nickname ‘Ham Smith’, Sam has visited restaurants across the globe – and most recently turned their attention to Manchester’s own This & That.
Smith decided to pop in and grab a cheeky rice and three from long-standing backstreet food business This & That, and it certainly went down a treat.
After sampling their amazing selection of meat, vegetable and vegan curries, the musician crowned this family-run Indian takeaway a ‘Jewel of Manchester’.
The hitmaker described this Northern Quarter Indian eatery as ‘Everything food should be’ and definitely enjoyed all the curries on offer ‘leaving belly and heart full’.
This & That prides itself on affordable and comforting food with its ‘Rice and Three Curries’ starting from just £6 – not bad for a city centre foodie spot.
Sam has racked up an impressive 490k followers via their ‘Sam Served’ profile, with famous faces like Lily Allen, Denise Welch and CMAT all wanting to know the superstar’s foodie thoughts.
After enjoying a curry or three, Sam Smith also made sure to feed their soul to by venturing down to Afflecks and getting lost in the music at Mars Tapes.
Recognised as one of the UK’s only cassette and tape shops, Mars Tapes lets you flick through their crates of physical media and even preview tracks before you buy with its dedicated listening areas.
It’s safe to say that Smith has ‘Latched’ onto Manchester’s independent business scene and we’re here for it.
The London-born artist has just released their latest album Hazel Eyes and is currently amid a UK residency tour with two dates in Manchester’s Albert Hall and eight shows set for London Coliseum.
24-hour bus services are now running across all Greater Manchester boroughs
Emily Sergeant
24-hour bus services are now running across all boroughs in Greater Manchester.
You may remember that back in March, it was announced that every borough of Greater Manchester was set to get a night bus service in what is hoped to be a ‘boost’ to the night-time economy… and now it’s official, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has launched those 24-hour buses this month, along with a series of other measures.
Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford now join the rest of Greater Manchester in having 24-hour bus services, meaning every part of the region will have a night bus operating Thursday through to Sunday.
It’s expected that these new services will help around 625,400 people working in the night-time economy across Greater Manchester, as well as those out enjoying the region’s nightlife, TfGM has said.
The routes which will run around the clock from Thursday until Sunday are:
50 (Salford – Manchester)
216 (Tameside – Manchester)
263 (Trafford – Manchester)
192 (Stockport – Manchester)
83 (Oldham – Manchester)
All Greater Manchester boroughs now have 24-hour bus services / Credit: TfGM
They launch alongside the most significant service changes to the Bee Network since the completion of bus franchising last year – including other new bus routes, and more frequent services across Greater Manchester.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy everything Greater Manchester offers, without the worry of how to get there and get home,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor, Bev Craig.
“By growing the Bee Network, we’re making it easier than ever for people to use the bus, day and night.
“Our night buses are already providing a lifeline to some of the hundreds of thousands of people who are growing our night-time economy and working in essential public services.”
“Whether people are heading home from a night at the theatre or starting the early shift at a hospital, they can now get on board the night bus as a safe and affordable way to travel.”
Further improvements will delivered from January 2027, and a full breakdown by borough can be found on the Bee Network website here.
Emily Sergeant -
11th February 2022 
