The greenlight has been given to build a brand-new Youth Zone in the heart of Salford, and it’s promised to bring “incredible facilities” to the community.
Thanks to a new partnership formed by Salford-born businessman Fred Done, Salford City Council, and Manchester-based charity, HideOut Youth Zone, and also with the support of national youth charity OnSide, the creation of the new state-of-the-art Youth Zone will “dramatically expand the opportunities” that are available to young people in the Greater Manchester city and wider borough.
Salford Youth Zone will take over two years to develop, and is set to be built in the heart of the city centre close to Salford Crescent train station and the University of Salford.
The new multimillion-pound space will be based on OnSide’s successful model, which has seen the charity develop 14 similar Youth Zones across the country, with five already currently in the region – HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton, Manchester Youth Zone in Harpurhey, Mahdlo Youth Zone in Oldham, Wigan Youth Zone, and Bolton Lads and Girls Club.
Aimed at young people aged eight to 19, or up to 25 for those with additional needs, Salford Youth Zone will open seven days a week and support around 4,000 young people.
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Salford Youth Zone will “dramatically expand the opportunities” available to young people in the area / Credit: HideOut Youth Zone
Members will get access to over 20 different activities every night, which range from sports like football, boxing, and climbing, to creative arts, music, drama, and even employability training – and all for just 50p per visit, or a £5 annual membership.
Trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will also be on hand to offer guidance and support to help Salford’s young people thrive.
Salford Youth Zone will also create full and part time jobs, and up to 100 volunteering opportunities.
The new multimillion-pound space is to be built in the heart of Salford / Credit: HideOut Youth Zone
“Having been born and raised in Salford, I know just how much young people in the area would benefit from the opportunities available through a Youth Zone,” Fred Done said.
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“I have had the pleasure of supporting HideOut Youth Zone in Gorton to open its doors to thousands of local young people across Manchester, and now it’s time to take this to Salford and change the lives of many more.”
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett added: “The young people of Salford rightly deserve to see this investment in state-of-the-art youth facilities on their doorstep in our great city, after years of cuts to youth services across the country and underfunding by national government of what should be statutory services.
“The Youth Zone will offer so many services, experiences and activities within the area seven days a weeks, helping our young people achieve their potential, whilst also providing a much needed environment for young people to come together, socialise, enjoy themselves and importantly have fun.
“We often say that “our young people are the future”, so it’s great to see us demonstrating this in the delivery of the first Youth Zone in Salford.
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“I’m really looking forward to seeing it complete and meeting the young who will use this fantastic facility.”
The creation of Salford Youth Zone is still subject to further feasibility assessments and to a formal planning consultation and application – which is proposed to take place later this year.
Featured Image – HideOut Youth Zone
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Hawksmoor issues statement after ‘kicking out’ Tommy Robinson from one of its restaurants
Daisy Jackson
Hawksmoor has issued a statement after a viral video captured far-right activist Tommy Robinson being asked to leave one of its restaurants.
In the video, staff at the acclaimed British steak house told Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – that he would have to go because members of staff feel uncomfortable serving you’.
The supervisor then politely told the party not to worry about the drinks and that they had been paid for, also handing over a business card for Hawksmoor CEO Will Beckett in case they wanted to discuss the matter further.
Robinson was dining in one of the group’s London restaurants with former prominent EDL member Guramit Singh Kalirai who challenged the staff and asked: “Is it because of the colour of my skin?”
The supervisor responded: “No, no, no. We have a duty of care to our members of staff. We like to look after our people, as I’m sure you can understand.”
After the video went viral on X, Hawksmoor went on to share a statement in response, saying that guests and staff ‘felt uncomfortable and complained’.
The statement, signed by CEO Will Beckett, added that the Hawksmoor team has faced ‘a huge amount’ of ‘quite concerning’ fallout from the Tommy Robinson incident.
He added that ‘this was not about politics or beliefs’.
Hawksmoor’s statement reads: “Our focus is always to give the best restaurant experience to the most people possible.
“On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. The party left peacefully and politely on request.
“This was not about politics or beliefs. Hawksmoor is not a political organisation; we’re a group of restaurants. We want to welcome as many people as possible, regardless of background or views, to our teams or as our guests.
“We’re not trying to engage in a public debate. The team has had to deal with a huge amount of fallout from this, some of which is quite concerning. We would like to get back to focussing on looking after those people, and our guests. Thank you to them, and the many of you who have been so supportive.”
Police release footage of missing Manchester man Adeo Alston-Ekpei’s last-known movements
Emily Sergeant
Video footage showing the last-known movements of a Manchester man who’s been missing for three weeks now has been released.
Detectives at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are continuing to search for Adeo Alston-Ekpei, who has not been seen since Friday 16 May.
The 25-year-old was seen in Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at around 3pm, before later being seen walking down Kingsway away from Manchester and close to the River Mersey, at around 5.20pm that same day.
Multiple lines of enquiry being explored by police at present, but anyone who believes they may have seen him from around this time, is asked to get in touch.
Adeo is described as being a mixed-race male, with long curly black hair and a long singular dreadlock, and bleached eyebrows. He has a cupid’s bow piercing and a right eyebrow piercing. He also has an ‘AKA’ tattoo on his right wrist, and a ‘24’ tattoo in the right side of his chest.
He was last seen wearing long blue denim shorts, an undone green short-sleeved button-up shirt, and white Adidas trainers.
Friends have also recently set up a public fundraiser to help with the search for Adeo.
Adeo Alston-Ekpei has been missing for almost three weeks / Credit: GMP
“We are dedicated to finding Adeo and getting much-needed answers for his family,” commented Detective Inspector Kelly, from GMP’s Manchester district, as the footage was released to the public this week.
“I would ask any residents around the Kingsway area, and surrounding housing estates off Kingsway into Gately, and who may have dashcam or CCTV footage from around this time, to please check and get in touch if you have any information.
“Likewise, if anyone believes they have seen Adeo, please get in touch with one of our officers. Any information is appreciated and investigated as we continue our work.”
#MISSING | We are continuing to ask for information relating to missing Adeo, who was last seen on May 16.
We have additionally released CCTV footage showing Adeo’s last known movements on Kingsway, Manchester.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) June 5, 2025
A spokesperson for Adeo’s family described the missing man as ‘kind, funny, and intelligent’ with a ‘huge heart’, but they say he ‘wasn’t himself when he disappeared’.
“He may have come across as agitated, lost, or confused,” the spokesperson admitted. “In his last call to his mum, he was in a very vulnerable state.”
Anyone with any information regarding Adeo’s whereabouts is urged to contact South Manchester CID directly on 0161 856 6051 or 0161 856 6063, or you can use the LiveChat function on GMP’s website and quote log number 838 of 18/05/25.
Alternatively, you can report information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
27th July 2022 
