News
Manchester Christmas Markets named one of the most affordable in the UK
Manchester placed in the UK’s top five most affordable Christmas markets, with London’s Winter Wonderland and Cardiff’s Christmas market the most expensive.
New data has revealed the cheapest Christmas markets to visit in the UK, with Manchester named amongst the most affordable for budget-savvy Brits looking to plan a festive day trip.
The study, carried out by Airbnb insurance specialists Pikl, looked at the UK’s top fifteen Christmas markets and the associated costs in each location to create an overall affordability ranking.
Considered costs ranged from entry price, average attraction price, average local parking cost for 6+ hours, and an additional average nightly rate for an AirBnB stay in the area.
According to the criteria Manchester came in at the top five locations for affordability. Considered to be one of the UK’s most popular markets, the study revealed that you can park all day for around £10.00, enjoy free entry and attractions from £5.00.
Overall, though, the most affordable festive day out is at Lincoln markets, where lots of traditional stalls are set up in the city’s medieval square, complete with an ice rink.
With free entry to the market, an average attraction cost of £3.00, and nearby all-day parking for £3.70, the city boasts an extremely purse-friendly option for those looking for some festive fun on a budget.
Read more: Manchester Christmas Markets 2022 – everything you need to know
Beyond the top 5, attraction price is the main deciding factor for those keen to enjoy festive frills on a budget.
In terms of attraction price the most expensive destination is the historic town of Chester where £30 is the average activity cost, followed closely by £25 in Blenheim Palace.
York’s attraction cost of £13.50 proves more expensive than London’s £10.50 charge for its array of Winter Wonderland festivities, though the £52.98 average parking fee in the capital makes nabbing a £10.00 spot in York a lot more appealing.
Read more: Manchester Christmas Markets slammed with negative reviews after doing exactly what people asked for
For those looking to turn theiur day trip into an overnight stay, the data also accounts for affordability based on the cost of an average nightly Airbnb rate in each location.
The experts at Pikl said: “We’re all feeling the pinch this Christmas, but Brits still look set to enjoy the festive season in a budget-conscious manner.
“As a trusted AirBnB insurance provider, we’d suggest that rental property owners hoping to attract customers over the next month take some of the findings from this study into account.”
Read more: ‘Winter Island’ returns to Escape to Freight for more festive fun this November
The data, commissioned by Pikl Insurance, analysed the affordability of the UK’s best Christmas markets, revealing the cheapest based on entry prices, average attraction price, nearby parking costs, and more.
Featured Image — Flickr/Manchester City Council
News
Police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty sacked
Daisy Jackson
A ‘morally reprehensible’ police officer who sexually assaulted a child while on duty has been sacked and barred from service.
GMP held an accelerated misconduct hearing with PC Dean Dempster, 35, and he has been dismissed without notice.
The disgraced officer admitted ‘sexually touching’ the six-year-old child in December 2023 and is set to be sentenced at a later date.
He was a response officer in Oldham at the time that the offence was reported, and was arrested by a supervisor when he returned to work the next day.
A senior officer has now said that Dempster ‘has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public’.
Another said it was ‘among the most distressing cases ever presented’ and a ‘despicable betrayal’ of police duties.
Dempster was convicted of sexually assaulting a young girl while responding to an incident on 29 December 2023.
He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court in February and remained suspended since being charged at the end of last year.
Presiding over today’s hearing, CC Watson found PC Dempster’s conduct amounted to gross misconduct, saying: “This sexual assault occurred whilst the officer was on duty and where the victim was totally trusting and reliant on him performing his duties professionally, compassionately and with her welfare uppermost in his thoughts.
“It is this most egregious breach of trust of an innocent young child that is most upsetting aspect of this case and something that clearly amounts to an aggravating factor.
“I consider this case to be among the most distressing ever presented to me such is the despicable betrayal of all that is inherent in being a decent police officer.
“I have no hesitation whatsoever in dismissing PC Dempster from the service with immediate effect.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Dean Dempster is not a police officer, he’s a child sex offender who has no right to be in police uniform or in a position to serve the public.
“We have no time for people like Dempster who should not be in GMP and does not represent us.
“This is why we’re increasingly using accelerated misconduct hearings to root out and boot out officers who are unfit to serve in our uniform, and this work will continue while ever they remain.”
Dempster has been added to the College of Policing Barred List by Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who described Dempster’s actions as ‘morally reprehensible’.
GMP used accelerated proceedings as part of its pledge to ‘root and boot’ officers unfit to serve the public.
The force is now writing to the Deputy Mayor of GM to appeal for Dempster to lose his right to a police pension.
Read more
Featured image: GMP
News
Manchester City reveals details around the first Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
Manchester City have released the first details surrounding their inaugural Andy’s Man Club sessions at the Etihad Campus.
One of the most important charities in the UK when it comes to male mental health and suicide prevention, Andy’s Man Club and even its logo alone have become a recognisable force for good over the past few years, and the significance of bringing it to such a big scale as City cannot be overstated.
The football club first announced the partnership back in February and has already been working closely with the non-profit organisation to promote better wellbeing amongst men, getting first-team stars such as defender John Stones to open up about his own experiences with mental health just last month.
With that in mind, the word is now out that Man City will be providing yet another location for groups to meet and crucially talk through Andy’s Man Club sessions, confirming details around their first meeting from next week onwards.
Set to kick off in the East Stand of the Etihad Stadium from 7-9pm on Monday, 13 May, Man City will not only help deliver a vital outlet for men in the East Manchester area but become just the latest in a long line of teams to back the regular support group.
Joining over 180 clubs nationwide – including the likes of Altrincham FC, Ashton United and Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few in the Greater Manchester area – Andy’s Mans Club is currently helping well over 4,000 men open up and combat their struggles through peer-to-peer sessions.
Founded by a group of nine blokes from Halifax back in 2016 to create positive change in men’s mental health, Andy’s Man Club now helps gather men aged 18 and over across the country every week throughout the year.
In alignment with other partnered clubs Andy’s Man Clubs across the country, attendees will be asked to arrive from 18:30 (UK) ahead of the 19:00 start time.
Read more:
The sessions are free with registration or ID required and, more importantly, there’s no pressure to talk if you don’t want to. The first step is easy: just listen.
Just because it’s being held at City’s ground doesn’t mean you have to be a season ticket holder, have an official Cityzens membership to attend or anything like that, you can simply arrive via the East Stand reception (Door F) and join the session.
Attendees will be greeted on arrival by trained volunteers from Andy’s Man Club who will guide them through the stadium. With the club now on board, group sessions will be running at the same time every week (except bank holiday Mondays) with the first dates scheduled for the following nights this month:
- Monday 13 May
- Monday 20 May
- Monday 3 June
- Monday 10 June
Well done to all those involved in bringing Andy’s Man Club to Manchester City and the East Manchester community. We hope the sessions will help those going along as they have done for thousands of others.
#ItsOkayToTalk
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Featured Images — Manchester City/Andy’s Man Club